Tag Archives: Grace Poe

Philippines Hoping For A World Record: A Woman President And Vice President

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From top left, clockwise: Bettel, Schneider, Robredo, Poe

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Luxembourg may be the only country in the world where the prime minister and vice prime minister are both gay men, but that record could soon be eclipsed by the Philippines where two women may be elected president and vice president in the coming May 9 elections.

Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Vice Prime Minister Etienne Schneider, are both openly gay.

The Philippines has had women presidents in the past — Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — but this year’s electoral contest could put the country on the world map as the only one with the top leaders being both women.

The latest national polls shows Senator Grace Poe leading the pack of what Filipinos fondly call, “presidentiables” — those who COULD be president.  Poe was recently cleared by the Supreme Court to run for president after it decided a disqualification case (DQ) in her favor.  By a vote of 9-6, the high court ruled that Poe, a foundling, is a natural-born Filipino citizen and has fulfilled the 10-year residency required of all presidential candidates.  Poe’s opponents include the incumbent Vice President, Jejomar Binay; former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (President Aquino’s anointed one); Davao Cityi Mayor Rodrigo Duterte; and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.  Poe has consistently led in the polls.

For the vice presidential contest, the latest poll shows Leny Robredo closing in on top rivals Senators Chiz Escudero (Poe’s running mate) and Bongbong Marcos (Santiago’s running mate).

While Robredo is the VP running mate of Roxas, Philippine electoral rules allow for voters to elect a president and vice president  who may be from different political parties, unlike in the U.S. where it is a party winner-take-all for the presidential and vice presidential contest.

The Philippines is known for its penchant for world records — in boxing, beauty contests, or the Guinness World Record.

Will the Philippines bag yet another honor come May 9?

 

Philippine Elections: Grace Poe And Bongbong Marcos Emerge As Leaders In New Poll

imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – If Philippine elections were held today, Senators Grace Poe and Bongbong Marcos would be elected president and vice president, respectively.

In a new poll conducted by The Adobo Chronicles, the Poe-Marcos pairing garnered 41.46% of the votes, compared to Rodrigo Duterte and Leni Robredo who got 29.27% to land in second place.

The unique poll paired presidential candidates with vice presidential aspirants of a political party other than their own.  The survey was premised on the fact that in Philippine presidential elections, voters can elect a president and vice president that belong to opposing parties. (Incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay does not belong to the same party as President NoyNoy Aquino.)

In third place was the Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Gregorio Honasan with 19.51% of the votes.

The rest of the pairings garnered less than 5% each, with Binay and Chiz Escudero gaining 4.88%.  Mar Roxas and Alan Peter Cayetano were in the bottom with 2.44%, along with Antonio Trillanes who was not paired with any presidential candidate.

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Duterte Honors His Word, Quits Presidential Race Following Supreme Court Decision On Grace Poe

Duterte
Duterte

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – When Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte first officially announced that he will run for president of the Philippines in the 2016 elections, he said that what prompted his decision was the  Senate tribunal vote throwing out the disqualification case (DQ) against Senator Grace Poe’s presidential bid.

Duterte believed then that Poe, being a foundling, is not a natural-born citizen and thus not qualified to seek the highest post in the land. The decision of the tribunal, he said, “cheapens the Constitution, the only thing that holds the country together.”

Since then, the Commission on Elections has disqualified Poe, prompting the DQ case to come before the Supreme Court.

Well, yesterday the high court ruled in favor of Poe, in a 9-6 decision, affirming the senator’s status as a natural-born citizen, paving the way for her presidential bid.

Today, saying he was a man who has a word of honor, and being a lawyer who respects the law and constitutional process, Duterte suspended his campaign to run for president.

‘With the Supreme Court ruling, my primary motivation for running is now moot and void,’ Duterte said.

So the presidential race is now down to three candidates. Four if you count VP Jejomar Binay.