Poe denies backing out of presidential race

Source: The Filipino Votes - CNN PH Coverage

Metro Manila — With election day just around the corner, a feistier Sen. Grace Poe is stepping up attacks against her rivals.

"Ang ating pagpili ay hindi dapat limitado sa isang gobyernong walang pakiramdam, sa isang gobyernong corrupt, o sa isang gobyernong berdugo,"

Poe said as she faced the media on Thursday (May 5) as she addressed critical issues about her candidacy before she wraps up her campaign in the coming weekend.

[Translation: "Our choices are not limited to a government of insensitivity, or a government of corruption, or a government of executioners."]

Among those she was seeking to clarify were speculations she was withdrawing from the presidential race.

This, following a decline in her pre-election poll numbers, placing her behind front-runner Rodrigo Duterte and administration bet Mar Roxas.

Roxas had claimed it would be a two-way race between him and Duterte.

Poe lashed out at the administration's use of its machinery to ease her out of the race.
The senator admitted getting text message from people, inquiring if she was giving way to her rivals — to stand a better chance of winning against Duterte.

"Hindi po ito isang transaksyon para ibenta ang pangarap ng ating mga kababayan," she said.
[Translation: "This is not a transaction where we can sell out the dreams of our people."]
But even as Poe was subjected to rumors — she was also supposedly bribing her rivals out of the race.

Reports said a businessman close to the Poe camp offered concessions to Jejomar Binay to quit.
But Poe said, "Absolutely not... The first time I ever saw him was at the wedding of Senator Chiz... I think it's very unfair that people will make that allegation. To talk to anybody to withdraw is too presumptuous of me."

She also took a swipe on Duterte — saying while everyone seemed to find Duterte's antics amusing, the public should be wary of the consequences of choosing him as the country's next leader.

"Bakit pa tayo nagkaroon ng demokrasya? Kung hindi, iisang tao ang may monopolya kung ano ang tama sa bansa."

Translation: "Why did we even have democracy? If not, only one person would have the monopoly over what is right for the country."]

It's not the first time that Poe was reported to have withdrawn her candidacy.

In November, a letter circulated among Senate reporters saying Poe had withdrawn from the race amid reports that she would be disqualified by Comelec.