Nora Aunor takes swipe at Grace Poe’s rivals

MANILA, Philippines – Superstar Nora Aunor took a swipe at rivals of Senator Grace Poe during the presidential candidate’s miting de avance at Plaza Miranda on Saturday, May 7.

Aunor, who has been supporting Poe since last year, said the country needs a president who will look after the welfare of the country and not himself or herself. (READ: Nora Aunor throws support behind Grace Poe in presidential campaign)

“Hindi natin kailangan ng isang pinuno na malalim ang iniisip at ang kapakanan nila sa kanilang sarili lamang ang kanilang tinitingnan, hindi ang kapakanan ng sambayanang Pilipino,” Aunor said. “Ilang taon na po ang nakakaraan na lahat halos ng naging presidente natin – hindi naman nilalahat – pero halos lahat ng sumusunod na presidente natin ay hindi natin nakita sa kanila ang mga ipinangako nila sa atin na tulong, hanapbuhay na kinakailangan ng sambayanang Pilipino.”

(We don’t need a leader who only thinks of himself and not the welfare of the Filipino nation. It’s been so many years that almost all the presidents – I’m not saying all of them – but most of the presidents we’ve had, we haven’t seen the help they promised us, jobs that the Filipinos need.)

She then hit Poe’s rivals without mentioning their names.

“Pero ngayon po masasabi ko sa inyong lahat na magkakaroon na tayo ng isang presidente, babae – at kasing liit ko rin po, mas matangkad lamang sa akin ng konti – ang [may] mabuting puso, nakikita lahat ng problema ng sambayanang Pilipino, ang maaaring makatulong sa atin. Mga kaibigan, masyado siyang nilalait-lait ng ibang mga tumatakbong presidente pero hindi tayo papayag na hindi siya ang mananalo. Papayag po ba tayo na magkaroon ng presidente na magnanakaw?”

(But now I can tell all of you, that we will have one president – a woman – who is the same size as me, just a bit taller – who has a good heart, sees the problems of the Filipino nation, who can help us. Friends, she was ridiculed too much by other presidential aspirants, but we will not let her lose. Will we allow our country to have a president who is a thief?)

One of Poe’s rivals for the presidency, Vice President Jejomar Binay, was found liable for graft and corruption in connection with the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Parking Building II. Binay was Makati City mayor for 21 years. (READ: VP Binay liable for graft and corruption – COA)

“Papayag po ba tayo na magkaroon ng presidente na masyadong mahilig sa mga kababaihan? Na kapag nangangampanya walang ginawa kundi halikan ang mga kababaihan sa labi? Hindi. Papayag po ba tayo na [ang] magiging presidente natin na walang respeto sa mga kababaihan?”

(Will we allow the Philippines to have a president who is a womanizer? Who goes around the country campaigning and all he does is kiss every woman on the lips? No! Will we allow a president who has no respect for women?)

The tough-talking Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a self-confessed womanizer, often gets too close for comfort to women during sorties. (READ: Duterte: Kissing women on lips a ‘mistake’)

Aunor also criticized Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II, who she said wanted to file charges against her son, actor Ian de Leon. In 2000, Ian allegedly beat up a taxi driver after their cars collided in Cubao.

“Kay Mar Roxas naman, nagkaroon ng engkuwentro ‘yung anak kong si Ian sa dalawang mag-ama na taxi driver. Hindi kasalanan ng anak ko. Ang nangyari binully siya ‘nung mag-ama so kahit paano sumagot ‘yung anak ko. Nalaman ito ni Mar Roxas, nakarating sa akin na gustong ipakulong ni Mar Roxas ang anak kong si Ian ni hindi man lamang niya tinanong kung ano ang nangyari, hindi man lamang niya inalam kung bakit nagkaroon ng gulo ang anak ko doon sa dalawang mag-ama. Tama ba o papayag ba tayo na magkaroon ng ganoong klaseng presidente? Hindi, hindi ba?” Aunor told the crowd.

(As for Mar Roxas, my son Ian had an encounter with a father and son who are taxi drivers. It wasn’t the fault of my son. What happened was the father and son bullied him, forcing him to respond. Mar Roxas found out about this and wanted to put my son Ian in jail without even asking him what happened and not even asking what the trouble was all about. Was that correct? Will we allow ourselves to have that kind of president? No, right?)

She called on the people to vote for Poe, saying the country needs an effective leader.

“Mga kaibigan, nagmamakaawa po ako sa inyo, kailangang-kailangan na natin ng isang presidente na magpapatakbo ng magandang gobyerno dito sa Pilipinas. Kaya po nakikiusap ako sa inyo huwag po nating kalimutan at dapat lamang na manalo ang ating presidente Grace Poe para sa atin dito sa Pilipinas.”

(Friends, I ask of you, we need a president who will run a good government in the Philippines. That’s why I’m appealing to all of you, we should not forget Poe, and it is just right that she should win for the benefit of us here in the Philippines.)

Aunor also paid tribute to Poe’s parents – Susan Roces and the late Fernando Poe Jr – who she said raised the senator well.

Poe and Roxas are statistically tied for second place in voters’ preference surveys. On Friday, May 6, Roxas called on Poe to meet with him for talks on a possible alliance against Duterte, but Poe rejected his invitation, saying they have nothing to talk about.

Poe then released a Facebook video on Saturday, asking Roxas to give way to her in the presidential race. – Rappler.com