Escudero: Ramos shared ‘experiences’ with Poe

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Fidel V Ramos shared “experiences” in governance with neophyte Senator Grace Poe, fueling speculation she will run for higher office in 2016.

Senator Francis Escudero said the former president asked him to set up the Friday, July 24, meeting with Poe. Escudero said he and Poe did not ask for Ramos’ support in the 2016 elections but the 3 had an “enriching” meeting.

“Ang sinabi lang niya palagi, ‘yung sinasabi niya palagi, na siya daw basta para sa mga bata. At yung mga bata raw dapat, makilahok sa gobyerno,” Escudero said on Monday, July 27.

(He said that he always says that he is in favor of young politicians participating in government.)

Escudero posted a photo on Twitter last Friday of his and Poe’s meeting with Ramos at the former president’s Ramos Peace and Development Foundation Inc office in Makati. The caption read, “It was fun and enriching.”

Visited Former President Ramos at his RPDEV office early this evening w/ @sengracepoe It was a fun & enriching… 🙂 pic.twitter.com/39d8n7vKSp

— Chiz Escudero (@SayChiz) July 24, 2015

Best friends and political allies, Poe and Escudero are reportedly running as an independent tandem in the 2016 polls. They initially met with President Benigno Aquino III but he reportedly failed to convince Poe to slide down to the vice presidency as running mate of presumptive administration candidate Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Senator Escudero said he and Ramos met a few weeks ago, and it was the former president who said he wanted to meet with Poe.

“Hindi pa raw kasi niya nami-meet. Karamihan daw ng mga senador, karamihan ng mga pangalang nababanggit para sa 2016 ay nakausap na niya at nakaupo pero siya daw ay hindi pa,” Escudero explained.

(He said he has not met her yet. He said he already met with most of the senators being mentioned as aspirants in 2016 but her, not yet.)

Asked what Ramos told the two senators, Escudero said, “Not really tips but experiences.”

Escudero said he does not want to preempt Ramos on any commitment he can give them.

President from 1992 to 1998, Ramos is known for helping improve the Philippine economy, and for his Philippines 2000 vision.

Talk of presidents and succession are rife as Aquino delivers his 5th and last State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. In previous weeks, Aquino admitted having difficulty choosing his preferred successor as his partymate, Roxas, remains unpopular while Poe surges in presidential surveys despite her inexperience and lack of a political party.

In a separate interview, Poe did not give many details on the meeting with Ramos.

Asked how it went, she simply said, “Masaya!” (Fun!). – Rappler.com