Grace Poe returns to Iloilo after SC decision

Senator Grace Poe visits Iloilo several days after the Supreme Court’s favorable ruling on her candidacy last week.

Will the SC ruling boost her numbers in the Liberal party bailiwick?

Camille Elemia reports. 

Presidential bet Grace Poe returns to her roots, days after her historic win in the Supreme Court.

It is Poe’s second visit in the vote-rich province since the official campaign period began in February.

And she is not keen on stopping just yet as she vows to come back to the place where her life journey started nearly 48 years ago. 

Poe takes a break in between sorties to visit Jaro Cathedral, where she was found abandoned in 1968.

She visited the province at least 4 times since 2015 but this time it’s like a homecoming of sorts.

Poe says she thought of returning here when she found out about the SC decision.

GRACE POE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am thankful for this opportunity to return here and breathe freely now, not just because I can now run for president because finally I am now acknowledges as a Filipino, especially I came here.

Local officials from the Nationalist People’s Coalition welcome the senator, who now calls herself a “real Ilongga.”

GRACE POE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am happy to be here in Santa Barbara. After the decision of the Supreme Court, I am now a true Ilongga.

Although the SC win removed the biggest roadblock in her presidential bid, questions still hound Poe on her real parents’ identity – something that she wants to find out.

GRACE POE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So even if there’s a decision by the Supreme Court, I would still want to know the whole story and I’m thankful to all the family who approached me and voluntarily gave their DNA to end this. Even if there was no match, my quest still continues.

But will the SC decision boost Poe’s numbers in Iloilo?

Iloilo is also considered the bailiwick of the ruling Liberal Party. 

In fact in 2010, Roxas won against Jejomar Binay in the vice presidential race with more than 500,00 thousand votes

Recent surveys show Roxas is also the top presidential choice in Western Visayas.

In 2013 Poe topped the senatorial race in the city and 4th in Iloilo province when she ran under the administration ticket — Team PNoy. 

After 4 visits to the so-called yellow country, Poe vows to return to the 9th most vote rich province, hopefully to take her oath here if and when she wins as president.

Camille Elemia, Rappler, Iloilo City