Robredo: VP Top Contender while Escudero steadily surges downward

It is getting brighter for the Robredo campaign.

From trailing in third place for the past months, Robredo has now gained momentum and occupied the top spot for the VP contest. Robredo got a national score of 30%, a 5-percentage point jump over her score in the March 31 Bilang Pilipino SWS Mobile Survey.

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr was second with 27%, up by only 1-percentage point; while Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero was third with 25%, a 6-percentage point drop from his previous. For Chiz’ campaign, maybe it’s time to concede with his survey performance consistently revealing a downward trend. The upward slope of increasing support is clearly on the side of Leni.

And she is dominating the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

In Luzon, Robredo (31%) is on the lead, followed by Escudero (30%), and Marcos (29%), Cayetano (7%), Honasan (2%), and Trillanes (1%).

Robredo led all the candidates in the Visayas, with 36%, followed by Escudero (24%), Marcos (18%), Cayetano (15%), Trillanes (4%), and Honasan (1%).

In Mindanao, Robredo (27%) is still on the top place, trailed by Marcos (25%), and Cayetano (21%), followed by Escudero (16%), Trillanes (8%) and Honasan.

With less than a month before the precincts open, Grace Poe and Leni Robredo emerged to be the top contenders for the Presidency and the Vice-Presidency.

Grace-Leni: On Top of the Polls

Victory is getting clearer and nearer.

From a humble, grassroots, people-oriented campaign, without the backing of rich and influential people, the campaign for Grace Poe and Leni Robredo are now being seen to work in the latest survey results. More people have come to realize that Poe and Robredo are the best suited persons for the job.

In the Bilang Pilipino April 13 and 14 SWS Mobile Survey Report exclusive to TV5 NETWORK, the presidential aspirants obtained the following scores: Poe 34%, Duterte 33%, Roxas 16%, Binay 15%, and Santiago 1%.

For the vice presidential race, it' s Robredo 30%, Marcos 27%, Escudero 25%, Cayetano 13%, Trillanes 3% and Honasan 1%.

The people have spoken. It’s Grace Poe and Leni Robredo this coming May 9.

Chiz: A Man of Too Many Words

The last VP debate exposes us to one glaring truth – Chiz Escudero is a man of too many words. Yet, we can see no clear vision and no clear plan of action. This will be the form of governance for Chiz – all talk, no work. His legislative performance is a clear manifestation of this, with only a few bills passed.

This is not the kind of leader that we deserve. We don’t need politicians who only know how to preach and vomit words but completely fail to deliver their campaign promises and platform. We demand sincerity in speeches and not the one that is rehearsed and obviously written by speechwriters. This is the brand of traditional politics that we must abhor and abandon.

With the downward slope of Chiz’ poll standings, more and more people have realized this. It is now time for Chiz to look at the polls, abandon the race and just “pole-dance” his way out of the VP Race.

Some netizens were quick to notice Chiz' apparent verbosity (and made fun of it).

Look at this article from Rappler:

http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/129043-vice-presidential-debate-funny-social-media-posts

Grace-Leni ticket intensifies, Metro Manila seen to go Poe-Robredo

The polls do not capture the whole picture.

Less than a month before the voting precincts open, a silent majority is slowly growing and gaining numbers in terms of supporters. That is the Grace Poe-Leni Robredo ticket. All over the metro, the evidence of the exodus of supporters from other candidates to the Poe-Robredo tandem is manifest. The campaign is already snowballing and exponentially increasing. This is the outcome that will most likely catch us off–guard this May 9. After all, for the past three elections those who got elected to be the President and the VP did not really come from the same party or campaign ticket.

Fellow voters, we are already bored with partisan, traditional politics. Let’s vote for genuine leadership. Let’s vote for a “Gobyernong may Puso, na hindi kinakalimutan ang mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan.”

Vote for Grace Poe and Leni Robredo!

Grace-Leni Supporters: Growing by the Numbers

We are rising.

People have now realized and switch sides to the Poe-Robredo tandem. For Grace Poe’s camp, more people have woken up from the “Escudero” nightmare and how Chiz had only used Poe in order to gain political clout and a solid supporters’ base.

Evidence of this shift is the growing frequency of Grace Poe-Leni Robredo campaign materials spread out across the metro. And this campaign is not supported by big businesses and rich individuals. This is a truly people’s campaign originating from the grassroots. The ordinary Filipino has made the move to elect genuine leaders who have a true concern for the country’s development.

Now is the perfect time to abandon Chiz’ losing VP dream.

Make the right choice!

Grace-Leni for 2016!

Grace Poe’s Secret Weapons

1. Tony La Viña

Dean, Ateneo School of Government

La Viña will be Grace Poe's chief legal counsel and will be in the forefront of advocating for good governance and rule of law in the Poe administration. He is also a vocal supporter of Poe in the disqualification case in the SC.

2. Susan Roces

She serves as Poe's moral compass and advises her only on a more personal, motherly level.

Poe on her mother: “She will vouch for me when the time comes, but, right now, she only reminds me on a personal level – that I should remain true to myself and to the people.”

3. Aquino Sisters

Despite being brother to PNoy, they have silently showed their support to Grace Poe for the presidency instead of the LP standard bearer, Mar Roxas.

4. Brian Poe-Llamanzares

He is a prolific speaker which oftentimes spoke in behalf of her mother in campaign sorties.

Poe's son Brian leads the Gawa at Prinsipyo Coalition (GPC), which is the umbrella for all volunteer groups for Poe. He also reportedly helps in the social media team of the campaign.

5. Col. Ariel Querubin

Grace Poe's Anti-Crime Czar

Medal of Valor Awardee

6. Cielito Habito

Director General, NEDA

He will be Poe's chief economic adviser.

Poe on Habito: “Ako’y nagpapasalamat pagkat may mga academicians , mga miyembro ng business na nandyan si Secretary Ciel Habito na tumutulong…hindi ko sinasabing mga exclusibo to sa akin na kahit sinong kandidato siguro tutulungan nila dahil para sa bayan ito."

7. Malu Gamboa

She is Grace Poe's sounding board. She is Poe's best friend since high school. She also leads the ladies behind the campaign.

8. Ace Durano

Campaign Manager

Ace Durano, a member of the politically influential clan in Cebu, was tapped as the campaign manager of the Partido Galing at Puso

9. Atty. Nelson Victorino

Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Grace Poe.

He will be Grace Poe's Executive Secretary.

10. Former Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte

Villafuerte on Poe: "Bago, malinis ang pangalan, maganda ang track record."

11. Chiz Escudero

Chiz to crash, Leni on the rise

For the Vice-Presidential Elections, it is now a two-way race between Leni Robredo and Bongbong Marcos. Chiz Escudero is on a downhill path to crashing and eventually becoming an insignificant part of the race. It is an inevitable fact that in the coming weeks, Chiz will become an insignificant, negligible candidate.

It is also umdeniable fact that more and more of Chiz' so-called supporters are jumping ship and abandoning him as revealed by the latest survey results. Chiz' survey performance is essentially a track record of negatives and losses. Red is painted all over his poll records as we can clearly see below.

Bongbong may also be on the rise, but the undisputed biggest gainer in the VP race is Leni Robredo who has now accumulated a combined 19% increase in voter's preference. The future is getting brighter and brighter with Leni while for Chiz is getting dimmer and dimmer.

Many voters have already made the right choice of supporting Leni Robredo.

Poe-Robredo 2016!

Chiz endorses Leni Robredo

Senator Chiz Escudero has also made the right "Leni's" choice!

An endorsement video has now gone viral in social media and YouTube which portrays Sen. Escudero's unequivocal support to VP Presidential candidate Leni Robredo. Even Chiz becomes convinced that the polls are pointing to the direction that Leni will win the VP position.

Poe's running mate might as well withdraw from the race and throw his support to Leni. Leni and her "Tsinelas Leadership" is the perfect combination that will complement Grace Poe's "Gobyernong may Puso."

So fellow voters, let's follow Chiz and make the Leni's choice!

Poe-Robredo 2016!

Poe-Querubin Partners in Anti-Crime

The President’s choice of her cabinet greatly affects the over-all performance of her administration. Most of the time, we determine that someone is a good leader if she possesses the capacity to guide competent and honest individuals to work alongside her.

This is what Grace Poe clearly exhibited by unequivocally announcing to the Filipino people her choice of the man who will solve the country’s complicated crime problem – Col. Ariel Querubin.

Medal of Valor Awardee. United Nations Service Medal and Ribbon. A soldier who valiantly stood up against the corrupt Arroyo Administration. This is Col. Ariel Querubin.

Querubin graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1979 as a Dean's Lister. He took his master's degree in defense studies from the University of Canberra in Australia, graduating with distinction.

Querubin is also a staunch warrior against corruption. He was one of those who also implicated businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles as the alleged mastermind in the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

In the words of Grace Poe:

"Iyung iba nagdududa kung kaya ko bang labanan ang drugs kaya bilang isang pangulo na maraming inaasikaso, kailangan may mapakakatiwalaan na crime czar. Ilalagay ko ang isang may Medal of Valor na talagang magaling -- si Colonel Querubin -- na inirerespeto ng PNP at AFP na makipaglaban sa krimen at droga,"

This is where Rody Duterte fails us. His choice of the anti-crime czar is a man of questionable integrity and someone who is associated to graft and corruption. His name is Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Duterte portrays himself as the one who will eradicate criminality in the first six months of his incumbency if ever he wins, but Esperon casts serious doubt into this ambitious claim.

As the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, J3 at General Headquarters, AFP; Esperon was implicated during the 2004 alleged election fraud. He was mentioned in taped conversations called the "Hello Garci Tapes" to have worked for the relief of a Brigade Commander in Lanao who was not sympathetic to then Presidential Candidate Macapagal-Arroyo. He is indeed a puppet of the Arroyo administration. A soldier without conscience who blindly followed his corrupt "Commander-in-Chief's" orders.

Esperon also had ties with PDAF Queen Janet Napoles. Esperon was president and chief executive officer of the Asia Star Power Resources Corp. (AStar Power), a coal trading firm controlled by the Napoles family.

Unlike Col. Querubin, Esperon fails to realize that the ultimate authority of the military and all other law enforcement agencies emanates from the people whom they are duty-bound to serve and protect. This is an anti-crime czar who would only use the position for his and his President's advantage.

So, fellow voters, your choice of the next President of the Republic of the Philippines must not only look at the personal credentials of the candidate; we must also consider who will be part of her cabinet. Grace Poe, unfettered by shady political alliances and party affiliations, showed to us that her “Gobyernong may Puso” would include individuals of honesty, integrity and genuine dedication to public service.

The brand of leadership that we need

What we need are leaders who have genuine and clean experience in governance.

During the recently concluded second leg of the Philippine Presidential Debates. Many of the candidates pointed out the alleged "lack of experience" of Senator Grace Poe in the government and decision-making.

But to rebut their claim, what kind of experience are they referring to.

Are they referring to experience on how to be corrupt public officials? Experience on channeling government funds (like PDAF) into their pockets? Experience in relegating the public interest into a status below their private interest?

If this is the experience they are pertaining to, clearly Grace Poe doesn't have any. Her stint as MTRCB Chairman and Senator is free from the stains of graft and corruption. Her term as a Senator has no tinged of being involved in the Pork Barrel scam that had haunted her other colleagues. This is the kind of experience that we need.

Not the experience of traditional, veteran politicians who have made public office as their own personal (and even family or dynastic) business.

The same leadership experience can be found in Leni Robredo who has clearly shunned away from exploiting politics to her own advantage. She is a model leader of humility who even used public transportation on her trips back to her hometown. Who among the other Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates use the jeep or the bus for transportation?

That is why the experience that we must look into for our choice of candidates this elections is the experience displayed by Grace Poe and Leni Robredo. This is genuine servant-leadership for the people.

Grace-Leni for 2016!

Grace Poe supported by Aquino sisters

The Aquino family itself cannot give its full support to the administration party’s standard-bearer, Mar Roxas. The three Aquino sisters (names) have just signified their choice for the successor to their brother and it is none other than Grace Poe.

The tide has indeed turned into Poe’s favor. We can greatly expect within the next few weeks that the polls will reveal a huge lead between her and whoever will be the Top 2 pick for the presidency. Those voters who have doubted Poe’s chances of running this election because of the disqualification cases are now returning to her camp. Those politicians who have withdrawn their backing on Poe’s campaign will most likely revert back to her side now that her path to the presidency is clearer than ever.

Moreover, the Aquino sister’s support for Poe reveals how weak the Liberal Party has become when it chose Mar Roxas as its Presidential candidate. We have observed in the past few months some politicians leaving the party and pledging their allegiance to Grace Poe. But most significantly, while choosing for another Presidential candidate, they still retained their adherence to Leni Robredo, the Liberal VP candidate. Many personalities have already recognized the compatibility of a Poe-Robredo administration. Robredo’s under-performance in the polls is hugely attributable to the fact that her campaign is being dragged down by Roxas.

That is why now is the time for the people to make the wise and right choice. Supporting Robredo does not need to include voting for Roxas. Likewise, voting for Poe does not entail that we should select Chiz Escudero. It’s time for us to look at our candidates individually and separately.

Abandon Roxas.

Abandon Escudero.

Vote for the Poe-Robredo tandem.

Victory in the SC!

The Gods of Padre Faura have spoken. And they have allowed the voice of the people to govern and control the results of this election. The Supreme Court is true to its commitment as the bulwark of democracy and the Constitution. They have not allowed mere technicality and a narrow, discriminatory interpretation of the fundamental law of the land to dictate the will of the populace. Grace Poe’s qualifications as a candidate for the presidency were upheld by the highest court of the land.

All doubts of Poe running for (and winning) the elections are laid to rest. In the polls, we can expect an increase in the gap between her and second-placer, Duterte, as the confidence of the people returns to her side. It should be noted that Poe’s performance in the polls only dipped because of the pending disqualification cases filed against her.

The decision of the SC is proof that the law cannot be made as instruments to further the selfish interests of Poe’s political opponents. The decision is not only a victory for Poe but it is also a testament to the equally-protected rights of foundlings. It is a testament that one can never go wrong once you have the interest of the general public on your side.

Leni Robredo is right when she said that the issue over Poe’s citizenship is more of a “moral issue, than a legal one.” Poe represents all foundlings whose circumstances have made them prone to discrimination and abuse. More than legal technicalities and statutory provisions, the court’s decision is an affirmative action for persons similarly situated with Poe. Leni Robredo, among all the other candidates, understood the issue faced by Grace Poe. As a woman whose life is centered on her family, Robredo sympathizes with Poe’s predicament of not knowing her biological parents. But that should not define one’s citizenship and allegiance to the country. Robredo refuses to be blinded by partisan politics in order to see the validity of Poe’s intentions. This is a hallmark of a Vice-President that we need – one that is able to transcend political divisions and oppositions and be able to work together and compromise for a common goal.

Iboto! Poe-Robredo!

Women Power for 2016!

“Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.”
-Margaret Thatcher

We have had two women presidents. But both have track records mired with scandals and controversies, especially for that of former President Gloria Arroyo. But this May 2016, two strong-willed women have vied for the two highest positions – Grace Poe and Leni Robredo. They may not come from a single party but the character and qualities of the two complement each other.

Grace Poe should be our President. We don’t need a Roaring Dragon/butcher/human rights violator who would just disregard our Constitution and rule of law. We don’t need a “Jefe” (Chief) Bribemaster who would only plunder the public coffers. We don’t need a Master Racketeer who is a seasoned bureaucrat and traditional politician. For this election, we need a restart and Poe is the face of change.

Leni Robredo should be our Vice-President. She, along with her late husband, is the image of genuine, grassroots leadership that will be anti-corruption and pro-poor, pro-marginalized. Robredo will not be an idle, lame-duck Vice President (like the incumbent). For her, the Vice-Presidency is a position of power and influence to effect social change. Unlike her opponents, she views it as a position of power and influence and not as a platform to boost one’s chances to be the next President.

Despite coming from different political parties, the two would find a common ground from which they can build trust and cooperation. Both are women, mothers who have experienced taking care of their respective families. We need a President and a Vice-President who will look at our country as a household that needs to be cleaned up and improved, will look at its citizens as children that needs to be reared and treasured and will see to it that our nation’s finances would be properly budgeted and would be free from corruption.

This election should be a test of character and leadership quality and not of popularity, financial capacity and sensationalism. We need leaders with clear policy proposals and a vision for our future. Grace Poe and Leni Robredo is the right tandem for the next administration.