THE camp of Senator Grace Poe shrugged off on Monday her critics' "desperate" move to ditch her 2016 presidential bid.
"It's sad and alarming that as the elections draw nearer and nearer, Senator Poe's critics continue to spew more and more lies and half-truths against her. On top of this, they have also resorted to creating fictitious organizations to serve as venom bearers," Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Poe's spokesman, said in a statement.
Women group Kapatiran ng Makabayang Kababaihan is planning to hold a rally in front of Poe's campaign headquarters in Quezon City on Monday, 10 a.m., to call on the senator to withdraw her candidacy for president, as she allegedly creates "big confusion and disunion in the entire country."
"It is evident that she is only using the name of (her late father Fernando Poe Jr.) FPJ and indigents like us," Sally Valenzuela, spokesperson of Kapatiran ng Makabayang Kababaihan, said in a statement.
Gatchalian dismissed the attack as "phase two" of Poe detractors' "attack script," questioning her performance in the Senate.
"There is absolutely no truth that Senator Poe did not perform her sworn duties," he said.
"The Senate records stand as a witness to her accomplishments in the chamber. These records will bear her out and speak the truth that she has championed bills that provide solutions to every Filipino's daily woes. She has also decisively led investigations of key issues facing our country."
Gatchalian then noted that to date, Poe has authored or co-authored a total of 231 measures, which addresses such issues as protection of the environment, human rights, children’s welfare, gender sensitivity and non-discrimination, health workers' concerns, sound economy, business competitiveness, livelihood and employment.
He also cited two of Poe's legislative measures – Republic Act 10639 or the Free Mobile Texts During Disasters Act, and Republic Act 10640 streamlining the "Three-Witness Rule" of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act governing the seizure and custody of drugs – were passed into law.
Gatchalian said Poe also co-authored six bills that became laws, and spearheaded the passage of the Freedom of Information bill in the Senate, which seeks to make public government records and transactions.
He said the hearings on the woes of Metro Rail Transit 3 and on the Mamasapano fiasco showed that Poe has qualities of being a leader, by chairing those committees "with objectivity and depth."
"Senator Poe will not be distracted by these low-handed attacks. She will continue to focus on her campaign efforts on her advocacy, government with heart," Gatchalian said. (Sunnex)