PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Senator Grace Poe admitted she was disappointed that Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez was not included in her senatorial slate.
In an interview after announcing her slate in the Partido Galing at Puso or Team GP, Poe said she had not known of Romualdez when they were completing her senatorial lineup, but when she heard him speak, she found the three-term congressman “very intelligent.”
“Sayang lang nga [It’s too bad],” she said. “I wanted to say Bakit ngayon ka lang? (Why did we meet only now?)”
She noted that Romualdez has been fighting for many of the things she too wanted, especially help for his constituents in Eastern Visayas who were devastated by Super Typhoon “Yolanda.”
Poe added that in completing her senatorial slate, she wanted to emphasize unification.
Romualdez filed his candidacy as an independent, but he is seeking a Senate seat under United Nationalist Alliance whose standard bearer is Vice President Jejomar Binay.
On Friday, he thanked Poe for her “virtual endorsement” of his senatorial bid, and assured her that he would push for the return of “malasakit” or compassion to public service.
Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), expressed gratitude to Poe for believing in his ability and leadership as a senatorial candidate who can contribute to improving the country.
“I am deeply humbled and honored for the good and kind words given to me by Senator Grace Poe,” Romualdez said.
Poe, the presidential frontrunner in the most recent opinion surveys, also asked the public to support someone like Romualdez who hails from Eastern Visayas.
Romualdez said like Poe, his platform of government is anchored on good governance, accountability and transparency.
“I am one with them in pushing transparency and accountability in public service that will truly care and genuinely serve the poorest of the poor. Ibabalik po natin ang malasakit sa serbisyo publiko. (Let’s bring back compassion to public service.)That is my commitment,” Romualdez said.
On Friday, Romualdez visited the province of Aurora to distribute relief packs to thousands of families affected by Typhoon “Lando.”
About 4,000 families from four towns of Aurora province were given sleeping mats, blankets, rice, canned goods, slippers, and medicine.
Romualdez was accompanied by Aurora Gov. Gerry Noveras in distributing relief to Barangays Buhangin, Zabali, Gan-Gab all in Baler and Barangays Real and Ditumabo in San Luis, in Maria Aurora and Dipaculao towns.
Noveras expressed gratitude to the Leyte lawmaker.
On Tuesday, Romualdez distributed emergency relief supplies in Calumpit, Bulacan, who were also affected by Lando.