Poe seeks second Senate term

“Of course, you remember the heartbreak (of 2016). But when you think about it, it gave us the opportunity to reach out to more people and help them.” (File Photo: Grace Poe/ Facebook)

MANILA — Senator Grace Poe on Monday filed her bid for a re-election in the May 2019 midterm polls.

“Well, siyempre kami ay nanalangin ng aking ina na patuloy yung magiging tiwala sa atin ng ating mga kababayan (of course, my mother and I are praying that the people will continue to support us,” Poe said after filing her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for senator at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Manila on Monday morning.

The lawmaker is running as an independent candidate but was adopted by the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) as its senatorial bet.

Poe admitted that she had second thoughts in joining next year’s poll because of her experience in the presidential race in May 2016.

“Of course, you remember the heartbreak (of 2016). But when you think about it, it gave us the opportunity to reach out to more people and help them,” said Poe, who was accompanied by her mother, movie and television actress Susan Roces.

Poe topped the May 2013 senatorial race but landed in third place in the May 2016 presidential elections.

Former Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid also filed his COC. He refused to answer questions from the media.

Lapid already served two terms as senator in 2004 and in 2010.