Poe-Escudero’s PGP picks historic Plaza Miranda for proclamation rally

Senators Grace Poe and Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero (Facebook photo)

MANILA—The Partido Galing at Puso, the political party of independent presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe and running mate Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, will kick off the 90-day election campaign at the historic Plaza Miranda on Feb. 9.

In a media advisory, Poe’s office announced that the campaign kick-off will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Poe and Escudero are expected to be joined by PGP’s senatorial lineup that includes reelectionist Senators Vicente Sotto III and Ralph Recto and former Senators Richard Gordon and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Also part of the Poe-Escudero’s senatorial ticket are Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, lawyer Lorna Kapunan, former police officer and now ACT-CIS Party list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, actor and TV host Ed Manzano, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, and migrant workers advocate Susan “Toots” Ople, daughter of the late Senator Blas Ople.

Expected to attend the proclamation rally are Poe’s adoptive mother, veteran actress Susan Roces, and Escudero’s wife, actress Heart Evangelista, and other personalities from the showbiz industry.

In a previous interview, Escudero said the Grace-Chiz tandem will try to visit as many areas of the country as they can to present to the people their platform of government.

In September last year, Poe laid down a 20-point program of government ranging from intensified fight against corruption to increasing support for arts and culture and standard school lunches.

Among the programs of government she identified will focus on inclusive growth, education, agriculture, infrastructure, particularly Internet, industrialization that would create more jobs, improved transparency, salaries and benefits, more support to overseas Filipino workers, fight against crime and illegal drugs, peace talks, respect to human rights, intensified health program, more supports for arts, culture and sports, strengthen tourism, climate change and disaster preparedness, and broadened Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program.

Despite disqualification cases filed against her, Poe remains one of the top favorites to win the May 9 presidential race based on the recent surveys.