MANILA – Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone, of the Liberal Party (LP), commented on the issues possible 2016 presidential candidates were facing, saying that raising the issue of Senator Grace Poe’s citizenship was just a political ploy of the contending candidates.
Representative Evardone noted that corruption allegations against other presidential bets were greater issues than Senator Poe’s purported dual citizenship and noneligibility to run for presidency should she seek higher office in the coming national elections.
“By bringing up the issue of citizenship against Poe, her detractors hope that it would create doubts in the minds of the electorate. But I think this is a non-issue compared to the issue of corruption,” Evardone said.
Senator Poe earlier dismissed rumors on her citizenship, clarifying that she had already renounced her U.S. citizenship and reverted back to her Filipino citizenship.
Read: Grace Poe slams issues on citizenship
Aside from defending Senator Poe, Representative Evardone also defended Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II against detractors who said that he would only be sliding to vice presidency.
“As to Roxas sliding to vice president, his opponents want to portray him as a weak presidential candidate. His detractors want to convince the voters to shun a ‘non-winner’ Again, I think this can easily be demolished by Roxas’ track record as an incorruptible leader,” Evardone said.
The LP had been considering Secretary Roxas and Senator Poe as its standard bearers in the coming elections. However, the senator is not a member of the political party and said that she had not yet received any formal offer from the ruling LP.