POE URGES RIVALS TO FOCUS ON ISSUES IN LAST DEBATE

Sen. Grace Poe appealed to her fellow presidential candidates to refrain from mudslinging and name-calling during the third and final PiliPinas Presidential Debates to be held this Sunday.

Poe, known for her calmness and composure, reminded the candidates that when the campaign is over, it's all business as usual.

"Pakiusap ko sa lahat ng kandidato, sana huwag namang magtawag ng mga masasakit na pangalan dahil pagkatapos nito balik rin naman tayo sa pagiging kung sino tayo," Poe said in a radio interview during her visit to Bacolod City yesterday.

Poe added that candidates should serve as an inspiration and set a good example by being responsible with the words they choose.

"May responsibilidad kaming ayusin ang aming pananalita at ayusin ang aming pagkilos sapagkat bilang isang lider, hindi ka lang nagbibigay ng order, ikaw ay nagbibigay ng inspirasyon at halimbawa," she said.

"Masakit 'yon sa mga pamilya. Ang mga tao na sasabihin 'puwede pala 'yon? Puwede pala nating gawin 'yon?'" Poe said.

With more than two weeks to go before Election Day, Poe said candidates should just focus on issues that are relevant to the Filipino people.

Poe will share the stage with four other presidential candidates for the Luzon leg of the presidential debates to be held at the Phinma-University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City. The town hall-type debate is sponsored by the Commission on Elections and hosted by ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin.

The senator, the lone independent presidential aspirant, has been lauded for her performance in the last two debates, where she was chosen by analysts as the one who stood out for being articulate and coming prepared with research to back her positions.