SEN. GRACE POE'S AMBUSH INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
Burgos Public Market, Bacolod City

ON RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

Sen. Grace Poe: Well, siyempre it's easier for me to go around since my schedule is really my own. I can decide randomly just to come to the market...Pero siyempre, meron ding mga hamon 'yon. There are challenges, for example, you don't really have the machinery that they have. On the other hand, there are 12 spots naman. I keep telling people na mas maganda naman na may balance, hindi naman kasama sa iisang grupo lang.

ON BALANCE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE SENATE

Poe: You know that would really be for the advantage of everyone. Of course, one party will always push for a straight slate. But for me, for example, in my own personal capacity, I talk to the people to vote for certain people who I know really work like Sen. Serge (Osmeña), si Sen. Nancy (Binay)... and then, Sen. JV (Ejercito). Iba-iba naman ang mga partido namin 'di ba?

WHO AMONG THE SENATORS ARE YOU CAMPAIGNING FOR?

Poe: I'm campaigning for all the re-electionists, the current re-electionists. Together with them, we collaborated and we've come up with, I feel, substantial laws. And Senator Serge who is my mentor.

CAMPAIGN PITCH

Poe: Aside from my track record which I've already enumerated. I feel that I am very truthful in my work and as my tagline goes, "Mabait sa totoo, galit sa manloloko." So if I sense that we are treated unjustly and there is unfairness, I speak out. I feel that I've been very fair in all of my dealings in the Senate.

SUGAR IMPORT LIBERALIZATION

Poe: I feel that we really have to strengthen first our sugar industry with the Sugarcane Industry Development Act which was basically passed maybe three years ago. It is slowly, still building the sugar industry here. You know in other countries, per hectare they have more yield because of mechanization. In our country, 'yung per hectare natin ng sugarcane hindi ganun kalaki 'yung yield. Kaya hindi tayo makaka-compete at this point. Just like the liberalization for rice, before they did that, they had to be able to commit the P10 billion will have to be given back for the rice enhancement fund. So before they can really talk about sugar liberalization, ano muna 'yung compensation in return so that we will not kill our own industry?