Grace Poe's imminent victory a vindication for FPJ — Loren

Grace Poe leading the senatorial race is a “vindication” of her father's controversial defeat in the 2004 presidential election, at least in the eyes of her fellow Team PNoy senatorial candidate Loren Legarda.

Legarda was the running-mate of Poe's father, National Artist Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ, in his unsuccessful presidential bid in 2004.

“Ako ay nagulat. Kung si Grace Poe na kandidato, nagulat din, ako din ay nagulat. Pero when you look back parang 'di naman talaga ako nagulat kasi para itong vindication nung 2004 na nadaya si FPJ at ang inyong lingkod na running-mate noon ni FPJ,” said Legarda, sticking to their claim that they were cheated in the 2004 elections.

“Tinatawag ko itong vindication ng pandaraya na hindi kami nakaupo ni FPJ at namatay na nga siya nung 2004,” she added.

In an interview on GMA News TV’s “News to Go” Wednesday, Legarda, a consistent second to Grace Poe in the senatorial race, noted that other senatorial candidates who were with FPJ’s campaign in 2004 have entered the “Magic 12.”

“Sabi nga nila, ‘ano 'yan FPJ-Loren all over again? Pati si Chiz [Escudero] na spokesperson ni FPJ, nasa top five, si Nancy [Binay], na anak naman ni [Vice President Jejomar] Binay [na] campaign manager namin nung 2004. It might not be accurate but that's what people say,” she said.

Poe, who earned the moniker “Da King” from his legendary career as a movie star, died on December 14, 2004, but his widow, Susan Roces, pursued an electoral protest against the winner of the presidential election, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The case, however, did not prosper.

By official records of Congress sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, Arroyo won after garnering 12,905,808 votes over Poe's 11,782,232.

In June 2005, a taped conversation about alleged vote-rigging between a woman presumed to be Arroyo and a man presumed to be then-Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano surfaced. It became known as the “Hello Garci" controversy.

Arroyo, who is on hospital arrest for a plunder case, has repeatedly denied poll fraud accusations. Her spokespersons have yet to comment on Legarda's statement.

‘Not foolproof’

In the months leading to the elections, Legarda was constantly ranked number one by survey firms Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations. But after placing second only to Grace Poe, Legarda said she recognized surveys were not absolute.

“Sorpresa ng panandalian siguro mga isang minuto. Pero sa mga survey naman... kasi hindi naman foolproof 'yung mga resulta na eksakto talaga,” she said.

Legarda described Grace's impressive performance in the senatorial race as “divine intervention.”

“Divine intervention siguro. Parang ganun ang tingin ko talaga. I believe Grace is a competent professional and that she will not let her mother and her father down, and ako'y nandiyan to support our first time senators, sa haba ng experience ko sa lehislatura,” Legarda said.

Meanwhile, Legarda was quick to deny that she was considering running for higher office, saying she will be finishing her third term in the Senate.

“Hindi po ako tatakbo for a higher position, tatapusin ko ang termino ko from 2013-2019.” — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK, GMA News