Poe’s rule of law retort prompts Binay to attack her citizenship

Senator Grace Poe's remarks on Vice President Jejomar Binay's need to follow the rules of the debate prompted the opposition standard bearer to accuse the independent candidate of being ashamed of her roots.

As Binay continued to have notes on his rostrum despite being told that it was against the Commission on Elections' rules, Poe said it would have been good if candidates followed not only the rules of law but also the rules of the debate.

"Siguro bigyan natin ng benefit of the doubt ang ating mayor (Binay was the former mayor of Makati City) na iba nga ang nasabi sa kanya," Poe said on the wrong message sent to Binay that he could bring his notes.

In a sudden turn, however, Poe adverted to Binay's repeated snub of the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-committee's hearings on the allegations of corruption against Binay.

"Importante na pumunta sa Senado kung wala namang tinatago," Poe said.

Binay took the hit by pointing out that Poe once renounced his Filipino citizenship to become an American.

"Lagi mong sinasabi na ikaw ay tunay na Pilipino. Paano ka magiging tunay na Pilipino e sumumpa ka na maging Amerikano nung mag-abjure ka, ikinahihiya mo ang pinanggalingan mo," Binay said.

Poe indicated that Binay's remark went against the overseas Filipino workers' interests.

"Ikaw nagsasabi mo na pino protektahan mo ang mga OFW.... Nandito ka nga sa bansa pero nangulimbat ka naman ng pera," Poe said. —NB, GMA News