Grace Poe: Aquino not secretly supporting me

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe brushed aside rumors that she is President Benigno Aquino III's "secret candidate," after she confirmed attending the president's birthday celebration earlier this week.

"Kung secret man ‘yun, talagang secret dahil hindi ko naman alam 'yun," Poe said at a press conference in Cebu City on Wednesday.

She suggested that Aquino is only endorsing one presidential bet, Liberal Party standard-bearer Manual Roxas II, even as she was earlier offered to be part of the administration's slate for the elections.

Poe, who refused the Aquino's offered to be the party's candidate for vice president, said she remains friends with Aquino, who appointed her chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2012.

"Kaya nga noong kami ay nagkahiwalay, ibig sabihin noong ako’y tumakbo bilang pangulo at hindi nag-vice president sa kanyang slate, ang pagkakaintindi namin sa isa’t isa ay gagawin namin kung ano sa tingin namin ang maitutulong namin sa bayan," Poe said.

In September last year, Malacañang addressed allegations that Aquino is secretly supporting Poe, who has questioned the Commission on Elections before the Supreme Court after disqualifying her from the presidential race.

Palace deputy spokesperson Abigal Valte said Aquino "only has one" anointed.

"President Aquino is only endorsing one. And we know who he is," she said. — Camille Diola