MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday that Sen. Grace Poe promised not to attack him during her presidential campaign.
Aquino revealed in a press conference in Malacañang that Poe sent him a text message on Tuesday or before she declared her presidential candidacy last night.
"May mga pangakong inilabas doon na… sabi niya 'darating tayo sa kampanya na kung saan makakarating sa kampo mo na inaatake kita at never kong gagawin 'yon," Aquino quoted Poe as saying.
In response, Aquino said he will allow criticisms from Poe if these are based on facts.
"Ano ang isasagot ko? E 'di siyempre, nagpapasalamat ako, at sa akin naman kung talagang kailangan na ako ay i-criticize bakit hindi?" Aquino said.
"Basta ilagay natin sa tamang lugar, sa tamang konteksto, at 'yung nakabase sa katotohanan," he added.
Aquino said he was elated by Poe's decision to inform him that she would be announcing her plan to run for president.
"In fairness, mahaba-haba 'yung text niyang ipinadala sa akin—10:00 ng gabi bago siya nagdeklara—at talagang ikinatutuwa ko naman na, in a sense, parang nagpaalam, nagliwanag ng kanyang mga intensyon," the president said.
Poe was among the three officials who met with Aquino in Malacañang before the president finally identified as his preferred successor.
Aquino eventually endorsed former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II as the administration's standard-bearer, saying he possesses more experience than Poe.
Poe was also among the officials courted by Roxas to be his running mate.
In her speech on Wednesday, Poe acknowledged Aquino's achievements but she claimed that no single group is entitled to continue the president's reforms.
Aquino, in response, reminded the senator not to make promises to the nation that are impossible to fulfill.