Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, daughter of the late move king Fernando Poe Jr. who lost in the presidential race in the May 2004 elections, has decided to run in the senatorial derby in next year’s elections, officials of the Filipinos for Freedom Justice and Progress Movement (FPJPM) said on Wednesday.

Boots Cadsawan, chairman of the FPJPM, said during the Fernandina Media Forum at Club Filipino in San Juan, Greenhills that Mary Grace has made up her mind in tossing her hat in the senatorial race in next year’s election.

But Cadsawan said that Mary Grace – a graduate of Assumption College who actively took part in the campaign of FPJ in 2004 – has yet to decide as to what political party she will join to launch her campaign for her senatorial bid.

Cadsawan said that they are banking on the support of the late movie idol to ensure the victory of Mary Grace – considered as the most outspoken child of FPJ – in next year’s senatorial race.

It would be recalled that Fernando Poe Jr. lost during the May 2004 elections to President Arroyo amid allegations of massive cheating. He died after suffering from a stroke some seven months later while his electoral protest against Mrs. Arroyo was still pending before the Supreme Court.

Cadsawan pointed out that the FPJPM has yet to announce their choice of presidential timber for next year’s election since they are still in the process of consultation with their officials from the different regions of the country.

Earlier, FPJM national chairman told the Bulletin that Mary Grace asked him to support her favored presidential aspirant – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero – when they met during the death anniversary of FPJ last August 20 at the North Cemetery in Quezon City.

Calling themselves as the “silent majority” among the throng of FPJ supporters, Cadsawan said that they are also not obliged to support the presidential bid of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada in the May 2010.

“We have no connections with Erap,” he stressed.

The FPJM, on the other hand, has declared its support to the presidential bid of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III after Senator Mar Roxas, Liberal Party president, decided to withdraw from the presidential race for the sake of party unity.