Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Ang Kapatiran 2013 senatorial bet Rizalito “Lito” David on Thursday (August 6) filed a petition seeking to unseat Sen. Grace Poe after coming up with the fee required by the Senate Electoral Tribunal.
He paid a total of P60,000, P50,000 for the filing fee and another P10,000 for deposit.
David initially tried to file the petition on Wednesday morning (August 5), but the tribunal refused to receive it as he lacked the required filing fee.
According to him, calls from sympathizers and friends came in after they found out about his attempt to file a petition.
“Mga kaibigan ko po na nakikisimpatya. May mga text, mga nakakapanood sa TV, maging sa Facebook account may mga well-wishers”
He also denied accusations that politicians are backing him.
“Yung mga batuhan ng akusasyon kung ako’y binayaran o may mga politiko na nasa likuran ko o ako ay pakawala, yan po ay walang katotohanan dahil meron akong masidhing paggalang sa aking sarili, na hindi ako magpapagamit kahit kanino,” he said.
Questions on Poe’s residency, citizenship
David filed the 16-page quo warranto petition to challenge Poe’s eligibility to run for the Senate in the 2013 elections. According to him, Poe is not a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a requirement for those running for office, due to her foundling status.
Poe was abandoned at a church in Jaro, Iloilo as a child and was later adopted by the actor Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces.
(The actor died on December 14, 2004, shortly after losing his bid for the presidency to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.)
David also alleged that Senator Poe falsified documents and lied about complying with the two-year residency requirement for senatorial candidates in her certificate of candidacy.
“Dapat nating itaas ang antas ng pagtingin natin sa ating mga lider. Unang-una, na tignan natin kung karapat-dapat yung ating mga lider, sa pamamagitan lamang ng unang unang katanungan: Sila po ba ay sumusunod sa batas?” he said.
Poe, however, saw the petition against her as an opportunity for the issue on her citizenship and residency to be resolved.
“I am actually relieved that a petition has been filed so that I can answer the questions on my citizenship and residency. It is an opportunity for the truth to come out and for this issue to be resolved once and for all,” she said in a statement issued on Thursday.
She also assured those who voted for her and the country that their confidence in her was not misplaced.
“I remain truthful to our countrymen,” she said. I am a Filipino by birth, abode, and choice.”
CNN Philippines’ AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
