Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Whether or not Sen. Grace Poe is a natural born Filipino will be the main issue that the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) has to resolve.
The tribunal on Friday (September 11) has decided to drop the residency issue against Poe – explaining that it has already expired.
According to the SET rules, one can question a winning candidate’s residency only within 10 days after proclamation.
Poe attended the meeting and fearlessly said she came to face the tribunal and her accuser to defend herself from the allegations being thrown at her.
“Ang laban na ito pag sinasabi nila dahil ito sa eleksyon. Hindi po. Ito po ay laban ng marami sa atin dito sa bansa na nakakaranas din ng ganito. Katulad ng mga bata na hindi matukoy ang kanilang mga magulang,” Poe told the media.
[Translation: “They say this fight is about the elections. No. This is a fight of people in the country facing the same circumstance. Like those children who aren’t able to identify who their parents are.”]
Poe also said this is a “replay” of what her father went through when the late Fernando Poe Jr. ran for president.
“Medyo sentimental nga po ang aking pagdalo ngayon. Sapagkat nung si FPJ ay tumakbo noong 2004 wala po silang mabato sa kanila na korupsyon, pagnanakaw o hindi pagtulong sa kapwa. Kaya ang ginawa nila ay batuhin siya ng issue ng citizenship,” said Poe.
[Translation: “I’m a bit sentimental. Because when FPJ ran for office they didn’t have anything to say against him such as corruption, plunder, or not helping others. That’s why they questioned his citizenship.”]
The petitioner, Rizalito “Lito” David – who lost in the 2013 senatorial race – was also present.
He insisted that Poe is not a natural born Filipino.
“Yung kanyang pagiging hindi natural born citizen. Kasi constitutional requirement yan. Kung sinuman ang tatakbo,” David said.
[Translation: “She’s not a natural born citizen. That’s a constitutional requirement. To whoever will run for office.”]
Poe hoped that the tribunal will be fair in handling the case.
“Alam mo para sa akin naman ako ay umaasa sa pagiging patas at makatarungan ng mga kasama sa Senate Electoral Tribunal. Ako naman ay kumpiyansa sa kanilang kakayanan at dasal ko lamang ang kanilang konsensya ay hindi madidiktahan ninuman,” said Poe.
[Translation: “I am hoping that the Senate Electoral Tribunal will be fair. I am confident with their capabilities and I pray that their conscience will not be dictated by anyone.”]
All nine members of the SET were present in the preliminary conference.
The members include – three Supreme Court (SC) justices: Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro and Arturo Brion; and six senators: Sens. Vicente Sotto III, Cynthia Villar, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Bam Aquino and Nancy Binay, Vice President Jejomar Binay’s daughter.
Binay promised to be fair.
“Titignan ko talaga yung mga ebidensya na ihaharap and then I will make my decision based on the evidence presented to the tribunal,” said Binay.
Poe and David will be subjected to oral arguments at the SC on September 21.
