Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the airing of presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe’s latest advertisement.
In a manifestation filed through his legal counsel Manuelito Luna on Monday afternoon (January 18), Tatad said the content of the ad intends to sway the Supreme Court into ruling in Poe’s favor.
“Ang mga miyembro ng Supreme Court puro tao rin eh. At kung mga ordinary people like you and me can be influenced by that ad, then the pressure builds up eh. So baka ma-apektuhan yung objectivity,” Luna told the media.
[Translation: Members of the Supreme Court are also humans. And if ordinary people like you and me can be influenced by that ad, then the pressure builds up. So their objectivity might be affected.]
He was referring to Poe’s advertisement that features four individuals, three of which were discussing the disqualification cases the senator is currently facing.
They went on to express their liking of Poe and emphasized that just like her father, Fernando Poe Jr., in his movies — she will triumph in the end.
“Yung matter na yan na-border between a contemptuous act and freedom [the] of press or [of] expression, so medyo sensitive ito at ang korte suprema lang ang pwedeng magbalanse,” Luna added.
[That matter borders between a contemptuous act and freedom of the press or of expression, so this is a sensitive case and only the Supreme Court can strike a balance.]
Tatad was one of four individuals who asked the poll body to disqualify Poe due to issues on the senator’s residency and her status as a foundling.
Atty. Manuelito Luna showing filed manifestation to stop the broadcast of presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe’s political advertisements.
Luna said they want the high court to order the ad taken down. However, this was not specified in their manifestation, which asks the SC to “take swift and appropriate action in order to preserve the sanctity” of its proceedings on the matter.
Former senatorial candidate Rizalito David, also represented by Luna, previously filed a similar manifestation against a newspaper write up by a former chief justice that also supposedly intends to sway the high court in favor of Poe.
The high court is scheduled to hold oral arguments on Tuesday (January 19) on the Commission on Elections decision to disqualify Poe from the presidential race.
Also read: Comelec en banc cancels Poe’s certificate of candidacy
Also read: Grace Poe confident SC will rule in her favor
Poe’s camp: All ads go through scrutiny
Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said in a statement that they would respond to Tatad’s allegations.
Gatchalian pointed out their ads are all reviewed by broadcast networks’ respective ethics committees.
“The networks will not allow any ads to air if it doesn’t meet the legal and ethical standards of the respective network.”
Gatchalian also said the ads merely reflect the sentiments of Senator Poe’s supporters on the ground.
“It is simply meant to explain that Senator Poe remains in the running for the upcoming elections contrary to what some quarters are spreading,” Gatchalian added.
Also read: Grace Poe says FPJ continues to inspire her
CNN Philippines’ David Santos contributed to this report.
