Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A lawmaker on Tuesday (September 22) asked Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to inhibit from the disqualification case before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) which questions the citizenship of Sen. Grace Poe.
1-BAP Partylist Rep. Silvestre Bello III said this was to remove doubts on the impartiality of Carpio who worked at a firm headed by the lawyer of Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
“With all due respect to a senior associate member of SC, he should inhibit himself from this case dahil alam natin si Carpio may umibilical cord kay Atty. Nonong Cruz who is the lawyer of preseidentiable Mar Roxas. Whatever his decision, it will be suspect because of [his] ties with [the] law firm,” Bello said.
Related: Justice Carpio: Poe a naturalized Filipino citizen, not natural born
Supporters of Roxas in the lower house refused to say who stood to gain from the citizenship issues surrounding Poe stressing that what’s important is the LP bet’s improved rating in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
Related: Political analysts question +18 surge of Roxas in SWS poll
“Tingin namin trend is going up. Tingin namin tuluy-tuloy ito. We will work para mag-tuluy-tuloy yun,” Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo said.
LP members also insisted that Poe’s citizenship is not an issue for them. Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, LP chairman for political and electoral affairs, added that the party believes Poe is a Filipino.
“That’s why in 2013 tinulungan namin siya, ni-recruit namin sa Team PNoy,” he said.
Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) President and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao believes the citizenship issue hounding Poe will stop once her DNA test results are released.
“I think on her own, Senator Grace took effort to have (her) DNA taken, that to me is a manifestation how well intentioned Senator Grace is to have (her) case resolved ASAP,” Aggabao said.
The NPC did not announce who they will endorse for 2016 during its press conference on Tuesday afternoon, but it was mentioned that there are a number of NPC members who support the Poe-Escudero tandem.
“Admittedly, I am in support kay Grace at Chiz and it seems like from my talks with the officials of NPC, they’re also of the same opinion,” Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said.
Related: Escudero declares bid for vice presidency, teams up with Poe
Escudero’s mother, Sorsogon 1st District Rep. Evelina Escudero is also an NPC member. According to her, the Escudero family has never lost an election. She added that her son’s credentials are enough to make him win the vice presidency.
Meanwhile, LP members said the party’s 2016 official lineup, including the vice presidential bet and senatorial slate, will be announced on September 28.
Included in the senatorial list are Senate President Franklin Drilon, Sens. Ralph Recto and Teofisto Guingona III, and former senator and food security czar Francis Pangilinan.
