Chiz unfazed, defends people’s right to peaceful assembly

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis Escudero remained unfazed yesterday despite the possible backlash over his support for the protest of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Escudero said it is his duty as a lawmaker to defend the people’s rights regardless of religion or affiliation.

“I’ve always fought for the things I firmly believe in,” said Escudero.

“If I will be receiving a backlash in so far as fighting for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and the right to peaceably assemble and petition government for a redress of grievances, it’s my job as a lawmaker to protect the rights of every person and every organization,” Escudero added.

He invoked the Constitution in reiterating his stand, adding that there were similar movements in the past involving other religions. 

The senator cited the protests made by the Catholic Church against the Reproductive Health bill, the EDSA People Power revolt in 1986 and the EDSA Dos during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“As they say, I may not agree with what you’re saying but I will defend to death your right to say it,” he said.

Escudero recognized that INC, known for its bloc voting, would always be “an addition” for someone who is running for office, but said that was not a consideration for what he did.

Escudero assailed the Department of Justice, which he perceives has been prioritizing “high-profile cases,” citing the creation of special panel to conduct the pork barrel-related controversy and the serious illegal detention case filed by comedian Vhong Navarro.

He noted that a respondent misses an opportunity to appeal his or her case before the local prosecutor once a complaint has been elevated to the DOJ.

Grace explains stand

Escudero’s possible running mate in the 2016 polls and frontrunner in next year’s presidential polls, Sen. Grace Poe, said that the angry reaction over her statement regarding the INC protest was caused by misinterpretation.

Poe said that she was not trying to defend the INC exclusively because of their reputation as a religious group and a major voting bloc.

She would have done the same for other groups in a similar situation regardless of their religious or political affiliations or status in society.

Poe had earlier said that it would have been better for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to face the INC members and explain what exactly is going on.

Poe said that she was curious as to why the DOJ was particularly focused on the alleged abduction of expelled INC minister Isaias Samson when there were so many other cases have not been moving along.

Poe also said in the interview that the members of the INC were defending their beliefs and that this as well as their other rights must be respected.

“I am saddened by the misinterpretation of what I said by many. But for me, I will defend the rights of everyone, regardless of religion whether you are INC, Catholic, Muslim or even a member of a group of farmers,” Poe said.

Poe emphasized that a dialogue between the DOJ and the INC would have prevented the escalation of the situation.

In another development, Poe expressed confidence that the questions regarding her citizenship would all be answered once the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) reviews her birth and other certificates, which she submitted to the body last Monday.

Poe said that her lawyers have submitted her birth certificate, travel documents and foundling certificate to the SET as part of her response to the petition filed by losing senatorial candidate Rizalito David.

In his petition, David asked the SET to disqualify Poe for allegedly not being a natural-born Filipino.

Poe once again welcomed the SET case as an opportunity for her to clarify once and for all her status as a natural-born Filipino.

“For me it’s one of relief that these have been submitted because the questions about whether or not I am a natural-born Filipino would be answered there,” Poe said.

Poe said that her lawyers already prepared the documents as attachments to her response to the petition.

She said that the foundling certificate was also included and the SET would be able to see the dates involved as well as the individuals who signed this.

Poe was a foundling left at the steps of the Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo before she was adopted by the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. and actress Susan Roces.

Apart from questions about Poe’s status as a natural-born citizen, the issue about her residency was also raised by some groups because of the fact that she spent a considerable amount of time in the United States when she became an American citizen.          

Poe later renounced her American citizenship after President Aquino appointed her chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in 2010.

In the 107-page response, Poe’s lawyers asked the SET to dismiss the petition of David because the prescribed period for opening and questioning the qualification of Poe as a senator has already lapsed.

The camp of Poe argued that the qualification of a senator could only be questioned within 10 days after the proclamation, but more than two years have lapsed since the 2013 elections and so this issue could no longer be raised before the SET.

On the argument that the citizenship of the senator could be raised at any time, Poe’s lawyers said that this only applies to cases when the actual citizenship of the senator changed after the proclamation or if the candidate deliberately failed to disclose her status as a foreigner when she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC).

The lawyers pointed out that Poe never changed her citizenship after she was proclaimed and never hid anything regarding her status when she filed her COC.– With Marvin Sy