Grace Poe hopes for fairness in SET decision
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe on Monday said she is hoping that the nine-member Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) will be fair in ruling on the disqualification case against her.
"Ako'y nagdadasal at umaasa na sana ay maging patas talaga ang lahat ukol do'n," Poe said in an ambush interview, the transcript of which was released by her office.
Poe, who was the frontrunner in the 2013 senatorial race, said that she will appeal if an unfavorable ruling is issued on Tuesday, when SET members are expected to resolve the cases questioning her citizenship and residency.
"Una, 20 million na mga tao ang bumoto sa atin. Itong trabaho na ginagawa ko ay para sa lahat... Kung hindi man tayo magwawagi bukas, i-aapela natin dahil kasama yun sa proseso. Ayaw naman natin na basta sumuko," Poe said.
Poe, a presidential aspirant, admitted she is nervous about the pending ruling and saddened by the case filed by defeated senatorial candidate Rizalito David.
David argued that Poe does not meet the requirement for running for elected positions for being a foundling who may not be a natural-born citizen.
Poe said the SET decision may affect the citizenship status of other foundlings.
"Napakabigat din kasi na dala dala natin ang ilang libo, daang libong mga bata na parehong sitwasyon sa akin," she said.
"Nasa kamay nila ang pag-interpreta ng batas panig sa tama. Ang batas, marahil ay hindi literal pero ito ay palaging ginagamit not as an injustice, but something that will bring about justice. So yun ang sa akin. Ang pinaka-defenseless sa ating bansa ay ang mga bata," Poe added.
RELATED: SET votes on Poe case on November 17
The meeting was set on November 17 to beat the deadline of the Commission on Elections for printing the ballots that would be used for next year’s polls.
SET is composed of six senators—Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Bam Aquino, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay and Vicente Sotto III; and three magistrates of the Supreme Court—Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Arturo Brion.
- Latest
- Trending
