Poe’s allies hail SC ruling

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe’s allies on Tuesday lauded the latest ruling of the Supreme Court en banc allowing the senator to join the presidential race.

Poe’s vice presidential running mate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the high tribunal once again sided with the Constitution in favoring the petition of Poe. He added that “the SC’s decision is also a victory of foundlings who aspire to seek for higher office in order to serve the country.”

“I laud the Supreme Court for its decision to allow Sen. Grace Poe to run for president in the May 9 elections. The Supreme Court once again sided with the rule of law in upolding the petition of Sen. Grace to reverse the partisan, biased and unfounded decision of the Comelec disqualifying her from the presidential race,” Escudero said.

Another vice presidential candidate, Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, who actively supports Poe, said the democracy and justice prevailed in SC’s decision. He urged the public to now focus on the credible presidential candidates. 

“Democracy and justice prevailed over technicalities in the decision of the Supreme Court. More importantly, with this out of the way, we should now focus on who among the presidential candidates is truly worthy to lead our country for the next 6 years,” Trillanes said.

Senatorial candidate and Manila Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso also shared the same sentiments, saying the SC en banc’s ruling restored the public’s faith in the justice system.

"SC has restored our faith in the judiciary," Domagoso said.

"It will definitely create a bandwagon effect and more than Sen. Grace, it is  a triumph for Philippine democracy since voters can now choose the candidate they want to lead,” he added.

Other senatorial candidates running under Poe’s “Galing at Puso Partido” expressed gratefulness for the high tribunal’s decision.

Re-electionist Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he expects more voters moving to Poe after she was declared an eligible candidate. 

On the other hand, senatorial candidates Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and Rep. Neri Colmenares defended Poe, saying she completed her residency requirement. They alleged that supporters of other candidates were behind the disqualification cases. 

“Sen. Poe is a natural born citizen and has complied with the residency requirement. We thank the SC for upholding the rule of law,” Romulo said.

“Hindi ko sinasabi na ang Malakanyang ang nasa likod ng DQ cases, palagay ko ang sumusuporta sa kandidato nila ang nasa likod ng pag-file ng mga kaso laban kay Sen. Poe,” Colmenares explained.

The SC on Tuesday afternoon announced that the en banc is allowing Poe to run for president with 9-6 votes in favor of the senator. The court’s decision has yet to be released.

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