Poe's camp hopeful Comelec defers to SET decision

MANILA, Philippines  — The camp of Sen. Grace Poe remains hopeful that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will uphold the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal in connection to the presidential aspirant's citizenship issue.

"We are hopeful the Comelec will defer to the SET ruling, which upheld the natural-born status of Sen. Poe, in deciding the election offense case as well as the several petitions to disqualify her from the presidential race," Poe's legal counsel George Garcia said in a statement on Monday.

The SET recently decided to deny the disqualification case against Poe, granting her a natural-born citizenship status.

READ: Carpio cites flaws in SET ruling on Poe disqualification case

"The SET has spoken: Senator Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen. Therefore, she is not only eligible to sit as a member of the Senate but also to seek the presidency," Garcia said.

Defeated senatorial candidate Rizalito David filed the disqualification case against Poe before the Comelec, accusing her of "material misrepresentation" in her certificate of candidacy for senator in 2013.

David argued that the senator is not a natural-born citizen as foundlings like her are stateless.

Under international law, the Philippine Constitution and domestic laws, a foundling found in the Philippines is presumed, in the absence of contrary proof, a natural-born citizen, according to Poe's camp.

"The SET has properly laid down the basis for the outright dismissal of the election offense case," Poe's counsel said.

The Comelec is set to come out with a decision on David's complaint regarding Poe's "material misrepresentation" in her 2013 certificate of candidacy.

Poe is also facing four other disqualification cases before the Comelec, seeking to invalidate her candidacy for president in the 2016 elections.

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