MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Grace Poe on Wednesday claimed that the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify her was an "obvious and conscious" effort to remove her from the presidential race in 2016.
"Nakikita ko naman na ang gusto talaga nilang alisin ay ang pinakamalaking banta sa kanila. Siyempre kung ako ay maalis nila dito sa pagtakbo, eh ’di libreng-libre na sila," Poe said in an interview with Bombo Radyo.
The senator admitted that she expected to lose in the disqualification case filed against her before the Comelec.
"Siyempre ako ay nalulungkot at dismayado dito. Subalit ito kasi inasahan na namin dahil sa mga pinagkikilos rin ng mga nasa paligid namin," Poe said in an interview with Bombo Radyo.
The Comelec Second Division ruled to disqualify Poe, citing that she failed to meet the 10-year residency requirement for presidential candidates.
"Alam n'yo marami kaming medyo napapansin na parang nakikita rin na talagang ito’y inaayos na para mangyari itong naging desisyon na ito," the senator said.
Poe's camp is set to appeal the recent decision before the full session of the Comelec. She noted that her case might even reach the Supreme Court.
"Alam n'yo po expected ko na po talaga na kahit sa Comelec ay hindi talaga nila palulusutin ito. Marahil dito sa susunod na division at saka sa en banc pa. Kasi nga sabi ko nga, ang laban talaga nito ay sa Korte Suprema," Poe said.
The senator said that she considers the disqualification case filed against her before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) as the "first round" of the cases against her.
The SET has decided to deny the disqualification case filed against Poe, citing that she is a natural-born Filipino.
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