MANILA, Philippines - Presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe and running mate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday afternoon thanked the Supreme Court for its decision to grant Poe’s request and issuing immediate temporary restraining orders (TRO) against the Commission on Elections’ rulings that disqualified Poe.
“I thank the Supreme Court for a just and compassionate decision. From the start, I put my full faith in the judicial process. The COMELEC denied our people their choices in an open election but I am confident that the Supreme Court will uphold the truth and the spirit of the Constitution,” Poe said in a statement.
Poe’s running mate Escudero likewise lauded the high court for its issuance of TROs and took to Twitter to reiterate that Poe is a candidate for president.
“I thank and commend the SC for issuing the TRO and for upholding justice, truth and the fact that Sen. Grace Poe is a candidate for President,” Escudero said on his Twitter account.
I thank & commend the SC for issuing the TRO & for upholding justice, truth & the fact that Sen. Grace Poe is a candidate for President!!
— Chiz Escudero (@SayChiz) December 28, 2015 Poe also thanked the SC for its swift act on their camp’s petition despite being on recess. The SC is on recess until January 10.
The SC, ordered by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, issued the TROs on the same day Poe’s legal counsel, George Garcia, formally asked the SC to reverse the rulings of the two divisions of Comelec.
Garcia said the TRO meant that Poe’s will not be removed from the list of presidential candidates. This was also confirmed by Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.
“Ibig sabihin lang po ay hindi na tatanggalin sa listahan (ng presidential candidates) ang pangalan ni Sen Grace Poe.Pansamantala po ay walang kaduda-duda na mailalagay po ang pangalan ni Sen Grace Poe sa election ballot,” Garcia said.
Meanwhile, Poe also expressed confidence that the SC will review the facts regarding her citizenship and residency in the country.
“We are confident that the SC will honor previous jurisprudence on the rights of foundlings to a country and citizenship. I also pray that they will carefully look into the facts of my residence and my actual physical presence in the country,” Poe said.
“My lawyers have put forward strong evidence, relevant court discussions and principles and jurisprudence that would show that I am a natural born Filipino with at least 10 years’ residency in the Philippines,” the senator earlier said.