Poe In Danger Of Philippines Presidential Fight Knockout

Vice presidential aspirant Senator Francis Escudero accuses the Commission on Elections of “bullying” and “persecuting” Senator Grace Poe, after it finally upheld Poe’s disqualification.

Ms. Poe’s camp indicated that it would not let the five-day period pass by without launching an appeal before the Supreme Court (SC).

Commissioner Guanzon earlier this week mentioned that if the candidates fail to obtain a temporary restraining order (TRO) five days after the promulgation of the en banc resolution, “they [the candidates] will not be on the ballot”.

“I’m a true Filipino who has lived in our country for more than 10 years”, Ms Poe said in a statement.

She insisted though that she is qualified to run for president. “We know that our arguments are based on laws”, said Gatchalian, who said they are yet to receive a copy of the Comelec decision.

He said that six Comelec commissioners believe that Poe is not a natural-born Filipino citizen.

The Second Division is composed of Commissioner Al Parreno, chairman and members Commissioners Sherrif Abas and Arthur Lim.

Two of the commissioners dissented on the matter of the First Division’s December 11 resolution: Chairman Andres D. Bautista, who belonged to neither tribunal, and Commissioner Christian Robert S. Lim, who retained his original dissenting vote.

Colmenares called the decision “anti-democratic” and “an assault to the people’s sovereign right to choose the nation’s leaders”. The election commission disclosed its ruling just hours after the release of the results of a poll showing Ms Poe in a tie for the lead with Vice-President Jejomar Binay, 73, with 26 per cent each.

Poe welcomed the Comelec decision to keep her name on the list, but said a reversal of its decision to disqualify her would allow the 2016 polls to be “representative of the people’s will”.

“Why release the decisions in haste when the holiday breaks are upon us?”

Poe’s spokesman Mayor Rex Gatchalian of suburban Valenzuela City in Metro Manila, insisted that Poe was a natural born Filipino and has complied with the 10-year residency requirement which would make her eligible to run for president.

He also asked the Comelec to delete Duterte from the list of candidates for president and that he be excluded from the official ballot.

He said the commission has until January 20 to prepare the final list of candidates to be included in the ballot.