SET junks reconsideration plea on Poe disqualification

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) has affirmed its ruling upholding Senator Grace Poe’s status as a natural-born citizen, junking a reconsideration plea filed by petitioner Rizalito David.

Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said shortly after the voting that the motion was denied under the same close vote: five in favor of Poe, four for her disqualification.

David had questioned Poe’s qualification as a senatorial candidate in the 2013 elections, saying she was “stateless” being a foundling with unclear parentage.

The case is separate from cases questioning Poe’s qualification as a presidential bet for the May 2016 elections.

In a vote last month, Senators Sotto, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Pia Cayetano and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino voted to uphold Poe’s Filipino citizenship.

All Associate Justices in the SET–the body’s chair Antonio Carpio and justices Arturo Brion and Teresita Leonardo De Castro–voted to disqualify Poe, along with Senator Nancy Binay. CDG

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