Grace Poe wins first round

Oral arguments

The SET scheduled oral arguments on the case for Sept. 21.

Apart from Carpio, Supreme Court Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Arturo Brion make up the tribunal, along with Senators Sotto, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, Loren Legarda and Nancy Binay.

Binay is a daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, a candidate in next year’s presidential election whose camp was the first to question Poe’s residency and citizenship in June.

Binay’s followers backed off after the Vice President expressed disapproval of their action.

The Vice President was FPJ’s campaign manager in 2004.

His camp and Malacañang, whose presidential candidate in next year’s national elections, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, is doing poorly in the polls, have denied having a hand in David’s action against Poe.

She can win it

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., vice chair of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), on Friday said he believes Poe, whom the Palace wants to run with Roxas, could beat the challenge to her citizenship.

“I think she can clear herself, but the process should not drag on,” Belmonte said in a text message.

Belmonte did not reply when asked if he believed Poe’s previous US citizenship could be an impediment to her running for President or who stood to benefit if the case at the SET became drawn-out.

The Speaker earlier hinted at his preference for Poe as the LP’s presidential standard-bearer in the 2016 elections, but stepped back when President Aquino endorsed Roxas’ presidential candidacy.

Other LP members in the House of Representatives cautiously speak about Poe’s citizenship case.

“I would rather not comment considering that I am not aware of the details of the case,” Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said on Friday.

Erice, the LP’s political affairs chief, has publicly stated his belief that Poe is unprepared for the presidency.

Earlier this week, Erice said he believed Poe would be diverting from the Aquino administration’s reform program and be traveling on a “private road of personal ambition” if she ran for President. Tarra Quismundo, With a report from DJ Yap

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