Poe lawyer: Attacks won’t stop at SET

Presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe waves to supporters on her visit on Oct. 6 to Camarines Sur province, where she gave a talk before teachers on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day. INQUIRER PHOTO

The disqualification case pending before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) against Sen. Grace Poe is just one of the hurdles that she needs to overcome.

One of Poe’s counsels, George Garcia, said they were gearing up for an extended legal battle, citing that the case against the senator was an attempt to stop her presidential bid.

“The attacks against Sen. Grace Poe won’t stop at the SET,” Garcia said, adding that the legal team expected another disqualification case once Poe files her certificate of candidacy (COC) for president next week.

“Our reading is that in the end, what they want is to exclude the name of Sen. Grace Poe in the ballot because if it’s included, that would really be a problem for our opponents,” Garcia said.

Poe is the topnotcher in the 2013 senatorial race and has been leading surveys on preferred presidential candidates.

She is facing a disqualification case before the SET on allegations she is not a natural-born Filipino being a foundling or born without known parents.

The 1987 Constitution provides that only natural-born Filipino citizens are qualified to run for president, vice president, senator and congressman.

The filing of certificates of candidacy will start next week.

Under the rules, a petition seeking the cancellation of a COC may be filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) within 25 days from the day the certificate is filed.

The deadline of the printing of ballots is April 20 next year.

Garcia said they looked forward to the resolution by early November of the disqualification case filed by defeated senatorial candidate Rizalito David to allow the lawmaker to focus on the more important aspects of her campaign, particularly her platform of government.

The counsel said Poe may find it difficult to campaign if there was a pending question on her qualification to run for president.

“She will have to explain to the people: ‘I’m not disqualified. I’m a natural-born Filipino citizen. I am a resident of this country,’” Garcia pointed out.

“That will always be part of her speech. That will always be part of her explanation to the Filipino people,” he said as he reiterated his confidence in getting a favorable decision from SET. Tetch Torres-Tupas/RC