Poe, Escudero see more cases

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines—The political tandem of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero is bracing for more disqualification cases over Poe’s citizenship after they file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) next week.

Poe however said it was more important to uphold the rights of foundlings like herself, as the fight over her citizenship also concerns the thousands of children who could not identify or locate their biological parents and could lose their citizenship should they be made to undergo a process to prove it.

At a press conference at the Bethel Guest House in Dumaguete City, Escudero said they were prepared for the disqualification cases that would be filed even if their COCs are approved by the Commission on Elections.

The vice presidential contender maintained that Poe was a natural-born Filipino and cited a doctrine under international law that grants foundlings the citizenship of the country where the child was found.

Poe, Escudero and Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo faced more than 1,200 students in an earlier forum at the Foundation University, where they answered questions on their families, love life and political plans.

Poe also spoke of an expected delay in the results of the DNA test to determine the identities of her real parents, as more individuals had surfaced to offer DNA samples. She instead urged the media to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court which is expected in November. Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon; Maya Angelique Jajalla and Nestor P. Burgos Jr.,Inquirer Visayas