Presidential bet Senator Grace Poe on Monday likened the series of disqualification cases against her to “unli” or unlimited loads of cellular phones.
“Ang sabi nga nila yung kaso ko, sana daw yung ating mga loads sa telepono ay parang mga kaso ko, unli,” Poe said in jest when sought for comment on a new disqualification case filed against her by former University of the East College of Law Dean Amado Valdez, still over her citizenship and residency issues.
(They say that the cases against me are like the loads of our telephones, it’s unli)
READ: Grace Poe slapped with 4th disqualification case by ex-law dean
Turning serious, Poe reiterated that she was ready to face all her accusers and answer all their accusations.
In fact, she said she might have to appear at the Commission on Elections in connection with another case earlier lodged against her.
“Pare-pareho naman po yung mga claims nila. Si Dean Amado, opinion nya yun, pwede nyang isampa yun . Pero siguro marami rin sa ating lipunan na maaari nyang pagtuunan ng pansin, ito naman ay hindi naman yata ito nakaka-agrabyado sa iba,” the senator said.
(Their claims are the same. That’s the opinion of Dean Amado, he can file that. But I think he can also focus on other issues in our society, [I think my case] does not affect anyone.)
“Siguro iniisip nila principle; sige haharapin ko naman lahat sila at kahit na bukas na bukas magsampa sila ng kaso. Pero gusto ko ring malaman yung opinion nila sa mga ibang naging issue katulad ng overpricing o kaya etong problema sa MRT,” said Poe, who just emerged from the hearing of the Senate subcommittee on public services, which she chairs, when interviewed by reporters.
(Maybe they are thinking it’s a matter of principle; okay I’ll face them anyway even tomorrow, they can file a case. But I also want to know their opinion on other issues like the overpricing or these problems on MRT.)
She said Valdez is an intelligent person and he could help in other cases that would benefit the citizenry.
Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, also reiterated that Poe has met “all the required prerequisites” to seek the presidency.
“Sen. Poe respects the right of Dean Amado Valdez to file a petition through Comelec. We reiterate though that Sen. Poe has met all the required prerequisites in seeking the presidency,” Gatchalian said in a text message to reporters.
“On his (Valdez) account that she lost her natural born Filipino status, the law (RA 9225) is very clear on this. The express provisions of this law substantiates the fact that she was deemed not to have lost her natural born citizenship when she reacquired her Filipino citizenship. The act of repatriation is not naturalization.”
“Like the rest of the petitions, Sen. Poe will answer this suit point per point. We are ready to face all these petitions and prove them wrong,” Gatchalian added. AU