Escudero: SC will avenge Poe from ‘bully’ Comelec

Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is hopeful that the Supreme Court will take the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to task for supposedly “bullying” leading presidential hopeful Senator Grace Poe during the oral arguments on Poe’s petitions on January 19.

Escudero said that the full Comelec committed “grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction” when it upheld the two decisions disqualifying Poe from the presidential race last December 23.

“If it’s not bullying or harassment, I don’t know what it is,”Escudero said in a statement on Sunday.

Escudero said that the issuance of two temporary restraining orders by the Supreme Court favoring Poe is proof that the high court is “just and impartial.”

Meanwhile, the leading vice presidential aspirant accused Comelec of “working overtime” to disqualify Poe.

“The Comelec worked ‘overtime’ in order for the en banc to disqualify her two days before Christmas and the holidays, thus giving her very little and difficult time to seek redress in the SC,” Escudero added.

He also questioned how the poll body swiftly acted on Poe’s disqualification cases while failing to address the plight of the supposed “nuisance” candidates for president.

The Comelec was given 10 days to comment on the petitions filed by Poe’s camp. The oral arguments have been set on January 19.