Senator Grace Poe thanked the Office of the Solicitor General for backing her claim that she was a natural-born Filipino under the Constitution.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami kay Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, kasama ng sampu pang abogado ng OSG, na nanindigan na ako ay isang natural-born Filipino ayon sa ating Saligang Batas, Poe said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Malaking bagay po sa amin na ang mga mismong tagapagtanggol ng bansa sa larangan ng international law ay pumanig sa aming katuwiran,” she said.
(We would like to thank Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, along with the 10 other lawyers of the OSG, who contended that I am a natural-born Filipino according to the constitution.
It is a big deal to us that the same persons who defend the country in the field of international law stood by our stance.)
The OSG asked the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday to dismiss the certiorari suit filed by nuisance presidential bet Rizalito David contesting the Senate Electoral Tribunal’s (SET) ruling that Poe was a natural-born Filipino and was thus qualified to run for senator in 2013.
READ: SolGen backs SET ruling in favor of Poe
Poe said she is confident that the law is there to ensure the equal rights of every Filipino and that the SC would uphold these rights.
The senator has a pending appeal at the SC on the Commission on Election’s decision to cancel her certificate of candidacy for president in 2016 over her citizenship and residency. The high court, however, issued a temporary restraining order against the Comelec’s decision.
READ: Poe wins TROs from SC
Despite this, Poe remained unfazed, saying she would continue to explain to the people her platforms of government.
“Patuloy po ang ating pakikipag-usap sa mga kapwa Pilipino tungkol sa ating mga programa upang sama-sama nating makamit ang isang inklusibo at maunlad na Pilipinas para sa lahat,” she further said.
(We will continue to talk to fellow Filipinos about our programs so that together we can achieve an inclusive and progressive Philippines for all.) CDG