Senator Franchis “Chiz” Escudero during a press conference in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. PHOTO BY ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero twitted former Senator Francisco Tatad on Tuesday for “picking” on Senator Grace Poe while “tolerating” Vice President Jejomar Binay in political advertisements.
Escudero is Poe’s running mate while Tatad is a known ally of Binay. Poe and Binay are the leading contenders in the upcoming presidential race based on surveys.
“Pati ba naman TV ad gustong ipa–DQ?” Escudero said in a statement, reacting to Tatad’s petition against the latest political advertisement of Poe.
((He even wants) the TV ad (of Poe) to be subjected to disqualification?)
READ: Poe’s latest ad violates judicial process, ex-senator says
In a 10-page manifestation filed last Monday, the former senator asked the high tribunal to take “swift and appropriate action” against the advertisement, saying it was meant to sway the magistrates to vote in her favor.
Poe has a pending appeal with the high court against the two rulings of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) canceling her certificate of candidacy for president allegedly due to “material misrepresentations” in the issues of her citizenship and residency. Tatad was one of the petitioners against Poe.
Escudero said Tatad’s petition at the Supreme Court aims to deprive Poe of her right to defend herself against “deliberate attempts” to mislead the public about the real status of her candidacy.
“Her (Poe’s) latest ad tends to counter the disinformation drive launched by her opponents who are telling voters they should not vote for her because she’s already disqualified, when in truth, she’s still in the race because the Supreme Court has yet to rule on her petitions against the Comelec,” he said.
Escudero then lashed out at Tatad for picking on Poe while tolerating Binay, who he said used political advertisements to respond to the corruption allegations hurled against the vice president instead of facing a series of investigations conducted by the Senate.
“’Pag sa iba okay lang na gamitin ang political ad para sagutin ang mga akusasyong pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan pero ‘pag kay Sen. Grace na nilalabanan ang maling impormasyon tungkol sa kanyang kandidatura, e hindi pwede? Hindi naman po siguro tama ‘yun,” said the senator.
(Is it all right for others to use the political ad to answer accusations of corruption of public funds, however, when Sen. Grace does the same to fight the misleading information about her candidacy, it is not allowed? It does not seem right.)
READ: Poe camp defends latest political ad
Shot in a sari-sari store setting, Poe’s 30-seconder advertisement features two men and two women talking about her disqualification cases and how they are similar to the case of her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ).
Like Poe, FPJ’s citizenship was also questioned when he ran for president in the 2004 elections. RAM
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