MANILA, Philippines — In fighting to prove she is a natural-born Filipino, Sen. Grace Poe relied on her adoptive mother for support.
Poe had her mother Susan Roces by her side as she appeared at the Supreme Court, on Tuesday, at the start of the oral arguments on her bid to undo her disqualification from the presidential race, ordered by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) barely two months before the official start of the campaign period.
Poe sat beside the woman who raised her as her own child at the gallery of the packed Supreme Court session hall, observing thee first hour of the proceedings where her legal team defended her candidacy amid questions on her Philippine citizenship and residency.
In an interview before the proceedings, Poe said her mother was the one who asked if she could come.
“She actually asked me if she can accompany me, especially in this moment where you need your mother. Even when you’re old, you still count on your mother. This is a big challenge in our lives, so we’re here together,” said Poe.
Roces did not grant an interview as she inched her way out of the Supreme Court after staying for about an hour, Poe helping her as she walked.
It was the second session of oral arguments the veteran actress has had to attend at the Supreme Court, the first being in February 2004, when her late husband, Fernando Poe Jr., also fought to stay in the presidential race and dispel doubts on his citizenship.
The elder Poe won the case but lost to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in an election marred by allegations of massive cheating in favor of the then incumbent.
Asked how it was like pursuing a similar fight as her late father, Poe said: “Of course, there are similarities, because citizenship was also a hurdle for his candidacy.”
“Going through this process in the Supreme Court is part of the process. I hope that like the justice they gave to FPJ, they will also grant that to me. That’s why I continue praying and hoping,” Poe told reporters in Filipino.
Echoing her campaign, Poe said she has been pushing to stay in the race in a bid to serve the people.
“To my kababayans (fellow countrymen), I never forget why I’m doing this: for the betterment of our people, because many of you are neglected, and that’s what we want to fight for: jobs, decent shelter, dignity, protection,” said Poe, consistently second-placer in recent pre-election surveys, next to Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Poe had petitioned the Supreme Court to junk Comelec resolutions disqualifying her from the presidency. She remains on the candidates’ list on the power of a temporary restraining order that the Supreme Court issued on Dec. 28, the same day she filed her petition.
Tuesday’s oral arguments on Poe’s petition proved to be a blockbuster for spectators, with supporters, lawyers, and other observers filling the high court’s en banc session hall.
The Supreme Court also opened another hall — the division hearing room on the ground floor — to accommodate others who wanted to see the public hearing.
In all, the high court gave 360 passes to the public — 260 at the session hall, 100 at the division hearing room — for the proceedings. The others made do with the Supreme Court lobby, where a videowall also streamed the proceedings live.
Poe’s supporters also shut down a part of Padre Faura, on Tuesday afternoon, occupying the street as they chanted “Tunay na Pilipino! Grace Poe! Grace Poe!” SFM