Poe remains confident SC will have just resolution on DQ cases

BAGUIO CITY — Senator Grace Poe said she is not worried at how the Supreme Court would rule on the disqualification cases filed against her, saying she remained optimistic that it would come up with a judicious resolution.

“I continue to remain confident. In fact, whatever we filed in the memoranda contain all the arguments that we presented, that our lawyers presented in the Supreme Court,” Poe said during a press conference here on Tuesday.

“I don’t think there’s anything new that the others who are against me can present in their own memoranda. So in our case, we remain confident,” she said.

Poe’s camp, the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Solicitor General, and private petitioners in the consolidated cases against Poe submitted their final memoranda to the Supreme Court Monday.

READ: ‘No one can predict what SC will do’ on Poe

The senator noted that even Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno believes that foundlings should be protected under the country’s laws. Poe was abandoned at the Jaro Church as an infant and was later adopted by popular actors, Susan Roces and the late Fernando Poe Jr.

Her being a foundling was one of the issues in the cases filed against her at the Comelec, which later cancelled her certificate of candidacy (CoC) for president because of her residency and citizenship.

“We are just waiting for the day when they finally come to a conclusion on the case and I’m hoping that it comes sooner rather than later,” said Poe.

“Hindi naman ho ako nababahala. Ako’y kompyansa magkakaroon tayo ng maayos na decision na makatarungan sana,” she added.

Poe said a favorable Supreme Court decision on her case would not only put all legal hurdles behind her but would also set a precedent for all abandoned children who may want to enter public service someday.

“Idadalangin natin ang desisyon ng Korte. Lahat ng prosesong legal ay gagawin natin dahil this is also a fight for foundlings. Parang imposible na dalawang foreigners ang mga magulang ko,” she said.

“Ako ay kumpiyansa sa isang maayos at makatarungang desisyon.”

READ: Speaker urges SC to rule on Poe DQ case soonest

Poe’s legal counsels, led by Alex Poblador, told the High Court that the poll body’s decision to cancel Poe’s CoC for president was “somewhat premeditated, and that bias and impartiality tainted the Comelec’s acts.”

They also pointed out how the poll body “changed and manipulated at every turn” the rules in deciding Poe’s case “to achieve the singular objective of denying due course to her CoC, and ultimately, removing her name from the official ballot.”

With a final judgment pending, Poe’s name is still listed as a presidential candidate on the 57 million ballots being printed now for the May 9 elections. JE