We’ll know Poe’s plans by end of Sept., says Escudero

Sen. Grace Poe is expected to announce her plans for 2016 by the end of the month, according to her prospective running mate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Escudero, in a radio interview, expressed optimism that Poe, a foundling, would be declared a natural-born Filipino by the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), which would allow her to continue to sit as a senator and run for president next year. The SET has already set aside the challenge to her residency qualifications.

Escudero said he was not worried about Poe’s citizenship case, saying he had studied the evidence she submitted and believed it would withstand scrutiny.

Questions on her citizenship arose from the fact that she was found as a baby in a church in Iloilo. She was later adopted by movie star couple Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces.

Burden of proof

“It’s not far-fetched that the second ground would be found to be baseless and that’s what I believe since I have seen the evidence supporting Senator Poe’s position that she is natural born,” Escudero said.

In an earlier interview, he said no person could be considered stateless, and those claiming that Poe was not a Filipino should show what her nationality is. Based on the law and jurisprudence, the burden of proof is on the one contesting another person’s citizenship, he said.

Poe’s camp has also maintained that the parents of a foundling in the Philippines are presumed to be Filipino. Hence, she is a natural-born Filipino by presumption.

Maybe this week

Escudero said Poe is expected to announce her plans before the end of the month, or in the next two weeks.

An earlier Inquirer report quoted a source as saying that Poe’s announcement could take place as early as this week.

Escudero said his own declaration of plans would come after that of Poe. His decision will hinge on Poe’s plans.

But even before Poe announces whether or not she would run in 2016, several political figures have already pledged to support her.

The Magdalo group of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has promised to support a Poe candidacy. But it would not back Escudero as her running mate, as Trillanes himself is poised to run as an independent vice presidential candidate.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition has been holding consultations with Poe and other presidential aspirants to decide whom to support.—Leila B. Salaverria