Poe: SET victory legitimate, not merely political

Senator Grace Poe denied her accuser’s claim that her victory at the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) that junked the disqualification case against her was just a “political accommodation.”

“Alam nyo po, sinasabi ng iba na ang decision ay pulitika lamang at hindi po batay sa batas, mali po yun at ‘yun po yung nais nating ipamahagi sa ating mga kababayan,” Poe said Thursday during a press conference in Angeles, Pampanga.

(You know, some say that the decision was just political and not based on the law, that’s not true and that’s what we want to tell our people)

She was apparently reacting to the statement of defeated senatorial bet Rizalito David, who filed the case against her, that the decision of the five senators in the tribunal was a political accommodation. The five were Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Pia Cayetano and Bam Aquino.

“It’s confirmed by how the Supreme Court justices voted, they know their law, they are the ones who understand the law and they voted in my favor. Clearly, what the senators did was just a political accommodation,” David said.

READ: Petitioner calls SET ruling a moral victory

But Poe said the law is there to protect the people and to give fair justice.

“Kung ako po ay na-diskwalipika, ang mensahe po noon ay kung ikaw ay isang batang nadampot, ikaw ay wala ng karapatan sa ating bayan ,’ she said.

(If I would be disqualified, then the message would be if you’re a foundling, you have no right in this country.)

“Nakakalungkot naman po ‘yun. Akalain nyo, ilang daang libong mga bata na walang katiyakan kung sino talaga ang kanilang mga magulang ay bigla na lang mawawalan ng karapatan sa ating bansa, so para sa akin ito po ay magandang simulain,” she added.

(That’s unfortunate. Imagine, thousands of children who don’t know their parents would suddenly lose their rights in this country? So for me, this is a good start)

Poe’s running mate, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, also defended the five senators who voted against the case.

“’Yung limang bomoto pabor kay Senator Grace, hustisya ang ginamit na rason at dahilan. Kung pulitika pa nga yun, mas siguro pang pwedeng matanong yung naging isang boto ng miyembro dun na may kamag anak na tumatakbo laban ay Senator Grace,” said Escudero.

(The five who voted in favor of Senator Grace, they used justice as their basis. If it’s really political, then the question should be directed to the vote of a member, who has a relative running against Senator Grace)

 READ: Poe’s SET victory has no impact on Comelec, SC cases – lawyers | No match: Poe’s DNA tests with probable kin

He said they were expecting that this SET member would either vote against the case or would inhibit from the voting because of conflict of interest.

“Nalungkot kami sa naging desisyon nya, bomoto laban kay Senator Grace,” Escudero said.

(We were saddened to find out that [the SET member] decided to vote against Senator Grace Poe.)

He did not name the SET member but he was apparently referring to Senator Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is running against Poe in 2016. CDG