Pia Cayetano backs Duterte but stands by decision to junk Poe case

WHILE declaring her support for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential bid, Senator Pia Cayetano stood by her decision to dismiss the disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe, saying it was based on her “appreciation” of the case.

Cayetano was among the five member-senators of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) who voted against a quo warranto petition filed against Poe that seeks to unseat her as senator over her citizenship.

“In connection with queries on my position regarding the petition filed against Senator Grace Poe before the SET, my decision is based on my appreciation of the case. It is NOT to be equated with WHO I am supporting for the presidency,” she said in a statement on Monday.

“Mayor Rody Duterte has been, and always will be, my candidate for President. And now that he has declared his intention, I am beyond happy,” she said.

“We may have different opinions on the SET issue but I have the utmost respect for him and my brother, Senator Alan Cayetano.  I believe they can do great things for this country and I will passionately campaign for them for President and Vice President,” Cayetano added.

Duterte and Alan Cayetano have openly expressed their dismay over the SET decision to junk the petition against Poe.

Aside from Senator Pia Cayetano, the four other SET members who voted to junk the case against Poe were Senators Cynthia Villar, Loren Legarda, Bam Aquino and Vicente “Tito’ Sotto III.