Comelec 2nd division disqualifies Grace Poe from presidential race

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) second division has disqualified presidential poll frontrunner Senator Grace Poe from running for the highest post in the country in the 2016 elections.

The Comelec ruled on the petition filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo which seeks to disqualify Poe on the ground that she failed to satisfy the required 10-year residency requirement provided in the Constitution.

Elamparo earlier claimed that Poe made a “material misrepresentation on her COC.”

In a press conference called hurriedly Tuesday night, Poe spokesperson Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said that the senator is unfazed and assures her supporters that the fight for the presidency continues.

Gatchalian emphasizes that the decision was only made by division and that they hope that the Comelec, sitting en banc, will rule in their favor.

“Isa itong bahagi ng proseso. It’s a decision of a division. We will make sure that we will appeal the decision in the Comelec en banc,” Gatchalian said.

“Poe is still a candidate and we will make sure to exhaust all legal remedies,” he added.

Poe is facing multiple disqualification cases before the Commission on Elections over her allegedly questionable citizenship and her supposed failure to satisfy the 10-year residency requirement.

The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), in a vote of 5-4, earlier ruled to junk the petition filed by senatorial loser Rizalito David seeking to unseat her from office over the claim that Poe, a foundling, is not a natural-born Filipino.

As provided in the 1987 Constitution, only natural-born Filipinos are allowed to assume the presidency.