DQ’d by Comelec, but not KO’d: Grace Poe says fight continues

Senator Grace Poe. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Sen. Grace Poe on Friday likened her disqualification cases to boxing as she faced another blow to her 2016 presidential bid.

Poe, however, said she has not been knocked out.

“Parang boksing lang ito, tuluy-tuloy hangga’t hindi ka natutumba (This is like boxing; you continue to fight until you are knocked out),” Poe told reporters in an ambush interview in Tarlac.

The senator was reacting to the decision of the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) First Division disqualifying her from joining the 2016 presidential race based on a petition questioning her candidacy and citizenship.

In a 2-1 vote on Friday, Comelec voted to cancel Poe’s certificate of candidacy (COC).

READ: Comelec 1st division disqualifies Poe from 2016 presidential race

“Actually masaya na nga ako kasi akala ko unanimous na naman against us. At least meron tayong isang nakinig at isang tumingin sa aming mga dokumento at ako’y nagpapasalamat sa kanyang pagiging patas,” Poe said.

(Actually, I am happy because I thought the decision would be unanimous against us. At least there was one who listened and appreciated the documents that we presented, and I think him for being fair.)

Commissioner Christian Lim had the lone dissenting vote in the 3-member division of Comelec. Commissioners Luie Guia and Rowena Guanzon, meanwhile, voted to cancel Poe’s COC.

In a statement, the senator said her camp submitted all the evidence needed to prove her citizenship and residency requirements.

“We submitted evidence of my citizenship and residence, putting our full faith in a just process. It is sad that the Comelec First Division has chosen to ignore the facts just to deny me the chance to better serve our countrymen, and to also deny our people their choices in an open election,” she said.

READ: Poe on DQ: It hurts to have my identity taken away from me

Poe said her camp would appeal the decision to the Comelec en banc and the Supreme Court.

“We will appeal to the Comelec and the Supreme Court to uphold the truth, and the spirit and aims of our Constitution,” she said, as she assured the electorate that she is still a candidate.

The senator reiterated her stand, saying the right to choose leaders in next year’s polls should not be taken from the public.

“Ang eleksyon po ay nasa taumbayan dapat ang kapangyarihan na mamili. Hindi naman po nangangahulugan na tayo ay magtatagumpay pero ang dapat na magtagumpay ay ang karapatan ng lahat na piliin kung sino ang dapat na mamuno sa kanila,” she said.

(The election gives the people the right to choose. I am not saying that I will win, but what should be victorious is the right of everyone to choose whom they think should lead them.)

But the senator said she would accept the high court’s “final decision” on her disqualification cases.
“Hindi po ako nababahala o natatakot sa kanila sapagkat para sa akin nga po, mas malaking hamon ang tumakbo kesa sa hindi man lang sumubok kung saka-sakali. Kaya kung ano man ang magiging desisyong pinal po nito pagkatapos ng proseso, tatanggapin ko po ng buong-buo,” she said.

(I am not bothered or scared because for me, it’s a bigger challenge to run than to not try at all. That’s why whatever the final decision will be in this process, I will accept it wholeheartedly.) IDL