The Palace has called for sobriety and respect for the law among all concerned parties following the decision of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) Second Division to nullify the Certificate of Candidacy of presidential aspirant Grace Poe.
“A decision was rendered by a division of the Comelec on the candidacy of Senator Grace Poe. This decision was arrived at in the course of the constitutionally-mandated functions of the Comelec,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday.
“We understand that Senator Poe’s legal counsel will pursue and exhaust all remedies available to them, as is their right in this process. We believe that sobriety and respect for the law and its processes are the best way forward for all parties concerned,” the Palace official further said.
In a 34-page decision, the Comelec’s Second Division on Tuesday disqualified Poe for failing to meet the citizenship and residency requirements of a presidential bet.
The Comelec decision was based on the petition of Estrella Elamparo, who has accused Poe of committing material representation for claiming she is a natural-born Filipino citizen and a resident of the Philippines for 10 years before the May 2016 elections.
“The Comelec is an independent constitutional commission. So, they went through the process of confirmation. We will just urge everyone to respect the rule of law. There is a process. They have an opportunity to avail of the process, exhaust all remedies available to them,” Secretary Lacierda said.
Poe, who has been leading the presidential race surveys, said she will appeal before the Comelec en banc. PND (jm)