Senate Electoral Tribunal votes in favor of Poe

QUEZON City, Philippines (December 3) – Just last month, the Senate Electoral Tribunal decided on the political fate of Senator Grace Poe. Convening at the Manila Polo Club in Makati, the SET decided in favor of Poe with a vote of 5-4.

Said tribunal is composed of three Supreme Court Justices and six senators.

Senator Grace Poe is one of those at the forefront for claiming the presidency in 2016.

Said disqualification case was filed by Rizalito David, a defeated Senatorial candidate in the 2013 elections. He alleged in the said disqualification complaint that Poe as a foundling is not a natural-born Filipino.

David argued that since Poe is a foundling, there is a possibility the she is not a natural-born Filipino and should have been disqualified as a senator. According to David’s lawyer Manuelito Luna, they will file a motion for reconsideration before the tribunal, after which, SET members will convene again to vote on this motion.

On the other hand, Senator Grace Poe’s camp expressed their hope that the Commission on Elections will defer to the ruling of the SET upholding the status of the said senator as a natural-born Filipino.

But in a surprise move, the COMELEC 2nd Division disqualified Senator Grace Poe.

(written by Amabelle Lopez, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)