(first posted at 3:24pm).On International Women’s Day, the Supreme Court by a vote of 9-6 upheld the right of Senator Grace Poe, foundling, adopted daughter, and heir to the legacy of Philippine pop culture king Fernando Poe Jr., to run for President.
Poe currently leads the latest presidential surveys by a slim margin, her numbers diminished after the disqualification cases against her remained unresolved for three months.
The Commission on Elections, composed largely of appointees of President Aquino, had disqualified the candidacy of Poe on grounds of not meeting the natural-born citizenship requirement and ten-year residency rule of the Constitution.
As of press time, the print copies of the SC decision is being reproduced for distribution. The promulgation of the decision granting Poe’s petition is official, as announced by the SC spokesperson a few minutes ago, subject to the usual filing of a motion for reconsideration.
From the Inquirer at about 5:20pm: “Nine out of 15 justices, led by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, voted in favor of Poe.
Aside from Sereno, the other justices who voted in favor of the senator are:
Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr.
Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin
Associate Justice Jose Perez
Associate Justice Jose Mendoza
Associate Justice Marvic Leonen
Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa
Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza
Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta
Meanwhile, those who voted to disqualify Poe are the following:
Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio
Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro
Associate Justice Arturo Brion
Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo
Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes
Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe”
Breaking News, first posted at 5:26pm: PNoy sounds off Grace on Mar presidency (storified from a DZMM report five minutes ago)
Emerging from her meeting with President Aquino this 1pm, possible presidential bet Senator Grace Poe said in an ambush interview that the President told her that he had complete trust in DILG Secretary Mar Roxas to continue his tuwid-na-daan (straight and narrow path) programs and his reforms for good governance.
Poe said that during the meeting, she discussed with the President her programs to alleviate poverty and improve the economy. On follow-up questions from reporters, Poe said she was not directly offered any position as standard bearer by the President but he endorsed Roxas as the leader to continue his reforms.
Earlier today, Poe informed the media that she will be in a one-on-one meeting with the President in Malacañang on an unspecified agenda. Earlier in the week, UNA spokespersons questioned the residency and citizenship qualifications of Poe to run for president. Members of the ruling Liberal Party defended her eligibility.
It will be recalled that polling agencies such as SWS show Poe in a statistical tie with leading presidential bet Vice President Jejomar Binay in nationwide surveys asking respondents who their top choices were to lead the government. Roxas lagged by more than 15%, with a margin of error of +3/-3.
