Sen. Grace Poe (bottom center) flanked by supporters during her arrival at the Commission on Election Headquarters to file her Certificate of Candidacy, Thursday. Sen. Poe will be running independently with Sen. Chiz Escudero as her running mate for the 2016 election. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe doesn’t want Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to suffer the fate two divisions of the Commission on Elections want her to have.
In a news conference following a Mass to mark the 11th death anniversary of her late adoptive father Fernando Poe Jr. , the senator said it was her prayer that Duterte be allowed to run.
“Ang dasal ko ay wag siyang madisqualify. Ang dasal ko ay mabigyan siya ng pagkakataon na tumakbo kasi yun naman ang ipinaglalaban natin, manalo man siya o matalo, hindi natin malalaman yun hanggang hindi inilalagay ang pangalan sa balota,” Poe said.
“Hindi lang dahil dasal ko yan sa sarili ko, nakita ko na pinagdaanan yan ng tatay ko rin,” she added.
Further, Poe said her life would be more at peace if she would not be included in the ballot.
“Sa totoo lang, sinasabi ko nga, kung hindi nila isinama ang pangalan ko, mas magiging mapayapa ang buhay ko,” she said.
Poe was disqualified on account of her questioned status as a natural-born Filipino and her supposed inadequate years of residency in the country.
She has appealed before the Comelec en banc the cancellation by the two Comelec divisions of her certificate of candidacy for president.
Poe, however, has repeatedly said that she was not pinning much hope on the Comelec and was looking forward to the filing of her appeal before the Supreme Court.
“Ayokong sabihin na nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa sa Comelec pero siyempre, kailangan din nating gawing basehan ang mga karanasan natin kaya para sa akin nilalagay ko sa isip ko na kung anuman ang kahihinatnan nito, ang puno’t dulo pa rin ay sa Korte Suprema,” she said.
“Kaya doon na lang namin itinutuon ang aming paghahanda, pagdarasal na sana ay magkaroon ng katarungan sa Korte Suprema,” she added.
The senator said they are preparing for their legal battle before the SC.
“Matagal na rin naming iniisip na talaga namang makakarating doon yun, pabor man sa amin ang desisyon o hindi, sa SET o Comelec, doon din naman ang hantungan noon,” she said.
She said they are hoping that the SC justices would take into consideration not only the letter of the law but its spirit, as well.
“Ang Korte Suprema ay binubuo ng iba’t ibang justices na may mga pananaw so sana ang maging basehan talaga nila ay mga ebidensya na isinumite namin. At sana iinterpreta nila ang batas base sa hustisya at kung ano talaga ang makatarungan, hindi lamang sa letra ng batas kundi sa espiritu ng batas,” she said.
Duterte, on the other hand, is facing disqualification because of a petitioner’s allegation that his substitution as the PDP-Laban’s presidential candidate was invalid.
His disqualification case is scheduled to be heard by a Comelec division this week.
On the alleged human rights violations of Duterte, Poe said she is not citing anyone in particular but the it is important that the right of a person would be respected.
“Wala naman akong sina-cite na specific, para sa akin International Human Rights Day ‘yun, sabi nga natin ang karapatang pantao ay dapat ginagalang ng lahat,” she said.
Asked if the CHR should probe Duterte, Poe just said she is grateful to the CHR for acknowledging the rights of foundlings.
“Ang gusto ko lang sabihin, maraming salamat sa CHR na kinilala ninyo ang dapat maging karapatan ng isang batang napulot at nadampot,” she said. (MNS)