High Court stops Comelec on Poe’s disqualification
The Supreme Court yesterday issued two temporary restraining orders against the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision canceling the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Sen. Grace Poe.
Covered by the restraining orders are the two separate decisions of the Comelec en banc that affirmed the decisions of its first and second divisions.
The Comelec’s first division cancelled Poe’s COC due to questions on citizenship and residency raised by former senator Francisco Tatad, Amado Valdez and Antonio Contreras.
The Comelec’s second division, on the other hand, cancelled Poe’s COC based on the petition filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo stating that Poe failed to meet the constitutional requirement of a 10-year residency for presidential candidates.
“A temporary restraining order is issued, effective immediately and until further orders from this Court, ordering you, respondent Comelec, your agents, representatives or persons acting in your place or stead, to cease and desist from implementing the assailed Comelec en banc resolution,” the high court’s order stated.
The restraining orders, according to Information Chief Theodore Te during a press conference, were issued by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno based on the written recommendation of the Member-in-Charge pursuant to Supreme Court Internal Rules.
The high court gave the Comelec 10 days to comment on Poe’s two petitions.
Te said that while there was no consolidation of the cases, all three cases on Poe will be the subject of an oral argument on Jan. 19.
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