POE (INQUIRER PHOTO)
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Senator Grace Poe to reverse the Commission on Elections’ decision disqualifying her from seeking the presidency in the May 9 elections.
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 and Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta.
Meanwhile, those who voted to disqualify Poe were Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio; Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro; Associate Justice Arturo Brion; Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo; Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes and Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe.
No details on the decision have been made available.
“Please note that since the Court has only authorized the release of the vote, it may not be safe to report which ground the Court ruled upon and used as basis for the vote, i.e., between citizenship and residence. Thus, it may be best to simply say, the SC grants Senator Poe’s petitions, 9-6, allowing her to run for the presidency,” High Court’s Information Chief Atty. Theodore Te said.
Te added that “the court will release the text of the decision and separate opinions in the next few days.”
“As you may understand upon a voting the court will finalize who will write for the court. That matter has not been decided, once the ponente has been decided, the text of the decision will follow,” Te said at a press conference.
Te added that there will be four concurring opinions to the majority decision and five dissenting opinions.
Meanwhile, Atty. Manuelito Luna, counsel for former Senator Francisco Tatad, who filed for Poe’s disqualification, said “it’s a dangerous result, a perfect recipe for chaos. The Constitution was bastardized.”
Luna said they will file a motion for reconsideration.
Another petitioner against Poe, Atty. Estrella Elamparo said that while she has heard of such a scenario, she is still shocked “because the law is clear.”