Press Release
November 24, 2015

CHIZ CALLS ON POE'S CRITICS TO RESPECT SET'S CONSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY

Amid a flurry of differing interpretations of the Constitution, Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero urged critics of his running mate, independent presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe, to respect the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) as the judgment of a quasi-judicial body that is duly constituted and empowered by the law.

Escudero pointed out that the SET was created under Section 17, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, precisely to decide on matters such as Poe's case, which inspire spirited debates stemming from various political and legal perspectives.

By criticizing the SET's decision declaring Poe a natural-born citizen, Escudero said their political opponents--many of whom are also lawyers--are assaulting the integrity of a constitutional body that was mandated to be the "sole judge" of all contests on the qualification of senators, and which the Constitution itself deemed to be "an independent, impartial and non-partisan tribunal."

"Bilang abogado rin, nais ko rin galangin at ipaglaban ang Saligang Batas. Nagkataon lang siguro na magkaiba kami ng pananaw at interpretasyon kaugnay ng Saligang Batas at pagiging natural-born ni Senator Grace," he said.

Escudero reiterated that he respected the views of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who decided to run for president supposedly because he could not accept the SET's decision on Poe, but urged the tough-talking mayor not to belittle those who do not share his views.

"Hindi naman siguro dahilan iyon para maliitin o paratangan ako o si Senator Grace o sinuman, dahil lamang magkaiba kami ng pananaw," said the lawmaker, who acted as spokesperson for Poe's father, Fernando Poe Jr. when he ran for the presidency in 2004.

Duterte had accused Escudero of "using" Poe while Escudero asked the mayor not to use Poe as an excuse to aim for the highest post of the land.

"Kung may nanggagamit, may nagpapagamit palagi. At hindi naman porke't babae o baguhan sa pulitika si Senator Grace, mayroon dapat nasa likod niya o mayroon nagdidikta sa kanya," Escudero said.

"Huwag naman sana ilagay siya sa ganoong posisyon. Sa maikling karanasan niya sa Senado, naipakita niya na may sarili siyang paninindigan--sariling paniniwala na tinatayuan niya mismo nang hindi inaasahan ang sino pa man," he said.

Poe and Escudero are leading the voters' preference surveys for president and vice-president, respectively.

Escudero said the fact that Poe had been given a birth certificate and passport, was legally adopted, and later allowed to run for and serve as a senator, meant only one thing: she is a Filipino and qualified to be a public servant.

"Hindi po nasusukat ang pagmamahal sa bayan dahil lamang siguro sa pananaw ng isa o iilan. Nasusukat lamang iyan sa puso, sa intension, sa galaw at sa gawa bilang isang Pilipino," he said.

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