Press Release
December 11, 2015

POE'S COUNSEL SAYS COMELEC DECISION DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING

The latest decision coming out of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) does not change anything as far as the candidacy of Sen. Grace Poe is concerned, the senator's legal counsel said.

Lawyer George Garcia stressed that the decision of the COMELEC's First Division cancelling Poe's certificate of candidacy (COC) for president would not affect the fact that Poe's name would remain on the ballot pending final judgment on her case by no less than the Supreme Court.

"Wala pa rin pong pagbabago, ganun pa rin po ang effect nito. Kami po ay kandidato pa rin at ang aming pangalan ay nasa listahan pa rin, hindi po magbabago ang lahat," Garcia said. "The Supreme Court will have the final say and unless the Supreme Court renders a decision, the fight will go on."

Voting 2-1, the COMELEC's First Division ruled in favor of petitioners Antonio Contreras, Francisco Tatad and Amado Valdez, known allies of other presidential contenders, in their bid to remove Poe from the presidential race by questioning her citizenship and residency.

Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Luie Tito Guia voted in favor of granting the petitions while Commissioner Christian Robert Lim dissented.

Garcia said Lim's dissenting opinion, which is detailed in 81 pages, is a welcome development and could be useful if the case reaches the Supreme Court.

While Poe had admitted that the chances of getting a favorable decision from the First Division were slim, she is still saddened and hurt that the COMELEC decision seemed to strip her of a nationality. She, however, assured her supporters that she is not backing down from the race.

"I assure you that I am still a candidate for president. Let us fight for genuine democratic elections, where the people's welfare takes front and center," said Poe.

Garcia said he will file a motion for reconsideration before the COMELEC en banc within five days. Poe's appeal on the 3-0 ruling of the Second Division is still pending.

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