Poe Camp Asks SC to Reverse Comelec DQ Ruling

The camp of Senator Grace Poe on Monday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that disqualified her to run in the 2016 presidential polls.

Poe, through her legal counsel George Garcia, filed on Monday before the SC the petitions for certiorari and urgent motion for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Comelec decision.

One of the two petitions filed by Poe’s camp challenged the Comelec First Division ruling while the second petition assailed the Comelec Second Division ruling.

Poe’s camp also asked the SC to issue a status quo ante order (SQAO) against the Comelec ruling in order that the name of Poe would still be included in the ballot for the 2016 elections.

Last week, the Comelec en banc has cancelled the certificate of candidacy (COC) for president of Poe because of the issues on her citizenship and residency.

Garcia expressed hope that they would get the SC order on Tuesday because they were only given a period of five days to appeal since the Comelec decision was promulgated in connection with the two disqualification cases against Poe.

Garcia said that if the TRO is not issued to meet the Comelec’s five-day deadline, the SC may still issue a SQAO.

SC Public Information Office (PIO) Chief and Spokesman Theodore Te earlier said the SC can immediately take action on the case of Poe even if the SC en banc is on recess because it is an urgent case. (PNA) JMC/PTR