Comelec denies pressure from Poe’s rivals

MANILA, Philippines - None of the rivals of Sen. Grace Poe in the presidential race has ever pressured poll officials into issuing the decision to have her disqualified from running for president in the 2016 elections on questions regarding her residency.

This was according to Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista, who emphasized there’s no way poll commissioners would allow themselves to be influenced by any group or individual in issuing decisions.

“When we were appointed (to the Comelec), our obligations are to the people. We are grateful to the Filipino people (for this opportunity to serve),” Bautista said, adding, “No pressure whatsoever.”

Bautista was reacting to accusations raised by Poe’s supporters that Comelec commissioners were doing the bidding of the Liberal Party-led administration, which has former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II as its standard bearer in next year’s elections.

Bautista and Comelec commissioners Christian Robert Lim, Arthur Lim, Al Parreño, Sheriff Abas, Rowena Guanzon and Luie Guia are all appointees of President Aquino.

The Comelec Second Division composed of Parreño, Abas and Arthur Lim earlier disqualified Poe for her supposed failure to meet the 10-year residency requirement for those running for president.

Poe’s lawyer George Garcia yesterday expressed confidence that the Comelec full session would eventually rule in his client’s favor when they file a motion for reconsideration on Monday.

“We believe that the three members of the Second Division will change their minds. We believe that under the leadership of Chairman Bautista, the Comelec en banc will be able to issue a fair and just ruling,” Garcia added.

He said they also do not intend to move for the inhibition of any of the poll officials despite their being Aquino appointees.

“No problem. Their loyalty to the President or the appointing authority ends where their loyalty to this country begins,” Garcia said.

Garcia reiterated that the decision disqualifying Poe was unjust and did not take into consideration the more than 400 pages of evidence she presented through her lawyer.

“In our MR, we will emphasize our evidence to disprove the (ruling),” he maintained.

The Comelec’s Second Division, in its 34-page decision, granted the petition of lawyer Estrella Elamparo to cancel Poe’s certificate of candidacy, citing inaccuracies in the information on residency provided by the senator.

Elamparo was chief legal counsel and spokesperson for the Government Service Insurance System.