Chiz wants Comelec en banc to reverse Poe’s DQ

MANILA, Philippines – Vice presidential candidate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he expects the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc to review the Second Division ruling against his presidential running mate, Sen. Grace Poe and reverse its decision to disqualify her.

Escudero also expects the Comelec en banc to review Poe’s motion for reconsideration fairly as he believes Poe’s 63-page appeal contains pertinent evidence that will prove she is qualified to run for president.

"Lahat naman ng kailangang malaman ukol sa residency at citizenship ni Sen. Grace ay nakapaloob na sa MR (motion for reconsideration)," Escudero said.

Poe's camp filed the  motion for reconsideration before the full Comelec on Monday in response to the Second Division’s ruling to disqualify her and to ask them to reverse the division’s decision.

"I just hope they will decide on the merits of this case because what is at stake here is the impartiality, integrity and credibility of the Comelec," Escudero added.

He also expressed disappointment over the "hasty" decision of the Comelec when it has yet to rule out the nuisance candidates from the official list of candidates.

"Talagang inuna pa nila si Senator Grace at nagulat kami sa bilis ng naging pasya nila." Escudero said. "Lumalabas ba na higit na mas matimbang ang kandidatura ni 'Lucipher' at ni 'Intergalactic Space Ambassador' kaysa kay Senator Grace?" Escudero said.

The senator said they will also seek relief from the Supreme Court once the Comelec en banc uphold the ruling of the Second Division to disqualify Poe.

"Kung ang naging pasya ng Comelec Second Division ay halos pare-pareho naman, iisa lang naman ang kanilang pinanggalingan, pinaghugutan, at tila pati na rin ang nag-appoint sa kanila. Kaya malamang sa Korte Suprema na lamang kami aasa," Escudero said.

On December 1, the Comelec Second Division canceled Poe’s candidacy for president following a petition filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo which argued that Poe did not meet the 10-year residency requirement for a presidential candidate.

Poe’s legal counsel George Garcia said the three-member Second Division failed and committed grave abuse of discretion when it sought to disqualify her from the presidential race for allegedly misrepresenting the number of Poe’s years of residency. He said the Second Division only looked on Poe's certificate of candidacy for senator filed in 2012 and disregarded other evidence.