LISTEN: Sereno says Grace Poe case has social implications

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court's ruling on petitions against presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe has far-reaching implications beyond politics, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said at the oral arguments on Tuesday.

Sereno, in questioning Poe's lawyer Alexander Poblador, argued that if the high court decides against the rights of foundlings, parents will be discouraged from adopting them.

"What this court is going to say will speak to them (the parents)," Sereno said, addressing Poblador. "The implication of this case is very profound, not only for your client and actually we can put a blinder on who your client is and just focus on the implication on foundling rights who are being required by the position of petitioners to prove an impossible condition."

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The top magistrate was referring to the point of Poe's camp that the senator could not prove whether her parents are Filipinos and challenged the opposing camp of the petitioners to prove otherwise. — with reports from Efigenio Toledo IV