SET decision on Poe’s citizenship unsettling rather than comforting

Mel Sta. Maria

The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) decision throwing out the petition questioning the citizenship of Senator Grace Poe is an uncomfortable one. The number of the votes and the members either voting for or against the petition are causes for serious concern.

Read on…

Comments

  1. manuelbuencamino

    The criticism of Carpio by Poe takes the cake

    “Sinasabi nila sa ating pong bansa, hindi literal na sinasabi na ang foundling ay dapat Filipino. Ang basehan lang nila ay international treaties . Gayundin po nakalagay sa ating Constitution, internationally accepted principles of law should be part of the law of the land. E sabi nila hindi naman nangangahulugan na international law e may dapat gawin….Ito ang tanong ko, yung mga taong nagtutulak na magkaroon tayo ng territorial integrity sa West Philippine Sea, ano bang ginagamit nila? International law rin. Kahit naman yung mga justice yun din ang kanilang panlaban, ang Unclos under UN.”

    “So para sa akin, huwag naman tayong mamili. Piliin lang natin kung ano ang makakabuti sa mas nakakarami sapagkat kung akoy madi-disqualify, ilang-daang libong mga bata na walang katiyakan kung sino ang kanilang mga magulang ay mawawalan ng pagkakataon na mangarap…?”

    Asked later if she was referring to Carpio, who was among those defending the country’s claims over the West Philippine Sea, Poe said: “Hindi naman ho sekreto na ang kanyang adbokasya para mamintina ang integridad sa ating mga lupain at mga karagatan. Kaya nga po mahirap sabihin na hindi natin pwedeng galangin ang international law samantalang ginamit naman natin s’yang basehan ngayon sa ating pakikipaglaban para sa ating teritorya.” http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/740919/poe-hits-sc-justice-carpio-for-being-selective-in-using-international-laws#ixzz3rukoWLgh

    • in over her head, and reaching for straws, ang dating sa akin. but she’s way ahead in the surveys, and parang to her showbiz following it doesn’t matter what she’s saying, what’s important is that she’s saying it and standing up to whoever. vicarious thrill. bentang benta ang kanyang dramang palaban, performance level, with matching tears, when called for.

    • manuelbuencamino

      Silly. What if Poe was found outside a US base (born 1968 siya diba?) and she had blond hair and blue eyes or she was black with kinky hair will they give her the same benefit of the doubt as they would other “Filipino” looking foundlings?

  2. Batang-Genyo, Alah Eh

    The issue here is whether Grace is a Filipino from the time of her birth to be “Qualified” as legitimate candidate. Since she opted to become a naturalized “American” she relinquished her “birth right” as a Filipino, therefore, regardless of time or status as a foundling, she must comply to the basic Constitutional law on electoral qualification for national position she aspires. Besides, her husband and children who are all US citizens poses a dilemna on interests and devotion if and when she is to decide between family and country to serve. The Bible says, you cannot serve TWO Masters.

    • Batang-Genyo, Alah Eh

      The SET decision was not yet a victory for Grace. She has to hurdle the Comelec and the Supreme Court who have the final say if they will allow her to run. Its makes really one upset on how our politicians makes our basic laws subservient to their interests instead of the other ay around. Ganyan ang Pinoy magaling sa “palusot” kahit mali.

  3. Nakakatawa ang mga opinions ng mga judge at mga senador.
    the senator’s opinions are 5 pages long or shorter. no real arguments just advocacies.
    sa judges, ang haba ng paliwanag, at ang daming arguments.

    Ibang iba.

    If i were Poe, gusto ko na ring itaas ito sa SC para mas conclusive.

    Sa mga senator, kung gusto nilang gawing natural born ang foundlings, eh di gumawa sila ng batas.

  4. ricelander

    When I counted who would be voting against Poe, I included Bam Aquino. His vote to my mind is kind of mysterious. He is a member of the LP and a cousin of PNoy. If the argument for the other side were manifestly weak, it would be commendable. Is Poe now the secret candidate?

      • ricelander

        Puwede. Kaya lang, he could have swung the decision to the other end and even if Poe were to appeal her case all the way to the SC, it would have dealt a fatal blow to her campaign. Campaign donors would have quickly retreated.

          • manuelbuencamino

            “it’s hard to believe that bam did not get the president’s ok muna.” So Grace is the secret candidate of the president? He is just screwing around with Mar?

          • not necessarily. but if it’s true, as kris is said to have said, that they’re worried about noynoy being taken to court for this and that pag wala na siyang immunity, e it makes sense to be on grace’s good side, in case she makes it. tipong, covering all angles?

          • manuelbuencamino

            Not really covering all angles. Kasi what if Binay wins e binabanatan niya si Binay. What if Duterte runs and wins e di pagiinitan siya kasi galit na galit si Duterte sa American president, diba? And what if Mar wins and he gets wind that PNoy was being two-faced? You are assuming that Grace will win that’s why you think such a move would be covering all angles.

          • i mean, covering all grace angles. parang wala namang room for nego kung si binay ang manalo, o si duterte. i’m not assuming grace will win, i hope she does not, nor are they naman siguro, pero just in case.

  5. ricelander

    Then there is Duterte. Was he waiting for Poe to be disqualified and disappointed she was not? Hmmm. i think there were talks that Poe’s supporters would move over to Duterte’s if dq’d. He’s on front page lambasting the SET decision as unconstitutional. But he says he is running with Alan Cayetano, whose sister Pia voted for Poe. Hehehe it is getting funnier by the day.

  6. o, tiquia on duterte: “in an NCR survey (uncommissioned) by a businessman from Palawan last 18 October (day after the filing), the following were noted: 1) without Duterte, Poe (31%), Binay (30%), Roxas (12%) and Santiago (12%); 2) with Duterte, Duterte (33%), Binay (21%), Poe (13%), Roxas (7%), Sabio (6%), Santiago (6%). Duterte eats on everyone but the biggest loss came from Poe (at 18%), Binay (9%) and Roxas (5%). What does this mean? Whether campaign teams would acknowledge it, Duterte is the trump card in a loaded deck.” http://www.manilatimes.net/the-duterte-card/230866/

  7. Batang-Genyo, Alah Eh

    Remember Duterte is from Mindanao and he speaks Visaya, so he gets the votes from Visaya and Mindanao, plus his financiers and political supporters are from Luzon. I think among the presidentiables, he is the dark horse in this race. Besides, among these wannabes, Duterte is the only one who offered specific solutions to our dysfunctional govt with federalism, in the pattern of Malaysia and other Asian govt. and no nonsense campaign against drugs and wardlordism (menace to our society).

  8. john c. jacinto

    Duterte cannot do it alone; he will have to convert the AFP and PNP into death squads in order to successfully carry out his anti-criminality program. No due process, no rule of law. Just kill, kill, and kill. And the carcasses thrown into the sea as fish meal.

    The AFP and PNP will be having a grand time as dispensers of vigilante justice under Duterte.

  9. Batang-Genyo, Alah Eh

    Recent survey in NCR by Pulse Asia as announced in newsreports shows Duterte leading the presidential race. If Grace Poe is disqualified, Du30 has the chance of widening the lead by splitting potential votes of those leaning towards GP. While Comelec is poised to ignore appeals to disqualify GP,passing the buck to the Supreme Court, as usual the spoiler, will do its duty to uphold legal requirements of our Constitution. The SET will stand on its decision as a political favor and strategy to divide the coalition of the opposition.

  10. john c. jacinto

    May naitumba na ba si Digong na bigtime criminal sa Davao City? Wala.
    Mga pipitsugin lamang ang naitumba ni Digong.

    Hindi pala kaya ni Digong mag-operate within the bounds of the law. Mas kumportable sya sa extra-legal means. Walang batas-batas. Patay agad. Walang Consti-Constitution. Abolish Congress pag hindi masunod ang gusto niya.

    Hindi ba siraulo ang ganyan? At ang naniniwala sa kanya ay mas higit ding siraulo?

    Kung si Digong ang magiging pangulo natin, kawawang Pilipinas.

    • i agree jcc, hindi na nga ako makapaniwala sa mga survey na yan. balik martial law ba talaga ang hinihingi ng bayan? itong alan cayetano, quoting the gospel on the one hand, endorsing extra-judicial killings and human rights violations ala duterte on the other. ano ba yan.