The three-member Comelec Second Division, headed by Commissioner Al Parreno, ruled that Poe failed to meet the 10-year residency requirement for presidential candidates. She was found at a church in the central province of Iloilo and adopted almost six years later by a popular movie star couple. “However, it is our bounden duty to resolve this case by applying the Constitution, law, jurisprudence and none other”, the ruling read.
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The lawyer from Makati argued that, even if Poe could eventually prove that her biological parents were Filipinos, the fact that she gave up and then reacquired her Filipino citizenship made her not a natural-born citizen of the Philippines – which is one of the requirements for those running for president.
“She has been domiciled in the country since 2005”. Poe spokesman Mayor Rex Gatchalian, right, explains the ruling in favor of the petition in a press conference.
Poe’s camp said it would appeal against the decision to Comelec before elevating it to the Supreme Court. “She was not guided by a lawyer when she was filling up her COC”, said Gatchalian.
“I am disappointed in the decision, but this is not the end of the process”, Poe said in a statement.
“I have faith in the process, and we are confident that the Comelec en banc will side with the interest of the people”, she added.
Elamparo had said Poe only became a resident of the Philippines in September 2006, based on the COC she filed for Senator in 2013.
“What’s important is that Senator Poe assures the people who are always praying and supporting her that her race (for presidential post) continues”, he said.
He told Poe’s supporters and followers not to be scared because the law is on their side because the senator is a natural-born Filipino citizen.
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Poe is also facing a disqualification case at the Senate Electoral Tribuna (SET) and another at the Comelec, both filed by Rizalito David who seeks to unseat Poe from the Senate.
