After the Office of the Solicitor General claimed that Sen. Grace Poe was a natural-born Filipino citizen, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it will have to defend itself before the Supreme Court regarding its decision to disqualify the lady senator from the presidential race.
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said they did not expect the OSG position, especially when they were given by the high court only until Jan. 7 to comment on Poe鈥檚 petitions.
鈥濃�橠i naman namin sinisisi ang SolGen lalo na鈥檛 mukhang salungat ang kanilang position sa majority sa Comelec鈥� Hindi namin inaasahan yun dahil ang deadline ay January 7. Akala namin ginagawa na nila 鈥榶ung pleading. Sanay naman kami sa sariling sikap, kami na lang ang gagawa ng sagot namin,鈥� Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista told reporters in a press briefing.
(We are not blaming SolGen especially when it鈥檚 counter to the position of the majority at the Comelec鈥e are not hoping for that because the deadline is on January 7. We thought they were doing the pleading. We are used to self-reliance, we鈥檇 come up with our own answers.)
Bautista noted that the OSG position on Poe鈥檚 citizenship seemed to be 鈥漜ompletely opposite鈥� to the Comelec, which ruled that Poe, a foundling, 鈥漟ailed to show lineage to Filipino parents.鈥�
In a very urgent motion for extension of time to file a comment, the Comelec asked the Supreme Court for additional five days or until Jan. 5, Tuesday, within which to submit its reply.
The poll body said it received the OSG manifestation only today, Jan. 4, noting that the urgent motion was not intended to delay the proceedings.
In its 27-page comment on Rizalito David鈥檚 petition challenging the Senate Electoral Tribunal, the OSG maintained that the senator was a natural-born Filipino.
The OSG, led by Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, has also told the high tribunal that it would not file a comment on behalf of the Comelec, citing its position in the SET case.
The Supreme Court previously issued temporary restraining orders against the Comelec decisions cancelling Poe鈥檚 certificate of candidacy for president over citizenship and residency issues. TVJ
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