Palace on Poe issue: Stop the speculation

Amid threats of civil disobedience on the possibility of the disqualification of opposition presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr. from the May 10 elections, Malacañang appealed for an end to speculations on the issue of the actor’s citizenship now pending before the Supreme Court.

"Let’s not speculate," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said. "Let’s not prejudge the Supreme Court."

In Dagupan City, Poe’s vice presidential running mate Loren Legarda and senatorial candidate Francisco Tatad dismissed yesterday reports of his possible disqualification by the Supreme Court.

At a press conference, Tatad said "there’s no way of predicting what will happen if FPJ is disqualified," and that any perceived "act of injustice" against Poe could "provoke terrible things on the ground."

Legarda said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) twice ruled that Poe is a natural-born Filipino, and that nine senators voted in favor of a report that former National Archives director Ricardo Manapat falsified the documents pertaining to the actor’s birth and the marriage of his father Allan Fernando Poe.

Tatad said the "popular belief" is that Poe is a Filipino and will be the country’s next president, and that there could be "total madness" if he is suddenly excluded from the race.

Tatad said it is possible the SC would make an unfavorable ruling since it is dominated by appointees of President Arroyo.

"The SC is pure, but the justices are not," he said. "Many are partisans of Mrs. Arroyo."

Former Pangasinan representative Ranjit Shahani said he hopes that his uncle, former President Fidel Ramos would throw his support behind Poe instead of Mrs. Arroyo.

Ramos might change his mind if he sees it to be in the national interest, like what he did at EDSA I, he added.

The entire Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) held a major rally in San Carlos last night in a move to reiterate that Poe is a Filipino.

Bunye stressed the high tribunal has yet to deliberate on the petitions seeking to disqualify Poe from the presidential race on questions over his citizenship.

Bunye also defended Ramos who earlier warned Poe’s camp and his supporters from issuing threats of civil disobedience once the Supreme Court disqualifies the actor from the presidential race.

"Our former president was merely reminding the supporters of Mr. Ronnie Poe that everyone, be it administration or opposition, should comply with the law. Former President Fidel Ramos said nothing wrong," Bunye said.

He urged all sectors to respect whatever is the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue.

Three petitions have been filed before the SC seeking to disqualify the actor from the presidential race, the main bone of contention being that Poe is not a natural-born Filipino.

Poe’s lawyer, former solicitor general Estelito Mendoza, had warned that civil unrest would occur if the Supreme Court disqualifies Poe.

SC spokesman Ismael Khan said the high tribunal will decide on the three petitions the way it sees fit. — With Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero