SC ruling on FPJ out soon?

LEGAZPI CITY — Fernando Poe Jr. cut short his campaign sortie in the Bicol Region early yesterday following unconfirmed reports that the Supreme Court might hand down today its ruling on three petitions seeking his disqualification from the presidential race.

Poe received a call from his wife Susan Roces at around 2 a.m., according to Sen. Vicente Sotto, campaign manager of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP).

Journalists waited for an hour in the lobby of the Alicia Hotel here for a scheduled interview with the actor-turned-politician, only to be told by Sotto that Poe had left for Manila.

"He told me he received a phone call at 2 a.m. and he needed to personally attend to it," Sotto said. "It’s because of a personal emergency, he had to rush home."

Asked if it had something to do with the disqualification petitions against Poe, Sotto said he did not know what prompted Poe to cut short his Bicol sortie.

Poe campaign spokesman, Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero, only said the hasty departure was probably "something he must personally attend to but maybe not necessarily of a personal matter."

A police officer at Legazpi Airport said Poe and two aides arrived at around 5 a.m. at the terminal and his chopper warmed up.

He left around 8:30 a.m. after waiting for the fog to clear.

Sotto also left for Manila two hours later via a commercial flight, fueling speculation that Poe’s sudden departure was prompted by his legal battle on his eligibility to seek the presidency.

Sotto told reporters before leaving that he had to attend a meeting of the KNP’s national executive committee to finalize the coalition’s candidates for local posts.

KNP vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda will push through with their remaining Bicol sortie with actor Eddie Garcia, who hails from the region, filling in for Poe.

Escudero said Poe would try to get back in time for a grand rally in Sorsogon City.

Poe was supposed to make stops in Virac, Catanduanes, followed by a visit to Bulan and Sorsogon City, both in Sorsogon.

The Supreme Court is currently deliberating on three petitions filed by several lawyers seeking Poe’s disqualification from the May presidential race on citizenship grounds.

The tribunal is weighing arguments about whether Poe is in fact a natural-born Filipino after his birth out of wedlock to an American mother and a father born early last century during the US occupation of the Philippines.

The Constitution stipulates that the President should be a natural-born Filipino citizen.

Any ruling would be subject to appeal but there are fears of mass unrest by Poe’s supporters if he is disqualified.

The petitioners contend that Poe should have assumed the American citizenship of his mother because he was born out of wedlock.

Children born out of wedlock assume the citizenship of the mother, they say, citing the law prevailing then.

Four legal experts asked by the Supreme Court to render their opinion, said Poe could be considered a natural-born citizen and therefore may seek the presidency if his filiation with his father who is a Filipino citizen could be proven.

Members of Poe’s camp had earlier warned of civil unrest if Poe is disqualified. Poe said he would not contest the Supreme Court if it disqualified him.