Grace seeks more time to answer election raps

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Grace Poe yesterday sought more time to answer the election offense case filed against her by losing senatorial candidate and now presidential aspirant Rizalito David in connection with her residency and citizenship.

In a three-page motion, Poe’s legal counsel George Erwin Garcia asked the Law Department of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to give them 30 more days, or from Nov. 3 to Dec. 3, to file the counter affidavit.

Garcia said yesterday the Comelec granted only a 10-day extension, from Nov. 3 to Nov. 13. But the resolution on this matter is yet to be released. It is expected to come out today. 

In August, David filed an election offense case against Poe before the Comelec. He also lodged a disqualification case against her before the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

David alleged that Poe had “misrepresented the facts of her being a natural-born citizen of the Philippines” in the certificate of candidacy (COC) the she filed when she ran for senator in 2013.

Garcia said Poe’s counter-affidavit with affirmative defenses and other supporting documents and evidence is being prepared. “However, because of heavy pressure of other equally urgent professional work, undersigned counsel will need more time to gather the necessary documents and finalize respondent’s counter-affidavit, gather the necessary documents.”

Poe is also facing a petition to have her COC for president in the 2016 polls cancelled. The petition was filed by former Government Service Insurance System chief legal counsel Estrella Elamparo, citing residency and citizenship issues.

A similar case was also lodged by De La Salle University professor Antonio Contreras, who alleged that Poe lacks two months of the 10-year residency requirement for those seeking the presidency.

Former senator Francisco Tatad also sought the disqualification of Poe for failing to meet the requirements on residency and citizenship.  – With Christina Mendez