Chiz: Supreme Court will side with Grace

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Friday expressed his confidence that the Supreme Court (SC) will side with his running mate, Sen. Grace Poe, following the decision of two Commission on Elections (Comelec) divisions to disqualify her from the presidential race.

Escudero, who is seeking the vice presidency, said in a statement that only the high court can rule with finality on the legal questions surrounding Poe's candidacy.

"We are hopeful that if Senator Grace cannot achieve justice from the Comelec, she will finally achieve justice in the Supreme Court," Escudero said.

He cited the case of actor Fernando Poe Jr., the adoptive father of Poe, whose citizenship was questioned when he ran for president in 2004. The high court ruled in favor of the elder Poe.

"Under the law, adoptive children take over the rights and the pertinences of a legitimate child. So if you are a legitimate child of a natural-born father, then the status of your citizenship is also natural-born," Escudero said, adding that the SC is fair.

The Comelec First Division recently canceled Poe's certificate of candidacy for president, citing that she failed to meet the ten-year residency requirement for presidential candidates.

Poe said that she will appeal the case before the Comelec en banc and the high court.

"We will appeal to the Comelec and the Supreme Court to uphold the truth, and the spirit and aims of our Constitution.  In the meantime, I assure you that I am still a candidate for president," Poe said in a statement following the Comelec division's resolution.