Chiz reiterates call for Carpio to inhibit from Poe’s DQ case

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Francis Escudero reiterated yesterday the call for Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to inhibit from the disqualification case of his running mate and presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe, which is now pending before the Supreme Court.

“Senator Grace’s lawyers also asked for his inhibition. I hope he will consider it and inhibit himself in order to address such doubts from some sectors regarding his impartiality in connection with the cases of Sen. Poe,” Escudero said.

Poe filed last month petitions before the Supreme Court to prevent Carpio and Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Arturo Brion from joining deliberations of the tribunal.

Poe and her lawyers are seeking to reverse the rulings of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualifying her from the 2016 presidential elections for not being a natural-born Filipino and for failing to meet the 10-year residency requirement for candidates.

In seeking the three justices’ inhibition, Poe cited their dissent to the Senate Electoral Tribunal decision that deemed her to be a natural-born Filipino.

Meanwhile, the full Comelec yesterday formalized its adoption of the comment filed by Commissioner Rowena Guanzon with the SC concerning the disqualification of Senator Poe. 

In a two-page resolution, the Comelec ratified and validated the comment that Guanzon submitted last Jan. 7 without letting her fellow commissioners review the document.

Even Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista was not able to review and sign the comment, prompting him to issue a memorandum asking Guanzon to explain.

The resolution also confirmed that Guanzon and Commissioner Arthur Lim will be the Comelec’s representatives on the case as the Office of the Solicitor General refused to serve as the agency’s legal counsel. – With Sheila Crisostomo