To disqualify or not
The Philippine Star's recent issue reported that the Supreme Court has already resolved the appeals on its earlier ruling declaring Grace Poe qualified to run for president. But release of that ruling has been deferred to April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan. Why? That day is a holiday, and therefore there would be neither offices nor classes. Is the SC trying to avoid an immediate angry outburst from Poe's supporters because the ruling would be a turn-around from its previous one?
On the other hand, if that ruling is favorable to Poe's cause and therefore would make her thousands of followers happy, would not the Court have opted for an on-the-spot declaration? Delaying release of that decision seems suggestive of an adverse outcome.
Yet the fact remains that only seven of the justices voted favorably on the lady senator's citizenship issue while six voted against. No majority decision was therefore arrived at on that issue, a point stressed by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio in his dissenting opinion. If no such majority ruling was arrived at the issue remains unresolved. And if no ruling has also been declared on Poe's residency requirement how can she be qualified to run for the highest office of the land?
Inevitable as that DQ ruling seems to be, once released it could be a bombshell to the hundreds of thousands or more of Poe's supporters. With elections only four weeks away and with survey results pointing to a winning slot for the lady candidate, how can these people calmly accept a negative decision?
A violent social upheaval, God forbid, is disastrous for this country, of course. It will not only drive away potential investors it will also make life more difficult for the average Filipino because jobs will be scarce and millions more will be added to the rank of the poor. And if this will happen who will be blamed but the Supreme Court for its indecisiveness?
Aware of this, the SC will most probably reiterate its previous ruling allowing Poe to push through with her candidacy but this time strengthening such ruling with positive statements relevant to her citizenship and residency issues.
Critics of the court would again cry foul. But their opposition can be manageable and less threatening. They may malign the court to high heaven, but social stability would hardly be impaired. Besides, how true is it that some pressures from a very powerful office have been felt by some justices urging a favorable decision for the "balikbayan" candidate? Early at the start of the campaign there were talks of President Aquino's plan B presidentiable. This was of course denied by Poe, but the suspicions have not died down. And judging from the lady senator's non-adversarial comments when talking about PNoy's presidency, that suspicion is in fact morphing into a valid observation.
Yet even as we say this, there still remains the possibility of a turn-around decision. And Poe may yet be thrown out of the race.
With Poe out who would be the happiest among the other contenders? Would it be Binay, who like Poe, has a strong following among the low income groups? Would it be Duterte whose survey number is close to that of the foundling candidate, and whose supporters also come from the rank-and-file? As for Roxas, whose elitist image has been a drag to his ambition, would some of Poe's people switch to his camp? Perhaps. But among these Malacañang hopefuls the direction of the flow would likely be towards both Binay and Duterte. Still anything can happen few days before D-day. With Malacañang's machinery and money Roxas may yet have the last laugh when the skirmish is over.
To disqualify or not to disqualify – that is the question. Whatever is the answer this will be a game changer. Our hope and prayer is that in the final hoopla our nationhood would remain intact.
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