Former Philippine senator Francisco Tatad asked the Supreme Court Monday to lift the injunction against the disqualification of the certificate of candidacy (COC) of 2016 presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe.
Tatad asked the Supreme Court to remove the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued against Comelec's disqualification ruling against the presidential hopeful Poe. He said the Commission on Election acted within the limitations of its authority when it rejected Poe's motion for reconsideration.
Interaksyon reported that Tatad is also against the plan of Poe's team to consolidate all the charges against the senator. He also opposed the inhibition of Supreme Court associate justices Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Arturo Brion, and Antonio Carpio from having anything to do with the proceedings in Poe's cases.
"A careful analysis of the assailed resolutions will show that the Comelec anchored its findings, conclusions or rulings on the Constitution, the law or jurisprudence, after a meticulous examination of the facts and the evidence presented," according to Tatad's 65-page comment, announced through his lawyer Manuelito Luna in a report by GMA. "There being no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Commission as above-explained, it behooves the Honorable Court En Banc to seriously consider dissolving the Temporary Restraining Order issued during its recess. Justice and fairness dictate that the Court takes this course of action."
Meanwhile, Manila Times wrote that SC justices, Antonio Carpio, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Arturo Brion, who voted in the DQ case against Poe at the Senate Electoral Tribunal, inhibited themselves from the legal skirmish pending in the High Court. The three justices are part of the electoral tribunal. Other members include Senators Loren Legarda, Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th, Vicente Sotto 3rd, Nancy Binay, and Cynthia Villar. Only Binay voted for the disqualification of Poe.
With all these issues, Tatad is still adamant in his stand that Poe doesn't have enough evidence to prove she is a natural-born Filipino who is qualified to run for presidency.
