Grace Poe’s run for president in the Philippines developed another interesting layer. On Monday, the Supreme Court issued two temporary restraining orders (TRO) to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from officially pulling out Sen. Grace Poe’s certificate of candidacy (COC).
The news was first reported by CNN Philippines.
Here’s a statement from the SC ruling: "A temporary restraining order is issued, effective immediately and until further orders from this court, ordering you, respondent Comelec, your agents, representatives or persons acting in your place or stead, to cease and desist from implementing the assailed Comelec en banc resolution dated December 23, 2015”.
The report also said that the SC released the restraining orders within the same day Poe’s lawyers filed the petition. The purpose of the TRO will then prevent the Comelec from removing the senator’s name from the ballot.
As for the petition, Sen. Grace Poe and her team requested the high tribunal to issue the TRO on the poll body’s rulings.
Atty. George Garcia, Poe’s lawyer, explained in a report from Phil Star that the issuance of TRO is a matter of urgency. He said that the Comelec order would become executory if by chance the disqualified candidate is not able to secure a restraining order from the court within five days. The said period covers from promulgation of the ruling on disqualification.
“This is a matter of extreme urgency. Through arbitrary, capricious and seemingly orchestrated acts over the past two months, the Commission on Elections has single-handedly imperiled the sovereign right of the Filipino people to elect the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines,” reads a statement from the petition.
Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, has put her political destiny in the hands of the Supreme Court.
"I am putting my fate in the hands of the Supreme Court. We remain confident that our justices will protect the rights of foundlings like me to run for public office. We enjoin the public to keep a keen eye on the proceedings and the decision on the case,” she commented in a report from Rappler.
At present, Poe’s petitions has been set by the SC for oral arguments on Jan. 19.
