By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS
IT was an obviously elated Grace Poe that came to the Liwasang Bonifacio to celebrate International Women’s Day organized by the militant women’s group, Gabriela, yesterday.
She had just received word that the Supreme Court, voting 9-6, junked the disqualification decisions of the Commission on Elections on the issues of citizenship and residency and declared that she is qualified to run for the presidency of the Philippines.
“Ito po ay hindi lamang tagumpay ko, kundi tagumpay ng ating mga kababayan; at higit sa lahat tagumpay ng mga inaapi; tagumpay ng mga nahihirapan sa sistema at tagumpay ng mga kababaihan,” she said.
The High Court’s decision is expected to boost her ratings which had remarkably slowed down since the Comelec’s decisions and allowed her rivals, particularly Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance and Rodrigo Duterte of PDP-Laban, to catch up with her.
More importantly, the Supreme Court decision now removes the obstruction that prevented donations from flowing into Poe’s campaign. Although she still leads in the survey, the disqualification cases caused businessmen to hold their donations until the High Court decides.
There were talks that there were those in the Liberal Party who lobbied for the release of the decision closer to Election Day knowing that the uncertainty about Poe’s qualification was taking a toll on her candidacy.
Rep. Barry Gutierrez, spokesman for the Daang Matuwid coalition, said:”The Supreme Court has ruled, and we congratulate Senator Poe on their decision to let her run as President. We now welcome the verdict of the people come May. We’ve always been prepared to run against Sen. Poe. We have been campaigning the past few months on the assumption that she was in the race. With 62 days left till elections, it simply means we have to keep focused on the campaign and our message.”
In another interview, Poe she said she will not forget what she had gone through, “Hindi ko kakalimutan ang pinagdaanan na ito” and said she will try to make sure that others don’t go through the same ordeal.
As she paid tribute to women power, she took a swipe at those who belittled her.“Sabi nang iba ako raw ay minamaliit dahil ako raw ay isang babae at teacher pa man din. Ano daw ang karapatan ko tumakbo bilang pangulo? Mga kababayan, ang mga babae ay hindi mayayabang pero makikita naman natin na hindi kayo sumusuko sa laban, lalong-lalo na kapag ang pinaglalaban ninyo ay ang mga mahal ninyo.”
She attributed her will to fight for what is right to her adoptive parents, movie icons Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces. “Pinalaki ako ni FPJ na magmahal sa kapwa at huwag sumuko. Pinalaki rin ako ni Susan Roces na maging matapang na babae, magtrabaho at tulungan ang pamilya,” she said.
Poe’s party mates were equally ecstatic. Running mate Chiz Escudero posted in Twitter, “This is a great day for the Filipino people.”
Senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares also posted in Twitter:”This also a victory for foundlings.Justice prevails.”
Another senatorial bet Susan Ople said, “The Supreme Court decision junking the disqualification case permanently lifts the dark clouds that threatened Senator Grace Poe’s dream of a new dawn for the Philippines. To have this decision handed down on International Women’s Day is doubly providential and significant.”
“She has demonstrated amazing grace, moral courage, and remarkable strength in her desire to serve our people. Watch Senator Poe rise to even greater heights now that the Supreme Court has upheld her legitimacy as a presidential candidate,” she added.
Fellow senatorial bet Isko Moreno Domagoso agreed: “It will definitely create a bandwagon effect and more than Sen. Grace, it is a triumph for Philippine democracy since voters can now choose the candidate they want to lead them.”
