Sol-Gen won’t defend Comelec rulings disqualifying Grace Poe

The Office of the Solicitor General will be defending the Senate Electoral Tribunal's decision upholding Senator Grace Poe's status as a natural-born Filipino instead of the Commission on Elections rulings disqualifying her from the presidential elections next year.

In a three-page manifestation filed on Monday, the OSG informed the Supreme Court that it would be unable to submit the comment the high court had required in connection with Poe's two petitions against the Comelec en banc's cancellation of her certificate of candidacy for the May 2016 polls.

“The Office of the Solicitor General respectfully manifests that, in view of its comment in David v Senate Electoral Tribunal et al, the OSG cannot file the required comment on behalf of the Commission on Elections,” read the OSG’s manifestation.

The OSG usually represents government agencies in court cases.

The OSG was referring to a comment it earlier filed before the SC over a separate petition, filed by defeated senatorial candidate Rizalito David, assailing the SET’s declaration that Poe is a natural-born citizen eligible to run in the 2013 senatorial race.

In its comment, the OSG said the SET did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it declared Poe a natural-born Filipino. The SET did not also err when it ruled that Poe re-acquired her natural-born citizenship when she executed an oath of allegiance to the Philippines on July 7, 2006.

Poe, a foundling adopted by celebrity couple Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces, grew up in the Philippines but migrated to the US to finish college and eventually married there.

She later returned to the Philippines and was appointed chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2010. Three years later, she ran for and won a seat in the Senate. —NB, GMA News