Erice says he’s not behind citizenship issue, seeks audience with Poe

(UPDATED 8:38 p.m.) “I am not part of those who question your being a Filipino.”

 

This was the message sent by Rep. Edgar Erice, the vice president for political affairs of the Liberal Party, to Sen. Grace Poe amid rumors linking him to the disqualification case filed against the senator.

 

Erice texted reporters late Wednesday night to inform them he has sought audience with Poe to clear the issue.

 

“Sen. Grace mam. May I respectfully seek an audience so I can personally assure you that I am not part of those who question your being a Filipino, as being maliciously peddled in the social media. I have some information that I can share with you regarding this,” Erice's message sent to Poe said, a copy of which the congressman gave media.

 

“I made it clear in my other comments, that it should be taken as an advise (sic) and advocacy rather than criticism. Last year I was the first one who spouse the idea of a mar poe tandem as a the perfect team and up to now it is my belief. I am sorry but it is my opinion that you are not ready for the presidency but I will respect whatever will be your opinion and decisions. After all we are accountable for whatever we say or do as a public officials. We can agree or disagree on issues but I will always respect you. Thanks mam,” the rest of the message went.

 

Erice said Poe was non-commital about the meeting. He did not elaborate on what Poe said in response.

He added that days before defeated senatorial hopeful Rizalito David filed a petition to unseat Poe, Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras gave him a call asking him to help disqualify the neophyte lawmaker.

"I rejected it politely," Erice said.

Sought for comment, Paras said it was Erice who called him and asked if he was interested in filing a case against Poe.

"It was very clear. Sabi niya, 'Are you interested to file a case against Grace Poe?'" Paras told GMA News Online.

"I became a very convenient scapegoat," Paras added.

Paras said he dismissed the idea since it was still "premature" since Poe has not announced to run for a higher position and filed a certificate of candidacy.

The former congressman said he had nothing to do with Rizalito David and the cases he filed against Poe.
 

David on Monday filed an electoral offense complaint against Poe at the Commission on Elections over the neophyte senator's alleged "material misrepresentation."

 

David said his complaint is based on three points: 

 

On August 6, David also filed a petition before the Senate Electoral Tribunal to unseat Poe.

 

He said in his complaint that Poe has no right to remain in office on the grounds that she is supposedly not a Filipino citizen and lacks the required number of years of residency in the Philippines when she filed her certificate of candidacy in the 2013 senatorial elections. 

 

Some newspaper reports linked LP officials to the complaints.

 

Poe, who has topped surveys of possible presidential candidates, earlier said she has renounced her US citizenship even before she entered government service and became chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. 

To date, Poe has yet to decide on her 2016 political plans. —With a report from Xianne Arcangel/KG/RSJ/NB, GMA News