Makabayan bloc confident Poe will prove Filipino citizenship

The progressive Makabayan coalition has come to Senator Grace Poe’s defense amid the citizenship questions hounding her.

 

At its official declaration of support for the Poe-Escudero tandem on Thursday, the Makabayan coalition expressed its confidence that Poe could legally prove she is a Filipino.

 

“Kaugnay ng isyu ng citizenship at residency, matatag ang aming paninindigan, na sa puntong legal, kwalipikado sa pusisyon ng pagkapangulo si Grace Poe,” the group in a statement read by Makabayan coalition president and former Rep. Satur Ocampo and former Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza during the event at the Quezon City Sports Club.

 

Compared to the Aquino administration’s “Daang Matuwid” platform, the group said Poe’s platform of government is more “pro-Filipino.”

 

“Higit sa usaping legal, ang plataporma ni Poe sa maraming usapin ng mahihirap at ng bansa ay mas Pilipino kumpara sa programa at rekord ni Pangulong Aquino at Mar Roxas na sagad sa pagpapakatuta sa US at promotor ng mapaminsalang globalisasyon sa bansa,” Maza said.

 

At least three disqualification cases have been filed against Poe before the Commission on Elections questioning her eligibility to run for public office because of her supposed failure to prove her Filipino citizenship. A separate suit has also been lodged against her before the Senate Electoral Tribunal. 

 

In a radio interview Wednesday, Poe revealed that the DNA test she took with two potential relatives yielded negative results.

 

'Meaningful socioeconomic, political reform'

 

In declaring the group's support for the Poe-Escudero tandem, the Makabayan bloc said its decision was based on their impressive track record as politicians and their commitment to pursue a “meaningful” socioeconomic and political reform.

 

“Sa lahat ng mga kandidato, ang tambalang Grace-Chiz ang nakapaghapag ng substantibong plataformang nagsisikap tumugon sa mga suliranin at mga mithiin ng mahihirap at ng sambayanang Pilipino,” Ocampo said.

 

The Makabayan coalition is composed of the following parties: Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Courage, Migrante, ACT-Teachers, Katribu, Akap Bata, Piston, Kalikasan and Aking Bikolnon. The group has seven party-list representatives in the House of Representatives. 

 

The group said that despite Poe being in government for barely five years, the Makabayan bloc is confident of her leadership ability in taking the lead in the Senate investigations on the Mamasapano clash, and the controversy involving former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima.

 

Likewise, the group said it has also proven Escudero’s competence as he led the Makabayan bloc in Congress as the Minority Floor Leader in the House of Representatives during the 13th Congress.

 

“Testigo kami sa kanyang kakayahan, pagiging maaasahan at kasanayan bilang lingko-dbayan at sa kanyang pagtataguyod sa maraming mga isyu at kahingian ng mamamayan na tinitindigan ng Makabayan,” Maza said.

 

During the event, Poe and Escudero signed with top officials of the Makabayan coalition a response outlining the nine commitments they vow to pursue if elected as president and vice president, respectively. The document was titled “Tugon sa mga Hinaing at Mithiin ng Bayan Para sa Pagbabago at Pag-unlad ng Mamamayan.”

 

The programs and projects which the two independents have committed to prioritize are as follows:

 

 

— RSJ, GMA News