Poe’s lawyer: Quo warranto case should be dismissed

Sen. Grace Poe at the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash (Photo courtesy of Sen. Grace Poe’s Facebook page)

MANILA — The quo warranto case filed by Rizalito David against Senator Grace Poe should be dismissed.

Atty. Alex Poblador, counsel of Poe, made this manifestation during the oral arguments before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) on Monday.

According to Poblador, because David did not present any evidence showing that the parents of Poe are foreigners, which will be made as basis that she is not a natural-born Filipino citizen, the case should be dismissed.

Likewise, Poblador argued that Poe should also be allowed to continue to sit as senator.

When interpellated by Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion, Poblador maintained that because it is unclear to identify the real parents of Poe such that she is a “foundling”, the so-called “presumption of law” will be in her favor that she is a natural-born citizen.

Upon interrogation by Senator Pia Cayetano, Poblador said that the so-called “preponderance of evidence” should prevail over the case wherein to weigh who presented the stronger evidence.

Poblador told the SET that because David did not present any evidence, their decision should be in favor of Poe.