SC rules: Poe qualified to run for president in May 9 polls

Presidential aspirant Grace Poe (Photo from Poe’s official Facebook page)

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) En Banc ruled on Tuesday that Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares is qualified to run for president in the May 9, 2016 elections.

In a press conference, SC Public Information Office (PIO) Chief and Spokesman Atty. Theodore O. Te said that nine justices voted in favor of and six justices voted against granting the consolidated petitions of Poe, which assailed the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) En Banc that nullified her certificate of candidacy (CoC) for president in the May 9 polls.

Those who voted to grant the petition are Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. Aranal Sereno and Associate Justices Jose P. Perez, Presbitero J. Velasco, Lucas P. Bersamin, Diosdado M. Peralta, Jose P. Mendoza, Francis H. Jardeleza, Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa and Mariano C. Del Castillo.

Those who voted to deny the petition are Senior Associate Justices Teresita J.

Leonardo-De Castro, Arturo D. Brion and Antonio T. Carpio, and Associate Justices Bienvenido L. Reyes, Marvic Leonen and Estela M.

Perlas-Bernabe.

Te said that the Court will release the text of the decision in the next few days.