GMA happy that Poes case is over

By FERDIE MAGLALANG
January 24, 2004, 8:00am
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo welcomed yesterday the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) decision dismissing for lack of merit a controversial petition to disqualify opposition
presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. from the presidential race in the May 10 elections.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo is pleased that the citizenship issue
thrown against her closest rival, Poe, has been finally resolved so that the Filipino electorate
could have a wide array of choices in selecting and electing the next president.
"The President welcomes the early resolution of this constitutional issue on which she has
already expressed her personal belief. The electorate is entitled to more choices and this is good
for our democratic system," he said in a press statement.
The Comelec First Division dismissed the petition filed by lawyer Victorino Fornier seeking to
disqualify Poe from the presidential race on grounds that he is not a natural-born Filipino citizen,
one of the constitutionally mandated requirements for a person seeking the presidency.
The decision to dismiss the disqualification petition was made by Comelec Commissioners
Rufino S. B. Javier Jr., Luzviminda Tancangco and Resurreccion Borra, for lack of merit.
Earlier, there were charges of "fabrication" of the birth certificate and documents of Allan
Fernando Poe Sr., the father of Poe Jr., allegedly by National Commission for Culture and Arts
(NCCA) Director Ricardo Manapat who took an indefinite leave of absence pending the result of
the investigation against him. However, he was replaced by President Arroyo.
Bunye said the President is not at all bothered by the Comelec decision since she is prepared to
campaign on the basis of the accomplishments and the performance she has shown during the
past three years in office.
"She will proceed according to her (campaign) plans and schedules. The President is very
confident that she will be judged by her records. The President believes she can do more (should
she be) given the mandate by the people," he said during his regular press briefing yesterday
afternoon.
Another Palace official said the Comelec decision would finally put to rest the "tossing of
accusations" and allow instead candidates from the administration and opposition parties to face
tackle campaign issues.
"The level of debate should now take a turn to focus on the campaign matter. All aspirants
should now present to the public their brand of leadership, platform of government, and track
record," he said, without detailing which particular campaign issues should be debated among
candidates.
2 technical knockouts
The Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) expressed elation yesterday over the dismissal
of the disqualification case against its standard bearer, Fernando Poe Jr., on the ground of his
alleged questionable citizenship, saying this initial victory only shows that the "rule of law will
prevail" over unseen forces out to undermine the imminent landslide victory of the united
opposition bet.
Rodolfo Reyes, who heads the KNP media bureau noted, however said that the plan by the
proponents of the disqualification suit against the KNP bet to pursue the case before the Comelec
en banc and even all the way to the Supreme Court has only bolstered public suspicion that these
are all part of the hatchet jobs hurled against Poe by his opponents.
Reyes said Poe has now scored two technical knockouts against his opponents, first before the
Comelec and earlier at the Senate where Forniers chief witness against the KNP bet, National
Archives director Ricardo Manapat was discredited by his own employees and accused of
tampering with public documents to cast doubts on Poes citizenship.
"With these two technical knockouts, we will just let the people decide for themselves on this
issue," Reyes said.
"FPJ remains unfazed by what are obviously hatchet jobs mounted against him by desperate
forces. In fact, this victory at the Comelec has strengthened the KNPs resolve to bring FPJs
candidacy directly to the people, along with his campaign battlecry of restoring the trust and
confidence of the public in government and its institutions," he added.
Resolve with finality
Senate President and Liberal Party Chairman Franklin M. Drilon welcomed yesterday the early
decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division on the case questioning the
citizenship of actor and presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.
"We welcome the prompt action taken by the Comelecs First Division throwing out the
disqualification lodged against Fernando Poes candidacy," Drilon said in a statement.
The Senate President said he was urging "all parties concerned" to immediately take up and
exhaust all the available legal remedies "so that this case can be laid to rest with finality in time
for the start of the campaign period of the May 10 elections."
"Public interest requires that this issue be resolved with finality as soon as possible," Drilon said,
noting that the petitioners for the disqualification of Poe can now file a motion for
reconsideration before the Comelec en banc and eventually before the Supreme Court.
"With this ruling, the process has begun and we expect this case to be elevated to the Comelec en
banc and later before the Supreme Court," Drilon explained.
"This is how the case should proceed in our system of government," Drilon noted. "Im sure that
this case will be decided upon based on facts and the rule of law."
More time to focus
Vice President Teofisto T. Guingona Jr. yesterday supported the decision of the Commission on
Elections (Comelec) to elevate to the Supreme Court the disqualification case against
presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr.
Guingona said the Comelecs decision would provide the election body more time to prepare for
the May 10 local and national elections.
He urged the Comelec to focus on ensuring a clean and honest elections in May, amid the
controversies surrounding the Comelec barely five months before the elections.
"I think they could have made a decision because it involves the disqualification of the
candidate. But since they chose not to do this, its another way of saying even if we decide one
way or the other, most likely youll bring it to the Supreme Court," Guingona said.
Guingona also questioned the Comelecs jurisdiction over the citizenship issues against Poe.
"It seems to be more judicial and to be decided by the judiciary. Because citizenship is a question
of fact, and it is very hard for us to determine just through the basis of documents which are not
authenticated really," Guingona said. (David Cagahastian)
PMP lauds Comelec
The Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) commended the Commission on Elections First Division
for dismissing yesterday the petition seeking to disqualify movie star Fernando Poe Jr. from the
presidential race.
PMP spokesman Rufus Rodriguez said the dismissal of the disqualification case filed by
Victorino and Andresito Fornier last week only proves that Comelec can stand against the
pressure of some groups who wanted Poe out of the race by using forged documents.
PMP is one of the political parties which compose the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino
(KNP), which standard bearer for this years polls is Poe. Former President Joseph Estrada is
PMPs chairman emeritus.
Voting 3-0, the poll bodys First Division, composed of Commissioners Resurreccion Borra,
Luzviminda Tancangco, and Rufino Javier Jr., has thrown out the disqualification case against
Poe for "lack of merit."
Among the evidence submitted by the Fornier brothers before the Comelec were documents from
the governments Records Management and Archives Office.
The documents, however, were found to be falsified by archives chief Ricardo Manapat as
testified to by his employees during a hearing in the Senate early this week.
Manapat is the sole witness of the Fornier bothers, who vowed to appeal the ruling on Monday.
Also yesterday, Rodriguez challenged Malacanang to file criminal charges against the Forniers
and Manapat after finding out that they conspired in producing fake copies of birth certificates of
Poe and his father, Allan Fernando Poe Sr.
"There are more people who believe that Malacaang had a hand in this.The Palace should be
true to its promise that it will not only relieve Manapat of his post but it will also file criminal
charges against him," Rodriguez said. (Edmer F. Panesa)
A victory for truth
Former senator Ernesto Maceda lauded yesterday the decision of the Commission on Elections
First Division to dismiss the disqualification case filed against action king Fernando Poe Jr.,
calling it a victory for truth and the Filipino people.
Maceda said the unanimous decision of the First Division to dismiss the disqualification case
filed for lack of merit is proof that the documents presented to prove Poes alien status were
fabricated.
"We have always been convinced that the case against FPJ would not prosper because the case
against him is a mere hatchet job to jeopardize his presidential bid. This is a victory for the
Filipino people who believe that the truth will always prevail," he said.
With the dismissal of the petition, Maceda said it is time the government proceeds with dispatch
to prosecute those who submitted the fake documents against Poes citizenship status, including
National Archives chief Ricardo Manapat.
Roco hails decision
Presidential candidate Raul Roco hailed yesterday the decision of the Commission on Elections
to junk the petition to disqualify actor Fernando Poe Jr. as presidential bet of the opposition
Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino.
This developed as Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Isidoro Real, provincial chairman of the Lakas-
CMD, likewise welcomed Malacaangs decision to sack Ricardo Manapat as director of the
National Archives.
In a statement, Roco said he was glad Poe will now join the presidential derby after the Comelec
threw a petition by Victoriano Fornier seeking his disqualification for not being a natural-born
Filipino citizen.
Roco denied he will benefit from Poes disqualification, saying that if this happens, President
Arroyo will have the political advantage.
He hinted that Malacaang is behind the bid to derailPoes presidential bid.
"It is a good time to remind Malacaang that the Constitution says bona fide candidates should
not be harassed," the Alyansa ng Pag-asa presidential bet said.
However, Roco refused to comment on the options left for Fornier to pursue the disqualification
petition against Poe, believed to be the frontrunner among presidential candidates.
Roco, who has been relegated to second place in various poll surveys, said the petitioners know
the options left to them.
Meanwhile, Real said Arroyos decision to dismiss Manapat is a clear indication that she has
nothing to do with the alleged forging of official documents backing the petition to disqualify
Poe.
The Zamboanga del Sur solon urged critics of the President to stop concocting stories that tend to
"stoke the fires of polarization" in the country.