The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Wednesday urged Poe to reconsider his possible decision in the 2016 presidential elections due to her residency claims.
She should not file her certificate of candidacy anymore only to be disqualified later for failure to meet the residency requirement.
This was emphasized by UNA interim president Tobias Tiangco pointing out to Poe if she really values honesty.
“Hindi ko ho alam bakit tayo aabot doon sa kung kailangan pa siyang i-disqualify. Kasi if she will be honest, kung siya ay magiging tapat sa taumbayan, hindi na dapat umabot sa punto na mag-file pa siya ng certificate of candidacy,” Tiangco told ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda.
Poe on her certifate of candidacy for the 2013 midterm elections as senator stated she was a resident of the country for 6 years and 6 months at that time.
Tiangco said that adding three more years, Poe would only be a resident for 9 years and 6 months by the time of the May 2016 elections.
He pointed out that the constitution allows 10 years telling Poe may be qualified instead in the 2022 presidential elections.
“Kasi 6 years and 6 months plus 3 years is 9 years and 6 months. Maliwanag sa Constitution, sampung taon. Eh bakit naman ipipilit sa 2016?” Tiangco said.
Addressing to issue, however, of hitting Poe after she rejected possible tandem with VP Jejomar Binay, the UNA leader denied that the party is only bringing up the issue out of threat that Poe will be the hindrance for Binay.
“Hindi kami natatakot, ito ay requirement ng Constitution hindi ba po? Saligang batas ito, ang ating pinakamataas na batas. At nung pumirma siya ng COC (certificate of candidacy), nakasulat ito sa pag-pirma niya ng COC, sworn statement ito,” he said.
However, Senator Francis Escudero is not convince of the explanation of UNA adding that it only raised the issue on Poe’s residency after the latter signed the Senate sub-committee report recommending plunder charges against the VP.
Meanwhile, Atty. Romulo Macalintal said in a press statement Poe can fulfill the requirement to run for higher office if one relies on her COC in the 2013 polls.
“If Poe was a resident of the Philippines for ‘6 years and 6 months’ in October 2012, then the additional period from October 2012 till the May 2016 elections which is three years and 7 months, will give her a total of 10 years and 1 month residence in the Philippines,” Macalintal said.
Macalintal added that Poe’s COC in the 2013 elections cannot be sued as basis to disqualify her for the higher positions in the 2016 elections.
“While the COC shows that she answered ‘6 years and 6 months’ to the question ‘Period of Residence in the Philippines before May 13, 2013,’ the said answer is not decisive in determining whether or not she could comply with the said residency requirement for President or VP,” Macalintal said.
H/T: ABS-CBN News