THE Commission on Elections’ Second Division on Wednesday denied presidential aspirant Grace Poe’s plea to consolidate the four disqualification petitions filed against her.
Poe’s lawyer George Garcia confirmed the Comelec’s decision during the oral arguments on the three of the four disqualification cases filed against his client.
He said they had already asked the Second division, which heard the disqualification petition filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo, to reconsider its decision.
Meanwhile, former Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said Wednesday he believed Poe was qualified to run for President as she is a natural-born citizen and resident of the Philippines. He also confirmed that his firm is handling Poe’s case.
On Wednesday, the Comelec’s First Division held oral arguments on the three remaining petitions field against Poe by former Senator Francisco Tatad, De La Salle University professor Antonio Contreras, and University of the East Law dean Amado Valdez.
During the hearing, Tatad and Valdez agreed to have their petitions be consolidated with Elamparo’s while Contreras opposed to the idea, saying his petition related only to the residency issue against Poe.
