‘Not anything legal, just everything political’

Although I don’t concur with retired chief justice Artemio Panganiban’s views at times, it’s always a pleasure reading his column, “With Due Respect” in the Inquirer. Panganiban is perceived to be a good “man of the law.” Recently, I was particularly delighted with his column, “Comelec gravely abused discretion in Poe’s case” (Opinion, 4/10/16).

Panganiban wrote: “As for me, anyone can challenge Poe’s qualifications in case she wins, in the same manner that anyone can contest the eligibility of, say, Rodrigo Duterte whose disqualification suit is still pending in the Comelec, or of Jejomar Binay, who may be sued for alleged corruption, or of Mar Roxas in the same way he filed a protest against Binay’s vice presidential victory in 2010. Yes, our very litigious society tolerates suits for any real or imagined cause. But suing is one thing; winning is quite another. Meanwhile, the losers should stop whining. They have put up a good fight and there is honor in defeat. The Court has spoken. Let us respect its final verdict.” Well said.

Let me add my own observation, and I wish to singularly address this to the Commission on Elections and the contending parties. The Supreme Court probably knows too well that the disqualification case against Sen. Grace Poe is a political issue especially in this season of elections, given the fact that the issue popped up only when Poe was topping the list of presidentiables in every survey on voter preferences. The covert and true intention is not to question Poe’s citizenship and residency, but to stop her from running for president.

Hence the high tribunal expounded on the matter at hand pointblank and as best as it could. Who are we at this time to compel the Court to decide immediately on the merit or demerit of Poe’s citizenship and residency? In the first place, the independent Senate Electoral Tribunal, which is the proper venue for the complaint, had earlier decided in favor of Poe. And that should have settled the “controversy.”

Apparently this pestering “pandemonium” couldn’t be anything legal, but just everything political.

—RENI M. VALENZUELA, [email protected]