POE PRAYING SC WILL SIDE WITH HER AND ALL FOUNDLINGS

BAGUIO CITY--As she traveled north for her campaign, Sen. Grace Poe, the first foundling to run for president, expressed optimism that the Supreme Court would allow her presidential bid and end all attempts by her opponents to remove her from the race.

Poe, the voters' top choice for president according to surveys, said she was satisfied with the whole legal process as the oral arguments in the Supreme Court, which were aired live, allowed her to prove to everyone that she is qualified to run for president, despite being a foundling.

The Supreme Court concluded oral arguments on Poe's consolidated cases on February 16.

"Idadalangin natin ang desisyon ng Korte. Lahat ng prosesong ligal ay gagawin natin dahil this is also a fight for foundlings. Parang imposible na dalawang foreigners ang mga magulang ko," Poe said at a media briefing in Baguio City Tuesday.

"Ako ay kumpiyansa sa isang maayos at makatarungang desisyon," she said.

Poe's camp, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the Solicitor General, and private petitioners in the consolidated cases against Poe submitted their final memoranda to the Supreme Court on February 22.

Poe's legal counsels led by Alex Poblador told the High Court that the poll body's decision to cancel Poe's COC for president was "somewhat premeditated, and that bias and impartiality tainted the COMELEC's acts."

They also pointed out how the poll body "changed and manipulated at every turn" the rules in deciding Poe's case "to achieve the singular objective of denying due course to her COC, and ultimately, removing her name from the official ballot."

With a final judgment pending, Poe's name is still listed as a presidential candidate on the 57 million ballots being printed now for the May 9 elections.

"I don't think there's anything new that the others who are against me can present in their own memoranda. So in our case, we remain confident," Poe said.

She noted that even Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno believes that foundlings should be protected under the country's laws. Poe, who was abandoned at the Jaro Church as an infant, does not know her biological parents.

"We are just waiting for the day when they finally come to a conclusion on the case and I'm hoping that it comes sooner rather than later," said Poe, adding that a favorable Supreme Court decision on her case would not only put all legal hurdles behind her but also set a precedent for all abandoned children who may want to enter public service someday.