
MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The petitioners in the disqualification case against Senator Grace Poe are at it again. This time, they want Jejomar Binay disqualified from the presidential race after the Commission on Audit (COA) found the vice president liable for grave misconduct, dishonesty and gross inexcusable negiligence, graft and corrupt practices. The COA findings are in connection with the overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall parking garage during Binay’s term as mayor.
The petitioners, former senator Francisco Tatad, De La Salle University professor Antonio Contreras, former Government Service Insurance System lawyer Estrella Elamparo and former University of the East College of Law dean Amado Valdez, lost their case against Poe. The Supreme Court ruled in Poe’s favor — by a vote of 9-6 — allowing the Senator to stay in the race for president.
This time Tatad and company want the Commission on Elections to disqualify Binay, promising to take the case to the Supreme Courty if necessary.
“We want to rebuild our reputation after that stinging loss in our case before the high court,” Tatad said. “We are confident we will win this time.”
When asked by The Adobo Chronicles for comment on the impending disqualification petition against him, Binay just laughed it off, saying that nothing in the Philippine Constitution requires presidential candidates to be of good moral character. “Criminals can run for president as long as they are natural-born Filipino citizens, at least 40 years of age, have resided in the country for ten years before the date of election, registered voters and are able to read and write.”
Tatad’s group is also reportedly preparing a case against Mar Roxas and his wife, Korina Sanchez, for violation of election laws. Sanchez was recently castigated for distributing Department of Agriculture (DA) checks to farmers while wearing a yellow shirt, the official color of her husband’s and the Aquino administration’s party. “That’s clearly electioneering,” Tatad said, “especially for someone who is not an employee of the DA.”
Expect the group to also start putting together a case against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Stay tuned!