Philippine Court Clears Presidential Candidacy of Grace Poe
- Supreme Court voted 9-6 to overturn disqualification of Poe
- Election body had disqualified Poe over citizenship, residency
Philippine Senator Grace Poe
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The Philippine Supreme Court overturned a ruling by the election commission to allow frontrunner Grace Poe to stand in May’s presidential race.
In a 9-to-6 vote, the nation’s top court ruled that Poe, a 47-year-old senator, can continue her bid to become president in the May 9 elections, spokesman Theodore Te said in a televised briefing. In December, the Commission on Elections disqualified Poe, who was found abandoned as a child and once renounced her Filipino citizenship. The election body questioned whether Poe was a natural-born citizen and if she met the 10-year residency requirement for seek the top post.