Philippine court allows Grace Poe to run for president, shaking up election race

Mar 10, 2016 The Philippine Supreme Court recently ruled that Senator Grace Poe, who spent much of her life in the United States, is eligible to run for President. The verdict reverses an earlier decision by the election commission and effectively puts her in line to reclaim her position as frontrunner.

Following the announcement, the 47 year old first-term senator addressed a cheering crowd at a park in Manila saying:

“This is not only my victory, but the victory of our citizens, and most of all the victory of all those who are oppressed. A victory of all those who are fighting against the system and the victory for all of the women,”

Incumbent president Aquino’s chosen successor, Manuel Roxas, is third behind Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay in the latest independent opinion poll.