This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/09/world/asia/philippines-grace-poe-presidential-election.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Philippine Court Clears Way for Senator to Run for President Philippine Court Clears Way for Senator Grace Poe to Run for President
(about 9 hours later)
MANILA — The Supreme Court of the Philippines on Tuesday ruled that a popular senator, seen by some as likely to carry forward the policies of President Benigno S. Aquino III, is eligible to run for the presidency.MANILA — The Supreme Court of the Philippines on Tuesday ruled that a popular senator, seen by some as likely to carry forward the policies of President Benigno S. Aquino III, is eligible to run for the presidency.
Senator Grace Poe, the adopted daughter of one of the country’s most famous movie stars, has consistently ranked among the most popular of the candidates. In December, the Commission on Elections disqualified her after complaints claimed that she was a United States citizen and had not lived in the Philippines long enough to run.Senator Grace Poe, the adopted daughter of one of the country’s most famous movie stars, has consistently ranked among the most popular of the candidates. In December, the Commission on Elections disqualified her after complaints claimed that she was a United States citizen and had not lived in the Philippines long enough to run.
According to Ms. Poe’s account, she was abandoned on the doorstep of a church on the central Philippine island of Panay in 1968 and was adopted by the movie star Fernando Poe Jr.According to Ms. Poe’s account, she was abandoned on the doorstep of a church on the central Philippine island of Panay in 1968 and was adopted by the movie star Fernando Poe Jr.
She later moved to the United States, where she obtained citizenship and lived for several years before returning to the Philippines and entering politics. In 2013, she surprised many people in the country by running for the Senate and winning with more than 20 million votes — the highest number among the more than 30 candidates.She later moved to the United States, where she obtained citizenship and lived for several years before returning to the Philippines and entering politics. In 2013, she surprised many people in the country by running for the Senate and winning with more than 20 million votes — the highest number among the more than 30 candidates.
Ms. Poe has said she formally renounced her United States citizenship and established residency in the Philippines in time to run for president, but her candidacy has been dogged by allegations that she is ineligible. The country’s Constitution says that candidates must have been a resident for 10 years and be a “natural-born” citizen. There are multiple disputed versions of when Ms. Poe established residency and whether as a foundling she is legally a natural-born citizen or a naturalized citizen.Ms. Poe has said she formally renounced her United States citizenship and established residency in the Philippines in time to run for president, but her candidacy has been dogged by allegations that she is ineligible. The country’s Constitution says that candidates must have been a resident for 10 years and be a “natural-born” citizen. There are multiple disputed versions of when Ms. Poe established residency and whether as a foundling she is legally a natural-born citizen or a naturalized citizen.
In recent public opinion surveys, Ms. Poe has been tied for the lead in the presidential race with Vice President Jejomar Binay. At stake in the election is the continuation of policies introduced by the Aquino administration that have resulted in strong economic growth, praise from international organizations on anticorruption efforts and steady upgrades by investment ratings agencies.In recent public opinion surveys, Ms. Poe has been tied for the lead in the presidential race with Vice President Jejomar Binay. At stake in the election is the continuation of policies introduced by the Aquino administration that have resulted in strong economic growth, praise from international organizations on anticorruption efforts and steady upgrades by investment ratings agencies.
Mr. Aquino endorsed former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas as his chosen successor and asked Ms. Poe to run as vice president. She declined the offer and began an independent bid for the presidency that embraces many of the policies of the Aquino administration.Mr. Aquino endorsed former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas as his chosen successor and asked Ms. Poe to run as vice president. She declined the offer and began an independent bid for the presidency that embraces many of the policies of the Aquino administration.
Mr. Binay, her closest rival, is an outspoken critic of Mr. Aquino. In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately, and it is not uncommon for the two officeholders to be political opponents. Mr. Binay has signaled that he will change many of the Aquino administration’s policies. He has said that Mr. Aquino has failed to spread economic prosperity to the country’s poor, has been slow to build infrastructure and has been unnecessarily confrontational with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.Mr. Binay, her closest rival, is an outspoken critic of Mr. Aquino. In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately, and it is not uncommon for the two officeholders to be political opponents. Mr. Binay has signaled that he will change many of the Aquino administration’s policies. He has said that Mr. Aquino has failed to spread economic prosperity to the country’s poor, has been slow to build infrastructure and has been unnecessarily confrontational with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Mr. Binay is under investigation by the country’s anticorruption investigator, the Office of the Ombudsman, over allegations that he benefited from money siphoned from a public building project in Makati, near Manila. He has denied the allegations, which he said were concocted by the Aquino administration to derail his presidential bid.Mr. Binay is under investigation by the country’s anticorruption investigator, the Office of the Ombudsman, over allegations that he benefited from money siphoned from a public building project in Makati, near Manila. He has denied the allegations, which he said were concocted by the Aquino administration to derail his presidential bid.
A statement from the Supreme Court did not provide details on the justices’ thinking in Tuesday’s decision but said the vote was 9-6 in favor of Ms. Poe. The presidential election will be held May 9.A statement from the Supreme Court did not provide details on the justices’ thinking in Tuesday’s decision but said the vote was 9-6 in favor of Ms. Poe. The presidential election will be held May 9.