Poe willing to return salary as gov't official if SC rules against her

Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe on Thursday promised to do all she can return to the government an amount equivalent to all paychecks drawn during her stint as chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and as a senator should the Supreme Court rule against her over the citizenship issue.

She made the promise during a presidential forum hosted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer and was streamed online on Thursday.

"Returning the salary? That could be something. Of course, if you put it all together, two years in the MTRCB, three years in the senate, it's still ... substantial," the senator said.

"If I have to pay that debt, I would do what I can to be able to repay it."

In making an estimate of the amount she would be returning, she said, "P59,000 [is] a senator's take-home pay after deductions, for every month in government service.

"In fact, when I look at my paycheck in the Senate, I realize the importance of re-calibrating our tax system in our country and how we should really be able to have tax reforms," she joked, drawing laughter from the audience.

The high tribunal is currently hearing her plea to overturn Commission on Elections decisions to cancel her certificate of candidacy for president. Part of the argument lies with her being a natural-born citizen as a foundling.

Should the SC rule that she is not a natural-born citizen, the decision would remove her from the Senate.

"And that will be tragic and sad. It was an opportunity for me to be able to contribute greatly and in a faster way, support to our countrymen whatever I felt would be good for the welfare," Poe said.

No misrepresentation

But Poe believes she wouldn't be sent to jail if she lost in the citizenship case it is unlikely for her to receive jail time for serving the country with an ambiguous citizenship, nor is a decision forthcoming due to dividing opinions on her case.

"I don't think there's a misrepresentation or malicious misrepresentation. That's why there are many proceedings and debates about it 'cause nobody's even clear about it at this point," Poe said.

In any case, Poe thinks the case has brought attention to the hardships foundlings face in proving their citizenship.

"Maybe there's a higher purpose for this. Maybe it's not just me running and offering myself to the country. Maybe it's me also defending the rights of other foundlings who would not have the capability and the money to be able to present a DNA test or to be able to present an adoption paper," Poe said during a forum hosted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Thursday.

The senator said that she was quite ready to return to her civilian life, though she believes her loss would affect "thousands" adversely.

"As a private citizen... we've been quite happy with our lives, with our families, with our friends. We can still do many things with or without a position in the government. It's just a waste... I would rather stay on the side of optimism," Poe said.

However, the senator believes that the issues being raised against her do not diminish her right to represent the country.

"When you talk about the nation, it is not restricted by boundaries or territorial, physical boundaries... It's a value that we have to be patriotic and nationalistic. Of course it's important, but I don't think — and if you talk to a lot of these Filipinos — I don't think it diminishes the fact that this one piece of paper that perhaps, okay, maybe they're guilty and not thinking of the implications, to lessen their love for the country," Poe said.

She reiterated that will accept the Supreme Court's decision should it rule against her but vowed to fight against the disqualification cases filed against her until the very end.

"As a lawmaker, I will respectfully abide by the decision of the Supreme Court. But I will exhaust all legal means possible to be able to fight for our case," she said. —Rie Takumi/LBG/JST, GMA News