Grace Poe seeking DNA match, lawyer tells SET

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Sen. Grace Poe revealed on Monday that she is “in the process” of conducting a DNA test to prove that she is a natural-born Filipino.

Speaking before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) during the oral arguments on the disqualification case against Poe, lawyer Alexander Poblador said his client is seeking a possible match to address questions on her eligibility to run for elected posts in government.

“I'm authorized to say that respondent has taken steps towards having a DNA test conducted with a probable biological match and when the results come up we will disclose the results, but that announcement is without prejudice to our legal position,” Poblador said toward the end of the hearing.

Supreme Court senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, chair of the SET, welcomed the development and said that a DNA match is a “conclusive presumption of filiation” of Poe, who has recently expressed her intention to run for president in 2016.

“If you have a conclusive match that is a conclusive presumption, if you have a DNA match, that would solve all our problems here because you cannot argue against that anymore,” Carpio said.

“If you can present that DNA match, that would be wonderful, counsel,” Carpio continued. “But in the meantime, we understand your position that you are holding on to the argument that there is a presumption.”

Poe, a 47-year-old foundling adopted by film legends Fernando Poe Jr. and wife Susan Roces, has insisted that she is “presumed” to be a natural-born Filipino citizen amid a case filed before the SET by defeated senatorial candidate Rizalito David casting doubt on the validity of her candidacy.

The 1987 Constitution states that natural-born citizens “are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship.”

It also states that those born before Jan. 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers and “who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority” are deemed natural-born citizens.