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PILIPINAS DEBATES 2016

Poe says husband already renounced US citizenship


Senator Grace Poe on Sunday said her husband, Teodoro Misael Vera Llamanzares, born to Filipino parents in the US, has already renounced his American citizenship.

Poe made the statement when she was asked about her husband's citizenship during the "Fast Talk" segment of the third and last PiliPinas debate at the University of Pangasinan.

Fast Talk is a series of two-minute segments where each presidential candidate was asked a list of questions on various issues.

"Ni-renounce na po," Poe said, adding, "Siguro mga isang buwan na ang nakalipas pero siya ay talagang Pilipino na ipinanganak ng mga magulang na Pilipino. Yan po ay para lang mawala ang duda pero siya po ay natural born."

Controversies about Poe and her husband's citizenship have hounded her campaign.

During the second presidential debate held at the University of the Philippines in Cebu on March 20, the most tweeted moment was the heated exchange between Vice President Jejomar Binay and Poe on how the senator had renounced her Filipino citizenship when she became a US citizen.

“Paano ka magiging tunay na Pilipino kung sumumpa ka sa ibang bansa?” Binay asked Poe. “Sabi mo sa renouncement mo, ‘I will abjure,’ ikinahihiya mo ang pagiging Pilipino,” Binay told Poe.

Poe retorted, "Nasa paninilbihan yan. Manatili ka man sa bayan natin kung nangulimbat ka naman."

Abu Sayyaf

Also during Sunday's debate, Poe was asked if she would ask help from the US in addressing the problem about the Abu Sayyaf rebels if she is elected president.

Poe said, "Kahit sinong mga allies natin, dapat tumulong sa atin."

Marcos burial, Gloria Arroyo's house arrest

Meanwhile, Poe was asked what she thought was the worst Filipino trait and she responded, "Siguro yung pagiging masyadong mapatawad. Minsan, hindi rin mabuti yon."

Poe was asked if she could forgive the late President Ferdinand Marcos and allow his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Poe said, "Kung ano man ang opinyon ko, ang masasabi ko lang, yung batas ay nagsasabing hindi pwede. RA [Republic Act] 10368 na nagsasabi kilalanin yung mga nagsakripisyo noong panahon niya."

RA 10368 is also known as “Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.” The law states that reparation should be given to victims of Martial Law during the Marcos administration. 

On the issue of house arrest for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Poe said, "Kung pumayag ang duktor, hindi ko hahadlangan."

Mrs. Arroyo is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City for allegedly conspiring to divert P366 million in confidential PCSO intelligence funds "for personal gain" from 2008 to 2010. — RSJ, GMA News

 

 
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