Guimaras woman claimed to be Grace Poe's biological aunt

Despite her failure to find a DNA match, Sen. Grace Poe, whose presidential bid is being challenged before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), on Thursday said her search for blood relatives continues.

"Kaya hindi ko man nalalaman ang aking mga kadugong kamag-anak sa ngayon, patuloy pa rin ang aking paghahanap," she said in a press conference in Iloilo, where she conducted a public hearing.

While in Iloilo, Poe met with a relative of the man who found her as an abandoned infant inside the Jaro Cathedral in 1968.

She also said a woman from Guimaras has approached her claiming to be her aunt, according to a report by GMA News' Jam Sisante on "24 Oras."

"Medyo pareho yung noo namin e. Pero marami naman yatang Ilonggo ang may parehong noo katulad ko," Poe said.

"Gusto ko rin sana magpa-DNA test sa kanila kung sila'y papayag," she added.

A foundling who was adopted by the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. and actress Susan Roces, Poe is facing an uphill battle in convincing the Comelec that she is a natural-born Filipino and therefore should be allowed to run for president.

A press release from her office said Poe met with Jun Militar, son of Rosario “Sayong” Militar, who received the abandoned infant from her brother-in-law Edgardo in Iloilo.

The abandoned child

Edgardo was the one who found Poe inside the Jaro Cathedral, while Sayong’s family took care of her for almost a year before she was given to Sayong’s employer, heiress Tessie Ledesma, who later allowed her friends, Poe Jr. and Roces, to adopt Poe.

"Nakita naman natin ang kagandahang-loob ng pamilya na ‘yan, sapagkat sila nga ang kumupkop sa akin ng mga ilang buwan," Poe said at the press conference. "At hindi nila ako sinumbatan o hiningan ng maski na anong kapalit."

According to the press release, two of Edgardo’s children who are now based abroad had agreed to undergo DNA tests to help her prove that she is a Filipino citizen and that she is not stateless as claimed by her critics. The tests turned out negative.

Poe is facing four disqualification cases before the Comelec on the grounds of her citizenship and her alleged failure to met the 10-year residency requirement set by the Constitution on a presidential candidate. —KBK/NB, GMA News