Susan Roces on doubters of Poe’s citizenship: If she isn’t Filipino, how did she arrive here?

LA PAZ, Iloilo - Actress Susan Roces on Tuesday came to the defense of her daughter, Senator Grace Poe, amid persistent questions on the lawmaker’s citizenship.

At the sidelines of her visit to the La Paz public market, an exasperated Roces said she cannot fathom why Poe’s citizenship as a natural born Filipino is being placed under doubt.

Referring to her daughter’s critics, the actress said: “Hindi ko mawari bakit sinasabi nilang hindi Pilipino ang anak ko. [Kung hindi siya Pilipino] paano siya nag-landing dito?”

Poe was a foundling discovered in 1968 inside a church in Jaro, Iloilo as an infant. She was eventually adopted by Roces and her husband, the late action star Fernando Poe Jr.

She is currently facing several disqualification cases before the Supreme Court stemming from questions over her citizenship and residency.

Poe’s critics have challenged her citizenship because she is a foundling.

The Supreme Court is set to hold another round of oral arguments on her cases later on Tuesday afternoon.

Although Roces is hurt over the criticisms thrown at her daughter, she said she is leaving Poe’s fate up to God.

She noted that her daughter’s current predicament was akin to the one faced by her husband when he ran for president in 2004.

“I guess [the filing of disqualification cases] are part of politics. Nangyari na rin 'yan sa asawa ko. Iba nga lang ang kaso. Pero bahala na ang Panginoon kung ano ang nais niyang mangyari,” she said.

In the elder Poe’s case, the Supreme Court ruled that he was a Filipino even if he was his father’s son with an American mother. The SC said FPJ takes after the citizenship of his Filipino father. —KG, GMA News