Location of possible kin delaying completion of Grace Poe’s DNA test

Possible biological relatives who are already in the United States are delaying the completion of the DNA test on Sen. Grace Poe, a presidential candidate in 2016 whose Filipino citizenship is being questioned, a News TV Live report said Friday.

The report quoted Poe as saying that the possible relatives are now living in the US. It added that she needs to wait for them to come either to the Philippines or a neighboring Asian country for vacation to get the DNA test done.

Poe's camp has formally asked the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), where she is facing a disqualification case, for more time to submit the results of DNA testing to trace her family, after the deadline lapsed Wednesday.

According to SET spokesperson and secretary Irene Guevarra, the senator's camp  requested for a two-week extension, or until November 5. She said the SET has yet to rule on whether or not to approve the plea.

During oral arguments conducted by the SET at the Supreme Court last month, Poe's lawyer, Alexander Poblador, revealed that Poe had undergone DNA testing.
 
The oral argument was conducted in connection with a petition filed by Rizalito David, a defeated senatorial candidate in the 2013 elections, seeking Poe's disqualification from the Senate on the grounds of her citizenship.
 
Poblador clarified that resorting to DNA testing did not mean Poe's lawyers were abandoning their original position on Poe's presumed nationality despite being a foundling.

David's petition has a counterpart at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), where two other cases against Poe's citizenship have been filed, this time questioning her candidacy for president.

Lawyer Estrella Elamparo filed a petition to cancel Poe's certificate of candidacy last October 16, a day after the senator filed for president. The petitioner said Poe failed to satisfy the citizenship and residency requirements for a presidential candidate.

On October 19, former Senator Francisco Tatad filed a disqualification case against Poe on the same grounds. He said Poe cannot say she is a natural-born Filipino resident as she is a foundling.

Poe is the adopted daughter of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. and actress Susan Roces. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News