Grace: I’m a natural born Phl citizen

Amid questions about her citizenship in relation to her possible bid for the presidency in 2016, Sen. Grace Poe stressed yesterday that she is a natural-born Filipino.

Poe said she has always been forthright about her citizenship and that all the possible legal issues involving the case had already been settled when she first entered government service as chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

She admitted to having held dual citizenship before when she lived in the United States for several years when her father, actor Fernando Poe Jr., was still alive.

She said she renounced her US citizenship before taking the job at the MTRCB as required by law.

Based on the dual citizenship law of the Philippines, Poe said she had to revert back to her original status as a Filipino citizen.

“That was a condition, if you will serve in the government, for whatever position, you have to give up whatever other citizenship you may have,” Poe said in Filipino.

She said she even consulted the author of the law, Senate President Franklin Drilon, about the issue and was assured that upon renouncing her US citizenship, her status would revert back to natural-born Filipino.

She said in her recent visits to the US, she had to apply for a visa just like every other Filipino.

Poe lamented that the same issue raised against her father is now being raised against her.

She said the matter should have already been settled when she was allowed to run for senator in 2013.

The issue about Poe’s citizenship has reemerged because of persistent talks about her being a candidate for president in next year’s elections.

In surveys on voter preferences, Poe has narrowed down the lead of perennial frontrunner Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The prospect of Poe running for president became even stronger when she was approached by President Aquino recently to discuss plans for the 2016 elections.

Poe said she has not yet decided on whether or not to seek higher office in 2016 in spite of the clamor for her to go for it.

She said talks about a possible tandem with Sen. Francis Escudero or Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II were nothing but rumors at the moment.

Asked if she has any preference between Roxas and Escudero, Poe admitted she is more comfortable with the latter because of their long-standing friendship.

Escudero served as the spokesman of her father when he ran for president in 2004. In 2013 when she ran for senator, Escudero actively campaigned for her.

“I am comfortable with Sen. Escudero but this is not the only basis (for choosing a running mate). First of all, we both do not belong to a party,” Poe said.

She added that the LP would have its own process in selecting candidates and she is not a member of the party.