In Marcos territory, Poe denies she is ex-president’s love child

Senator Grace Poe pays a visit to Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. MAILA AGER/INQUIRER.NET

BATAC, Ilocos Norte — In this hometown of late dictator President Ferdinand Marcos, Senator Grace Poe wished to end on Thursday all speculations that she was an illegitimate child of the late strongman with former actress Rosemarie Sonora.

“Gusto ko nang magpakatooo at sabihin na bagamat kaibigan namin sila, wala namang basehan para isipin na totoo ‘yun,” Poe told reporters when asked if the alleged “Marcos connection” might help her get votes from this province.

(Let me get real and say that while the Marcoses are our friends, there is no basis to believe the rumored connection.)

READ: Ferdinand Marcos is not my biological father, says Grace Poe

“Pero syempre, ‘yung mga tao hindi mo naman mapipigil, nagkakatuwaan tungkol dito,” she added.

(But of course, you can’t control how other people would react—they seem to be joking about it here.)

One of Marcos’ children, Governor Imee Marcos, was among the local leaders who welcomed Poe when she came here along with senatorial bet Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno to campaign.

READ: Flashes of FPJ: Grace Poe welcomed with hugs, shrieks in Ilocos

Not only did she receive Poe and Moreno at the Batac City Hall, but the governor also joined them in a motorcade to Paoay Church and later to the statue of Poe’s late father, action king Fernando Poe Jr. located at the Paoay sand dunes.

The governor stayed by Poe’s side even during a forum with students of the Mariano Marcos State University.

The senator said her visit to the province was an opportunity to reminisce the moments when she and her father would usually spend their vacation here while the latter was filming his movie “Panday.”

Away from the issues hounding her in Metro Manila, Poe also took time to enjoy the beautiful views in the province , posing in front of Paoay church and even its garden outside. She also rode a 4×4 vehicle to get to the statue of her father and posed for more pictures with Moreno and the governor.

“Enjoy syempre. Iba na man ang tanawin dito, ibang experience ‘yung sand dunes na puputuntahan mo at syempre na makita ang rebulto ng tatay ko,” said the senator.

(Of course I enjoyed. The sceneries are unique, and the sand dunes are quite an experience. I also enjoyed seeing my father’s statues.)

Not even a question about her connection with the Marcoses dampened her mood when told about the governor’s joke about having a “Marcos-Marcos” tandem in May, apparently referring to Poe, who is running for president and the governor’s younger brother, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, who is running for vice president.

READ: Imee Marcos quizzed on choice for president: Poe or Santiago?

“Oh sinabi nya? si Manang naman… (Manang said that?)” Poe said. “Manang” is a term of endearment for sister in Ilocano.

“Matagal ng tsismis ‘yan. Hindi po totoo ‘yun at meron akong kamag-anak na nasasaktan tungkol d’yan. Pero para sa akin ang magandang naidulot nito, ay kahit papano nakilala ko rin na naging supportive din si Senator Bongbong dito sa mga issue na ganito na parang sinasabi n’ya huwag kang susuko at sinasabi din n’ya na ‘ako willing naman ako talagang magpa-(DNA) test’. Pero wala naman kasi talagang basehan,” she added.

(It’s long been a rumor. But it’s not true, and one of my relatives have been hurt because of it. The only good to come out of this issue is that I learned that Senator Bongbong is supportive of me, saying to an effect that he is willing to have a DNA test. But it really has no basis.) IDL

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