MANILA, Philippines – There’s no giving up for presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe, as she revealed that she will pursue another DNA test to determine her real family.

Poe, after announcing that her  two DNA tests yielded negative results, said they have someone in mind as a potential match.

“Nagpa-test kami sa DNA pero di nag-match. Mayroong isa pang iniisip na pinoproseso (We had DNA tests but it did not match. We are thinking of one more, which is being processed),” Poe said at the sidelines of the Makabayan bloc’s endorsement of the Poe-Escudero tandem on Thursday, November 5.

The neophyte senator again refused to give details, saying the person is a private citizen.

Asked who approached whom, Poe said she was the one who contacted the person for a possible genetic match.

“There’s a person we are considering but I don’t want to expound on it kasi mahirap na, private citizen. Katulad ng iba, ayoko rin sabihin sa inyo kung sinu-sino sila; puwede kayong maghaka-haka kung sino,” Poe said.

(There’s a person we are considering but I don’t want to expound on it because it’s hard, [the person is a] private citizen. Like the rest, I don’t want to tell you who they are; you can make your own speculation.)

In an attempt to widen their search, Poe said she received suggestions to put out advertisements in Iloilo, the province she was supposedly found as an infant, to encourage people who know something to come forward and be matched.

But she found this impractical, as it would only add to the confusion and difficulty in screening possible relatives.

‘Teleserye’

Poe admitted becoming “sad” after two failed DNA tests but was quick to say she remains hopeful of victory in the disqualification case against her.

“More malungkot dahil di pa rin nahahanap pero hopeful – hopeful sa kaso. Kasi there’s a higher purpose than myself in the case,” she said, referring to her fight for other foundlings.

(More of sad because I still could not find [my family] but I’m hopeful – hopeful about my case. Because there’s a higher purpose than myself in the case.)

Despite negative results, Poe maintained the DNA test is only a bonus in her case. After all, she said, she believes in her legal defense.

During the SET oral arguments in September, tribunal chairman and Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said the DNA test results would conclusively decide if Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen and is qualified for a national elective post.

Carpio earlier said Poe is a naturalized citizen but not a natural-born Filipino.

Likening her life to a “teleserye” or a television drama, Poe said she is not giving up amid all the hurdles.

“Talagang teleserye ang pacing ng nangyayari sa atin. Pero ang importante sa lahat, sabi ko nga, ito’y para sa personal ko na kaalaman, at para matapos na rin ang matagal na paghahanap. Pero pagdating sa kaso, ako’y kumpiyansa pa rin dahil di naman talaga dapat lang nakabase sa DNA,” Poe said, adding that most foundlings have no access to such complicated and expensive processes.

(The pacing of what is happening to my life now is like those in television dramas. But most importantly, as I said, this is for my personal knowledge and to end what has been a long search. But when it comes to my case, I am still confident because it shouldn’t be just based on DNA.) – Rappler.com