ILOILO CITY, Philippines – It was the first time Susan Roces publicly addressed the issue.

On Tuesday, February 16, the 74-year old actress denied the long-running rumor that presidential bet Senator Grace Poe is the daughter of her sister, former actress Rosemarie Sonora, and the late president Ferdinand Marcos.

Roces said she was with her sister in 1968, the year Poe was born, and she never saw Sonora pregnant.

“Kasama ko kapatid ko araw-gabi noong mga panahon na iyon. Di ko siya nakita nagdadalang-tao. (I was with my sister day and night during that time but I did not see her pregnant.) That was 1968, the year I got married,” Roces told reporters in an ambush interview in La Paz market in Iloilo city. (READ: Susan Roces campaigns for Grace Poe in Iloilo)

In response to the unrelenting issue, Roces said there is no reason for her to deny Poe’s real parents.

“Yun sinasabi nilang anak siya ng kapatid ko, bakit ko ipagkakaila kung totoo? (About the issue that she is the daughter of my sister, why would I deny if it’s  true?) Rosemarie was very busy doing TV (shows) and she was very visible (then), never, never siyang naging (did she get) pregnant,” Roces said.

The veteran actress also said the family had long tried to debunk the issue but it seemed no explanation is enough. Poe’s first cousin, actress Sheryl Cruz, earlier cried foul over the issue involving her mother and took a swipe at Poe.

“Hay naku, alam mo kaya ganito attitude namin dyan kahit anong paliwanag, nakaraan na ang maraming taon, lumaki na si Grace. She’s past 40 (years old),” Roces said.

(Gosh, you know our attitude on the issue is like this…no matter what explanation we give, many years have passed, Grace already grew up and she’s past 40 years old)

Poe had undergone at least 4 DNA tests with possible relatives from Iloilo and Guimaras but all proved negative. (READ: Negative DNA tests with Guimaras ‘relatives’ – Grace Poe)

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, a vice presidential contender, earlier offered to do a DNA test with Poe to end speculations, but Poe would rather wait after the May 2016 elections.

“Nag-o-offer din si Senator Marcos. Sabi ko, sige, pero sabi ko nga after May 2016 na. Kung positive, positive,” Poe earlier said.

(Senator Marcos is also offering [to undergo DNA tests]. I said okay but maybe after the May 2016 elections. If positive, then it’s positive.)

Marcos and Poe have both joked in public about their rumored blood ties. – Rappler.com