Veteran actress Susan Roces commented on the allegations against her daughter, Grace Poe, adding that these are just part of a black propaganda started by her daughter’s political foes. In an interview with Wilson Lee Flores of Philippine Star, Roces clarified issues surrounding her daughter’s citizenship and true identity.
According to Roces, Poe went to the United States to study and to have a more “private” life.
“Grace went to the US initially when she pursued her political science degree at Boston College. Of course, as a parent, I at first experienced separation anxiety, but Ronnie and I, we understood that, in a way, Grace wanted her own independence, too,” Roces said.
“With both of us having our movie careers, we all live a very public life and our privacy is often intruded upon. Grace wanted a normal life. She wanted her own personal and family life, not always living under the shadows of her showbiz parents, not a life always under the limelight,” she added.
She also considers the rumors surrounding the identity of Poe’s parents as “urban legend,” particularly referring to reports that her sister, Rosemarie Sonora, and late President Ferdinand E. Marcos are Poe’s biological parents.
“We just take it as an urban legend. Nagpasalinsalin na ‘yan. How can you explain to people that there’s absolutely no truth to that story?” Roces said. Roces also believes that Poe’s advocacies and honesty in service is a reflection of the way she was raised.
“Well, we always teach the younger generation in our family that honesty is very important, that honesty is the best policy. Hopefully we can have more emphasis on this in our schools. I believe katapatan is very important for our lives, for every individual. We need to be tapat (honest) as a mother or father, we should be tapat to our spouse, to our children. Leaders should be honest to us, the citizenry whom they serve; people at work should be honest to their colleagues,” she added.
Although Poe has yet to announce her candidacy, Roces said she will fully support her daughter, whatever her decision may be.
“Whether in public service or in private life, whatever Grace wants to do to help the people, I will always be there to fully support her. When my daughter first ran for the Senate, I helped in some ways. I believe in her character, her advocacies,” she said.