Grace Poe: US number was student ID

Kathlyn dela Cruz, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Senator Grace Poe seems fed up with the supposedly relentless attacks against her ahead of the May 9 elections, but the presidential aspirant shows no signs of backing down.

In an interview on radio dzMM Wednesday, Poe vehemently denied a newspaper report claiming that she used two social security numbers during her stay in the United States.

Poe insisted that she only had one social security number and that the number 005-03-1988, which a newspaper report claimed the senator had used but actually belonged to a deceased person, was her student identification number issued by the Boston College.

She said the number 1988 corresponds to the year she enrolled in Boston College.

"Yun ang basehan kung kailan ako in-accept sa university na yun at sa mga ibang transaksyon, dahil nga hindi naman ako doon regular na residente at that time, student ako. 'Yun ang aking numero," she said.

"Nagulat nga ako kasi ginamit ko daw ng mga 1990 something. Eh nung mga panahon na yun, ako naman po ay may bahay na doon. Hindi ko naman ginamit yun para makakuha ng trabaho," she added.

Poe, who became an American citizen in 2001, 10 years after she married her husband Neil Llamanzares, who is a US citizen, said she had no reason to use a fake social security number.

"Wala naman akong dahilan para gumamit ng pekeng ganun sapagkat legal naman yung aking estado doon noon," she said.

READ: Poe camp slams report on US social security number

The senator admitted that she is saddened that her political opponents continue to throw various accusations at her in an alleged bid to destroy her image in the public eye.

These, on top of the disqualification case she is facing over questions on her citizenship and residency.

Poe said she does not feel frightened because she can defend herself, adding that she is not hiding anything.

"Lahat na tinatapon nila. Yan naman ay may paninindigan naman talaga tayo diyan. Hindi ako natatakot sapagkat maipapakita ko yan talagang student ID number ko noon.

"Sana naman kung meron kayong mga magaling na imbestigador para sa mga ganyan, pati ba naman yang mga ganyan gagawan niyo ng storya, samantalang ang dami ditong bilyon-bilyon ang mga dapat ieksplika," said Poe.

Asked who she thinks are behind these attacks, Poe just said: "Huwag na lang, mahirap na mag-ano ng mga ganyan... Pero siguro andun na rin yung mismong pinagkuhanan kung sino ba talagang pinapanigan nila. Yung mismong pahayagan, sino ba madalas ang kanilang pinapanigan?"

Meanwhile, Poe said she is ready to accept whatever the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) will be on her consolidated petitions against her disqualification by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from the presidential race.

The high court has scheduled a special en banc session on March 9 to tackle Poe's petitions, well-placed sources bared.

"Bagamat ako'y kumpiyansa at naniniwala akong ang pinaglalaban natin ay nasa tama, sapagkat walang dapat bigyan ng diskriminasyon dahil lamang napulot at milyon-milyon nating kababayan ay nag-ibang bansa din para sa oportunidad para naman maitaguyod nang marangal ang kanilang pamilya, kung hindi pa man mangyayari ang dapat mangyari sa hustisya, ako naman ay handang tanggapin ito," Poe said.

"Sapagkat dalawang bagay lang yan. Pag ako'y makatakbo, pribilehiyo pong makapaglingkod at gawing mas maayos ang pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan, lalo ng mga mahihirap. Kung hindi naman ako matuloy, at least hindi ako sumuko at higit sa lahat siguro yung mga sakit ng ulo katulad nito ay mababawasan na."