Just my opinion
By Raïssa Robles
Here’s something odd about the adoption process of Sen. Mary Grace Poe. The legality of her adoption is based partly on a Martial Law era newspaper that does not seem to exist.
From the little I know of the adoption process, a notice in a newspaper has to be published several times about any impending adoption in order to give any contesting party a chance to react. Failure to do so could invalidate the entire process.
Among the documents that Poe submitted to the Senate Electoral Tribunal was an order by a judge awarding the adoption of Mary Grace Natividad Contreras Militar to Ronald Allan Kelley Poe and Jesusa Sonora Poe.
The judge’s order contained the following paragraph [underlining mine]:
That the order, setting the hearing of this case on March 29, 1974 was published in the “Tribune,” a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Manila, and likewise in the Philippines, once a week for three consecutive weeks on March 3, 10, and 17, 1974, as evidenced by the Affidavit of Publication, executed by the Publisher of the Tribune, marked as Exhibit “A”; that the minor, Mary Grace Natividad Contreras Militar, was born on September 3, 1968, as evidenced by the Certificate of Live Birth, marked as Exhibit “C”; that the foundling parents of the minor Emiliano Militar and Rosario Militar gave their consent to this adoption marked as Exhibit “D”; that the petitioners Ronald Allan Poe and…”
This judicial document approved the adoption. The section that I noted said the notices of Grace Poe’s impending adoption were –
published in the “Tribune,” a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Manila, and likewise in the Philippines, once a week for three consecutive weeks on March 3, 10, and 17, 1974, as evidenced by the Affidavit of Publication, executed by the Publisher of the Tribune, marked as Exhibit “A”…
You see, I don’t recall a newspaper called the “Tribune” – which this document described as “a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Manila, and likewise in the Philippines” – existing during Martial Law. There was a Tribune before the Second World War but I don’t remember any newspaper called the Tribune in the mid’70s.
The year 1974 was the height of Martial Law. You could count the number of newspapers that were allowed to publish at that time. I remember the Times Journal Group, the Daily Express Group, the Bulletin Group, but I don’t recall a nationally circulated newspaper called the Tribune being published at that time.
Knowing I might be wrong, I asked veteran journalist-publisher Vergel Santos if he ever recalled the Tribune – which the court document said was published nationwide – during martial law.
Vergel also didn’t recall the Tribune. Someone who would know, he told me, would be Francisco Tatad, who was the Public Information Minister then, and who had to approve and certify the publication of all newspapers, tabloids and books during that time.
Tatad had refused to talk to me since the trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. So that’s out.
Can anyone else say if there was a Tribune newspaper being published in 1974 during Martial Law?
If it didn’t exist, why use a fictional newspaper to put up a notice for adoption? If it did exist, then the newspaper itself showing the notice of the court hearing on her adoption would be the best proof.
This is really getting curiouser and curiouser…
Now, to those asking, why bring this up at all? Because before Grace Poe said she was a foundling, there was a perception among those who went through Martial Law that she was the dictator’s daughter.
Personally, I have no problem with that, provided she discloses how she feels about burying the dictator in Libingan ng mga Bayani and about all those ill-gotten wealth cases the government is still prosecuting. I publicly asked about the Libingan ng mga Bayani question months ago and even coursed the question through her chief-of-staff Nelson Victorino. Until today, I have not received any answer.
Here is a screencap of the judge’s order on Grace Poe’s adoption:
Here is the pertinent section of the judge’s order.
You can find the entire document here –
Argzzz says
I am not a lawyer, but my understanding that a Municipal Trial Court is not the venue of an adoption but a higher court of Law, like the Regional Trial Court.
Since the adoption was effected by a Municipal Court (annex 2 of the article), then the adoption was null and void from the very beginning.
Pero isa ito sa basehan ng SC para payagang tumakbo si Grace Poe.
Poe’s reference to adoptive parents as birth parents – The SC said the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998 allows Poe to state that her adoptive parents are her birth parents, since that is what would be stated in her birth certificate.
Hindi kaya alam ng SC ito?
Dahli Aspillera says
MALAYA BUSINESS INSIGHT, ANOTHER DISQUALIFICATION FOR GRACE, by DAHLI ASPILLERA on October 23, 2015
‘In the ‘80s, a Filipino already with a biological child is disqualified from adopting. If Ronian Poe is older than Grace Poe, then Grace Poe’s adoption is illegal.’
xxxxxxxxxxxx
A NEW disqualification case was filed against Senator Grace Poe, less than 24 hours after she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) to run as president of the Philippines.
A news report in my Inbox states that a former head of the lawyers at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) filed a 72-page “Petition to Deny Due Course To or Cancel COC” urging the Comelec to consider Poe’s alleged failure to comply with the citizenship and residency requirements under the Constitution.
Former chief of the GSIS legal office Estrella Elamparo accuses Grace Poe of having “committed a material misrepresentation in stating that she is a natural-born Filipino citizen.”
She said citizenship is determined by blood, not by place of birth. “So it is she who asserts citizenship by place of birth who has the burden to prove her citizenship.”
Elamparo said Poe also misrepresented herself in her COC when she declared that she had been a resident of the Philippines for a period of at least 10 years.
“Respondent abandoned her residence in the Philippines when she became a naturalized citizen of the United States and by animus manendi, her acts show that she intended the USA to be her place of domicile and residence.”
Poe could not validly re-establish her domicile in the Philippines for being disqualified to apply for re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship, Elamparo added.
And assuming that she was able to re-acquire her Filipino citizenship, Poe’s filing of a petition for re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship in July 2006 should be the starting point to count the years of her residency, this report states.
Elamparo told reporters that she decided to file the petition because it was her duty as a Filipino citizen and a lawyer. She gave assurance that no one is behind her filing of the petition. Poe and her camp, however, insinuated they know the people behind what they called “evil plans” to invalidate Grace Poe’s presidential bid.
Political opponents have dug up every possible reason to derail Grace Poe’s ambition to become president of the Philippines. But no one has thought of the legality of her adoption. Ronian Poe, another out-of-wedlock child of FPJ, is claimed to be older; looks a lot older than Grace Poe. The law has changed recently, but in the ‘80s, an individual who already has a biological child is disallowed from adopting another.
The best this person can do is become the foster-parent of this chosen child. If Ronian Poe is older than Grace Poe, then Grace Poe’s adoption by FPJ is illegal since he already had a biological child.
***
[email protected]
Category:
Opinion Of The Day
Danny Cascolan says
X#PoeOrals
The Solicitor General employing the Prosecutor Fallacy in Poe?
To be born as natural born citizen by presumption only would be like being born from fictional circumstances. Good for the movies.
A lying Chief Justice appointee of Aquino and Leonen is a Security Disaster in the Philippines. Both Sereno and Leonen know they have to implement the Law not to circumvent the Constitution by half truths, the foundling issue is an issue of pros and cons, but security to the nation is paramount. There is good sense in a must priority of Perfect Citizenship as birthright of highest Leaders for the rule preserves and attempts to guard our nation from being usurped by other nationalities.
[email protected] happened too to the solicitor general post?? They all in their most sensitive position opted dereliction of duty and obligation to follow and implement our Constitution. We listened to their arguments and we hoped, we examined their ideas for maybe there are facts of genuine noble causes but only found them implanting substances of deception and extreme prejudice wayward fallacious at best to the importance of the thing such as citizenship in question. Clearly these people exhibited bad faith and betrayals in their words, ideas and actions. I believe these people will continue their works in other forms against the nation. I believe that the Government and our Nation will be better if cleansed of people the likes of them. Simply emancipating principle that we must have people in those critical posts that genuinely defend the interest of our Nation and avoid appointments of people who undermines our National Security.
Lol Leonen, you are in fact imputing our Constitution as doing Injustice? Now where is your logic of Justice and Political Correctness for the whole raison de etre of a genuine nation let us check your logic say pick for example to mirror, would japanese people expressly support if they knew make a once Japanese citizen that became a Chinese citizen to be the Prime Minister of Japan?
povs only,
danny cascolan
Annabelle Paez says
I tried to google the publication of Tribune. There is a Daily Tribune broadsheet, however, it had its maiden publication only in February of 2000. This leaves us with a very big question mark, indeed, as to Poe’s claimed adoption.
cusslikeme says
Grace Poe was a do nothing senator. The listing of authors and co authors of bills filed during the present congress will bear this fact. Out of about 2980 bills filed, I only saw about 20 bills authored/ co authored by Ms Poe. filed only after her being considered for VP or Pres.
It is also disheartening that a few years ago, and not for economic reasons, she wholeheartedly turned her back on us by renouncing her Filipino citizenship.
And we are witnessing her TRAPO colors via the INC issue, the Enrile SAF44 dud, the failed DNA testing, and her forum shopping ways to gain accreditation in the coming election.
Now she is projecting herself to the general public as the viable savior of the Philippines,
raissa says
Actually, I would rather have a senator who files few bills but shepherds them through the legislative mill for approval. That would be the real test.
duquemarino says
Hello Philippines, hello CPMers, hello 2016!!!!
I wonder how the Supreme Court will decide on GPL’s case considering that theSC has ruled, at least on two instances, disqualifying candidates on the issue of residency and citizenship.
First, in the case of Mayor Rommel Arnaldo of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, the high court voting 8-4 upheld the Comelec decision disqualifying Arnaldo from running in the 2013 elections and set aside his proclamation as mayor.
The SC stressed that “only natural-born Filipinos who owe total and undivided allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines could run for and hold elective public office.”
Arnaldo was natural-born; became an American citizen, reacquired his Filipino citizenship on July 10, 2008; executed an affidavit of renunciation of his foreign citizenship on April 3, 2009 but used his US passport when he left the country on April 14, returned on June 25, 2009 and again on July 29, 2009 and November 24, 2009. (GR 195649, April 16, 2013)
Heard from the grapevine that the case of Arnaldo is “precedent” to the disqualification case filed against Poe.
Second, in the case of Regina Ongsiako Reyes (GR 207264) the high court dismissed the petition of Reyes, assailing the Comelec resolutions dated 27 March 2013 and 14 May 2013 ordering the cancellation of the COC of Reyes for the position of Representative of Marinduque.
The SC, in dismissing the petition, finds no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Comelec and upheld the en banc resolution of Comelec disqualifying Reyes.
Reyes’ case is also on the issue of residency and citizenship.
Babaliktarin kaya ng SC ang nauna nilang desisyon (Arnaldo at Reyes) pabor kay Poe?
Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!!!!!
Maxima says
Well-written! Thank you.
duquemarino says
Breaking news.
Supreme Court orders Speaker Belmonte to swear in Lord Allan Velasco as congressman of Marinduque.
Regina Ongsiako Reyes was disqualified by the Comelec on the issue of citizenship and residency and was upheld by the SC but was swear in by HRET.
Writing on the walls for Poe?
Maxima says
Similar…not the same cases. Are we comparing apples to apples or apples to oranges. True, it’s about citizenship but –
A) he was established as natural born. GP still has to establish that. Though I feel badly for those foundlings, I’m not quite sure SC members have some latitude to make a decision that will go against the principles of the constitution.
B) One of the issues seems to be the fulfillment of residency days required.
C) Whichever way it goes, it will shift the political landscape of the Philippines. Hopefully, something positive will come out of it for Grace Poe and others…the country, as it raised the profile of issues that need to be dealt with.
Argzzz says
Pa-quote po ng sinulat nyo.
Den says
Hindi po ang pagiging pulot o ampon ang problema. At hindi rin po kung sino ang tunay na magulang ang problema. Si Poe mismo at ang kanyang kahandaan at kakayahan na mamuno ang problema.
Naka move on na ang mga tao sa isyu ng pagiging ampon o pulot ni Grace. Siya na lamang yata ang pilit na binabalik-balikan ang isyung iyon. Bakit kaya? Dahil sa isyung ampon, inihaharap niya ang kanyang sarili sa mga tao bilang api at pinagkakaitan ng pagkakataon na patunayan ang sarili. Sa emosyonal na isyu, labas sa mga legal at konstitusyunal na usapin, duon siya may pinakamalaking tsansa na makuha ang loob ng madla.
Tunay ngang napaniwala na ni Grace and kanyang sarili na itinakda ng Diyos at tadhana ang kanyang pagiging pangulo ng bansa. Bagamat buong puso at isip nyang tinalikuran ang pagiging Pilipino ilang taon lamang ang nakalilipas, naniniwala pa rin sya na siya lamang ang nakauunawa sa ating mga problema at siya lamang ang may tamang solusyon para sa lahat ng ating surilanin.
Ngayon ay ginagawa niya ang lahat upang makamit ang minimithi. Babaluktutin ang mga batas, isasaisangtabi ang konstitusyon, ipapahukay ang mga patay. At kung lahat ng ito ay di pa rin sapat, paparatangan ang mga tutol sa kanyang kandidatura na ipinagkakait sa mga Pilipino ang karapatang mamili ng kanilang pinuno. Kung siya ba ay maging pangulo, lahat ba ng desisyon na labag sa batas ay ihaharap nya sa bayan upang basbasan ng kanilang pagsang-ayon? Kung gayon, itapon na natin sa basura ang ating konstitusyon, mga batas, ang kongreso at ang mga hukuman.
Marapat na paalalahanan si Grace, na ang kanyang dating kaibigan na si Jejomar Binay ay nauna nang nagpamalas ng labis na pagka-atat sa pagiging pangulo. At pareho silang dapat paalalahanan na may matandang kasabihan, na kung gaano katayog ang lipad, gayon din ang saklap ng lagapak.
netty says
Naka move-on na nga ang mga tao sa isyung isinilang daw sa Iloilo o sa Hawaii.
Nakalatag na rin ang mga isyu sa SC.
The issues are now to be decided by the SC. Unlike the lady, I don’t want to entertain the thought that the enemies are within but I honestly believed that when people are fighting and citing the law of the land it is due to a grave mistake and horrible corruption issue.
The people can also make and sign up petitions for the govt. to upheld the Constitutionand submit to their representatives. The thing is, the Constitution could be changed with a strong force and pressure-to suit the flavor of the month ignoring the will of the majority of the people , would it even matter to the poor, uninformed and uneducated voters whether upholding or trashing the Constitution is essential in choosing the next leader? A sad affair for the country wherein the priest can officiate mass in a hover board while the people’s mind are still stuck in a fan’atic mentality.
Maxima says
Sarap pong bashin ng sulat ninyo. Salamat po!
Maxima says
*basahin
TOTONG says
Akala ko noong araw ay may angking galling at bait itong si Grace Poe,noong hearing ni Napoles napansin ko na parang pigil at talinghaga ang kanyang mga pananalita. parang praktis pero boto pa rin ako sa kanya nasa isip ko bago pa lang siya. Ng may mga Hearing tungkol kay Binay tameme na s’ya at sinabayan ni Grasya ng hearing Kay Purisima, Dito shining armor ang dating n’ya, ang ipinagtataka ko lang iyung kay Binay na Mansion billion ang halaga ng corruption wala s’yang say…parang nararandaman ko iba ang ibag at galaw, lalong lalo na sa Masapano case. Noon pa man ay nagsimulang magkaroon ng ligawan di malaman kay Grassya kung Binay o Pnoy. Habang nag iinit ang Binay hearing si Grassya namamasyal sa MRT at nagsisimula ng balikan ang pinagdaanan ni Mar sa isip ko saan ba nakakampi si Grasya si Binay binabanatan sa Senado at panay naman ang tira at bato kay Mar Roxas na hindi naman nakikialam sa buhay nilang dalawa. Pasyal na ng pasyal si Binay sa kung saan saan at sa dinami-dami ng Senator isa lang ang laging namamasyal si Grassya. Nagkaroon na ng ligawan, Binay Grassya o Mar Grasya. Tama ang kutob ko nambobola lang si Grassya, pakipot pa s’ya kay Pnoy ay talagang plano ni Keso at Binay na di pwede na VP ni Roxas si Grassya. Kaya pautot lamang punta punta nila Grassya at Keso sa Malakanyang sa isip-isip ko wala palang utang na loob itong Grassya na ito kay Pnoy, noon a-ayaw ayaw pa si Grassya di raw Tatakbo ano na ngayon eto naghuhukay na rin ng mga patay para lang makatakbo, Na alala ko yung pagpanig nya sa INC palagi s’ya sa dilim, At kampi pa sa China, na iyun daw intrl. law ay ginamit sa pag angkin ng Pilipinas sa Spratly bakit daw ang intrl. law sa foundling ay di pwedeng gamitin sa Pilipinas, niloloko nya ang mga tao na s’ya ay OFW, pagpunta nya sa USA di naman sya nagdaan sa POEA para sa Overseas Contract Worker Visa. Balawala sa kanya iyong mga katulad natin na nakakaunawa kung ano ang tunay at nasa tama, binobola n’ya yung mga kababayan natin na walang computer at basic na basic, walang pakialam at ang sabi ng marami BOBOTANTE. U unga sabi ni Grace sa kanila, SABI NG TATAY N’YA RAW KUNG ANO ANG NASA PUSOd N’YA IYUN ANG SUNDIN N’YA… sa pusod ng Kagubatan o Kababawan. Bibile ba tayo ng Ukay – Ukay galing ng TATE? o ng bagong-bago. ISIP-ISIP
Amaqsy says
Den, Tama ka. Bakit natin gustong baluktutin ang saligang batas para sa isang Grace Poe? Isang Grace Poe na tinalikuran ang pagka-Pilipino pagkatapos bumalik lang sa pagka-Pilipino dahil sa sariling pakanan. At nang tinalikuran niya ang pagka-Amerikana, bakit siya naghintay ng 9 na buwan bago magpunta sa US embassy para i-report ang kanyang pag-renounce ng US citizenship? Dahil kaya gusto niya munang makita kung gusto niya ang trabaho niya sa MTRCB? Naneneguro? At ano nga ba ang nagawa niya para sa bansa na kahanga-hanga? Wala.
Hinabol niya si Gen. Purisima on alleged corruption na millions pero parang napipi ata ng dumating sa alleged corruption laban kay Binay na billions! Kailan ba siya pumiyak? Nang pintasan ni Binay ang kanyang kulang sa experience. Ganoon pa man, tumahimik ulit sa mga bintang kay Binay. Baka naman magka-konchaba ang dalawa? Baka kaya may usapan kung sakali sino sa kanila ang manalo? Hmmm.
Atin says
I am among those who cringe at the level of malice and humiliation thrown at GP, especially since she’s been ran out of the race. It’s just a matter of time now. She is ambitious, overly ambitious, but are the venom and abuse necessary? What does this say of us? In the meantime, the plunderer is pulling away.
Maxima says
I strongly agree. I am in fact bewildered and alarmed how a plunderer and a self-confessed vigilante/killer–one an alleged poster boy for corruption and the other, a rogue megalomaniac lawyer who offers a platform of a dictatorial system–weasel their way to top the charts! Nevertheless, an objective search for truth is important!!! Either there is something terribly wrong with those surveys or our Filipino psyche and values have become horribly twisted–we need to reexamine both. If it is the latter, how do we reconcile that with our strong religiosity and core family values?
I felt that over a couple of years, the biggest changes have been our attitudinal and cultural shifts. True, it is hard to shake off what have been engrained in our system for hundreds of years. However, there have been encouraging manifestations that we have become more aware of our rights and have began to believe that yes, positive change is possible. While corruption reports have dominated the media reports, the underlying fact that these facts came out, while they were buried, brushed aside in the past, has been ignored.
As I have travelled extensively recently, I had the chance to speak to people from all walks of life. I never initiated political chats, they did. Many have been “amused” with survey results. Filipinos and foreigners alike found those unbelievable and laughable, both the survey and the fact that fellow Filipinos would even head that way for a nano second. We have millions of Filipinos. And are we left with only a dismal roster of candidates: a dynast plunderer, a promising dictator/pope “cusser”, and a consistent inconsistent who cannot have her facts and opinions straight. Are we left to settle?
moonie says
atin, the level of malice and humiliation thrown against grace means the people are now speaking against her. too ambitious, pati mga bangkay pinahuhukay niya.
junie garcia says
It looks like our voters just can’t think intelligently enough to decipher good from bad.
bandofbros says
The level of malice thrown at GP is not that overwhelming to judge “us” as a whole. Look she’s still on the top of the surveys. But people, I mean “us” rather (with a heart) are beginning to realize the façade GP is showing us. Look, all she says is she a kawawang foundling. Everytime I see her on TV/media, kawawa sya and all the while blaming the government, LP and Mar. Whereas people know her issues are with the SET, Comelec and now the SC.
The Malice being thrown at her is just a counteraction of her malice as well.
The fact is she has an issue with the law right now and people will say things against her.
Maxima says
**all the best for 2016.
Maxima says
Hello Raissa,
How are you? My apologies. I noted that my earlier submission had a messed up format. Kindly use this version please.)
Thank you. Regards and all the best for
++++++++
Natural born and re-acquired citizenship
Inasmuch as we would like to be kinder and sympathetic to a foundling, for a constitutionalist, Grace is not a natural born Filipino citizen. Perhaps this is the opportunity to review and amend the constitution as appropriate. Judges, however, cannot go outside what the constitution provides, unfortunately.
Did she really give up her Filipino citizenship? So, even if she proves herself as a natural-born Filipino citizen, one would conclude that she lost that claim when she gave it up, which can be surmised when she took steps to reacquire it.
Why the change?
However, for many, the moral issue is having a president who, as reported, pledged her allegiance to the American flag and gave up her Filipino citizenship. Some people take American citizenship because it gives them better opportunities as federal/govt. employees as well as the right to have a voice in their.electoral process. Given her wealth, she may not aspire for a high paying position. As she said, she did it for the love of her husband, her family. Hmmm. I wonder if those individuals who didn’t give up their citizenship love their husband/family less.
Counting residency days
A newspaper reported (see attached links) that while she gave up her American citizenship, Poe travelled using her US passport for a number of times.
Departures. ARRIVALS**
NOVEMBER. 9, 2003**
DECEMBER. 13, 2004**
SEPTEMBER. 2005**
MARCH 11, 2006**
July 2, 2006 ~ JULY 5, 2006** (3-day trip, unlikely a US trip)
(July 6, 2006 – Poe executed her oath of allegiance)
July 26, 2006
Sept. 11, 2006
Nov. 1, 2006 JULY 23, 2007**
Oct. 31, 2007
OCTOBER. 5, 2008**
April 20, 2009 – MAY 21, 2009** (1-month trip)
July 31, 2009 – AUGUST. 3, 2009** (3-day trip, unlikely a US trip)
Dec. 27, 2009
(October 2010 – Poe had her affidavit of renunciation and stopped using her US passport.)
**arrivals – the items on the right in CAPS. My apologies. I wanted to use a table format to clearly show the departures vs. arrivals but I am at the airport and did not have the right software for it.
One posited that she had to use her US passport at that time because the process facilitating her giving up her US citizenship takes time. With her still being an American citizen, they couldn’t issue her a US visitor’s visa. Thus, the use of US passport was necessary. However, records indicated that she most likely used her US passport for non-US trips as well. It is improbable for her to be in and out of the US with 3-day trips.
Either the records are terribly incomplete or Poe has two passports that she uses at her convenience. It’s quite a number of trips which could have some extended stays outside the country, which should impact the total number of her residency days.
In North America, my understanding is that in the counting of residency days relevant to citizenship application, they literally count each day when one is actually in the country. If one travelled out of the country for a total of 60 days over a span of three years, those days will be deducted from the total number of one’s residency days.
During her reported conversation with Aquino, she cited that her battery of lawyers taking care of her residency/citizenship issue. Thus, there is high expectation that she is properly guided in her public and official declarations, including use of her passports.
Here are news clippings about her US passport use and another clipping which provides some perspective on GPL’s candidacy.
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/697701/grace-poes-use-of-us-passport-until-2010-renders-kink-in-residency-claim-law-experts#ixzz3vtCEzntX
https://pmdizon.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/immigration-citizenship-and-grace-poe/
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/723888/grace-poes-residency-can-still-be-questioned-legal-experts
Maxima says
Natural born and re-acquired citizenship
Inasmuch as we would like to be kinder and sympathetic to a foundling, for a constitutionalist, Grace is not a natural born Filipino citizen. Perhaps this is the opportunity to review and amend the constitution as appropriate. Judges, however, cannot go outside what the constitution provides, unfortunately.
Did she really give up her Filipino citizenship? So, even if she proves herself as a natural-born Filipino citizen, one would conclude that she lost that claim when she gave it up, which can be surmised when she took steps to reacquire it.
Why the change?
However, for many, the moral issue is having a president who, as reported, pledged her allegiance to the American flag and gave up her Filipino citizenship. Some people take American citizenship because it gives them better opportunities as federal/govt. employees as well as the right to have a voice in their.electoral process. Given her wealth, As she said, she did it for the love of her husband, her family. Hmmm. I wonder if those individuals who didn’t give up their citizenship love their husband/ family less.
Counting residency days
A newspaper reported (see attached link) that while she gave up her American citizenship, Poe travelled using her US passport at least 21 times.
DEPARTURES ARRIVALS
Nov. 9, 2003
Dec. 13, 2004
Sept. 2005
March 11, 2006
July 2, 2006 ~ July 5, 2006 (3-day trip, unlikely a US trip)
July 26, 2006
Sept. 11, 2006
Nov. 1, 2006 July 23, 2007
Oct. 31, 2007
Oct. 5, 2008
April 20, 2009 – May 21, 2009 (1-month trip)
July 31, 2009 – Aug. 3, 2009 (3-day trip, unlikely a US trip)
Dec. 27, 2009
(She had her oath of allegiance on a july 6, 2006 and did her affidavit of renunciation in October 2010.)
One posited that she had to use her US passport at that time because the process facilitating her giving up her US citizenship takes time. With her still being an American citizen, they couldn’t issue her a US visitor’s visa. Thus, the use of US passport was necessary. However, records indicated that she most likely used her US passport for non-US trips as well.
Either the records are terribly incomplete or Poe has two passports that she uses at her convenience. It’s quite a number of trips which should impact the total number of her residency days.
In the US and Canada, my understanding is that in the counting of residency days relevant to citizenship application, they literally count each day when one is actually in the country. If one travelled out of the country for a total of 60 days over a span of three years, those days will be deducted from the total number of one’s residency days.
During her reported conversation with Aquino, she has a battery of lawyers taking care of her residency/citizenship issue. Thus, there is high expectation that she is properly guided in her public and official declarations, including use of her passports. She stopped using her US passport after she did her renunciation in October 2020.
Here are news clippings about her US passport use and another clipping which provides some perspective on GPL’s candidacy.
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/697701/grace-poes-use-of-us-passport-until-2010-renders-kink-in-residency-claim-law-experts#ixzz3vtCEzntX
https://pmdizon.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/immigration-citizenship-and-grace-poe/
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/723888/grace-poes-residency-can-still-be-questioned-legal-experts
kalakala says
PDI latest development from guimaras:
ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The family of a man and his son in Guimaras province, one of whom could be the biological father of Sen. Grace Poe, believes that the son was the senator’s biological father.
“They believe (the father) was too old to be (Poe’s biological father),” Guimaras Vice Gov. Vicente de Asis told the Philippine Daily Inquirer
De Asis, a Poe supporter and a candidate for the congressional district seat of Guimaras in the May 2016 elections, was among those at the public cemetery in East Valencia village on Wednesday for the exhumation of the remains of Victoria and the two men.
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no wonder masigasig sila sa paghukay ng mga labi ng matagal nang namayapa.
moonie says
de ass is should also give his dna for testing, he might prove to be long lost brother of grace, he, he, he.
moonie says
on the serious side, I wonder what caused the death of victoria and the 2 men. hope it was only pure old age and not some diseases like leprosy and tuberculosis.
there are diseases and bacteria that can stay dormant for a very long time, but once brought to the surface they can be dangerous to those around.
vander says
http://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/pamatong-91-others-face-forever-dq-over-non-filing-of-campaign-finance-statements/ar-BBo4mFd?li=AAb280R&ocid=SK2CDHP
marami pang nuisance candidates ang dapat napasama sa list na iyan…
surfer sison says
I am a little intrigued why they have to exhume the remains of GLP’s supposed parents.
Why do such drastic measures of dishonoring the dead?
Can’t they get DNA tests from the close relatives ?
raissa says
There’s a bangkay in Vigan which they don’t even have to exhume.
why not stArt with THAT ONE?
raissa says
She could start with the bangkay in Vigan.
Doesn’t need to be exhumed.
raissa says
different strokes for different folks.
the relatives offered.
vander says
aha, anong mapipiga nila sa kandila?
ang lalabas sa dna ng bangkay ay carbon chain.
eto: an element of carbon bonded to 4 hydrogen atoms or derivatives.
matagal na tayong niloloko ng wax drama ng mag-iinang iyan.
moonie says
surfer, I’m supposing the family of the dead give consent for exhumation to go through. had the family said no, then no exhumation can take place.
moonie says
I think the kandila in vigan cannot be touched without imelda’s permission. her consent would have to be obtained lalo na if kandila is kept in her own private chapel. iba kung ang kandila is in public cemetery on government land, methink, a court order can over rule imelda.