Poe v COMELEC (Digest)

PoeLl ama manzar esvs. COMELEC( 2016) Per ez ,J . FACTS: Pe t i t i o ne rwa sf o un da sa na ba nd on edn ewb or ni n f a nti nJ a r o ,I l o i l ob yo neEd ga r d oMi l i t a ro nSe pt e mb mb er0 3, 1968. Car eandc us t o dyf ort hepe t i t i onerwaspas s edo nt oar el at i v e,Emi l i an oMi l i t ar ,whot henr egi s t er e dh erasa f oundl i ngwi t ht heOffic eoft heCi v i l Regi s t r arofI l oi l oCi t y . Ap et i t i o nf o rh e ra do pt i o nwa sfi l e db ys p s .Po eb ef o r et h eMT Co fSa nJ u an .Th ep et i t i o nwa sg r a nt e do nMa y 1 3,1 9 74 . Pet i t i oneri ni t i al l yenr ol l edi nUP ,butopt edt ofi ni s hhers t udi esi nt heUS.Shegr aduat edf r om Bos t onCol l egei n 1991. I nt h es a me mey e ar ,s h ema r r i e dT eo do r oL l ama nz a r e s,ad ua lc i t i z eno ft h eUSa ndt h ePh i l i p pi n es .T wod ay saf t e r t h ewe dd i n g,o ro nJ u l y29 ,1 99 1,s h ea ndhe rh us b an dr e t u r n edt ot h eUS. On Oc t o be r1 8,2 00 1 ,p e t i t i o ne rb ec a me a n me at u r a l i z e d Ame r i c a nc i t i z e n .Sh eo bt a i n ed h erUS Pa s s p or to n December19,2001. Af t erh erf a t h erd i e d,s hea ndh erh us ba ndd ec i d edt omo v ea ndr e si d ep er ma ne nt l yi nt h ePh i l i p pi n ess ome t i me i nt hefi r s tquar t erof2005. Theypr epar edf ort hei rr es et t l ement ,i nc l udi ngpul l i ngherc hi l dr enoutoft hei rs c hool sandmo vi ngt hei r o pr oper t yf orr el oc at i on. Asear l yas2004,pet i t i oneral r eadyqui therj obi nt heUS. o Pe t i t i on erc ameh omet ot h ePh i l i p pi n eson May24,2005.Herhus bandandc hi l dr ens t ay edbehi ndt of ac i l i t at e t hes al eoft hei rf ami l yhome. Pe t i t i o n ert h e np u r c h a s e dac o n d omi n i u mu n i ti nSa nJ u a nCi t ya ndaCCTwa si s s u e db yt h eSa nJ u a nRD o n Febr uar y20,2006.Herc hi l dr enwer et henenr ol l edi nl oc al pr i v at esc hool s . OnFe br u ar y14 ,2 006 , t h ep et i t i o ne rma deaq ui c kt r i pt ot h eUSa ndt r a v el l e db ac kt ot h ePhi l i p pi n esonMar c h 1 1,2 0 06 . Th ei rUSf ami l yh omewa ss ol donAp r i l 2 00 6.Ar o un dt h es a me met i me ,t h eyb ou ghtt h ei rp r e se ntf a mi mi l yh ome . OnJ ul y07,2006,pe t i t i onert ookherOat ho fAl l egi anc et ot heRepubl i coft hePhi l i ppi nespur s uantt oRA9225. Und ert h es ameAc t ,s h efi l e das wo r np et i t i o nwi t ht h eBU t or e ac qu i r eh erPH c i t i z en s hi pt o ge t h erwi t h o pet i t i onsf order i v at i v ec i t i z ens hi pf orhermi norc hi l dr enonJ ul y10,2006. o TheBIac t edf av or abl yont hepet i t i onon J ul y18 ,2 00 6. Sh er e gi s t e r e da sav o t e ro nAu gu s t3 1,2 00 6.Sh ea l s os ec u r e df r o mt h eDF Aane wp as s p or t . OnOc t o be r0 6,2 01 0,Pr e s .Aq ui n oa pp oi n t e dh era sc h ai r p er s o no ft h eMT MTRCB. Be f o r ea s su mi mi ngh erp os t ,s h ee x ec u t e da nAffid av i to fRe nu nc i a t i o nofAl l e gi a nc et ot h eUn i t edSt a t esof o Ame r i c aa ndRe nu nc i a t i o no fAme r i c a nCi t i z e ns h i po nOc t o be r2 0 ,2 01 0. Fr o mt h enon ,s h es t o pp edus i n gh erAme r i c a np as s p or t . o On J u l y1 2 ,2 0 1 1 ,p e t i t i o n ere x e c u t e db e f o r et h e Vi c e Co n s u lo ft h e US Emb a s s ya n Oa t h / Affir ma t i o no f Renunc i at i onofNat i onal i t yoft heUni t edSt at es . o OnDe ce mb mb er0 9,20 01,s hewa si s s ue daCer t i fi c at eo fL os sofNa t i o na l i t yoft h eUn i t e dSt a t e s. Sh efi l e daCOCwi t ht h eCOMEL EC o nOc t o b er0 2 ,2 0 1 2,wh e r e i ns h es t a t e d“ 6y e a r sa n d6mo mo n t h s ”a st ot h e ques t i onofper i odofr es i d enc ei nt hePhi l i ppi nesbef or eMa y13,2 013. OnOc t ob er15,20 15,p et i t i onerfi l edaCOCf orPr es i denc y .Shed ec l ar edt hats hei san at ur al bor nc i t i z enan da r es i d entf o r10y ea r sa nd11mo mo nt hsc o unt e db ef or eMa Ma y09 ,2 01 6,c o unt e df r o m Ma y24 ,2 00 5.Th i st r i gg er e dt h e fi l i ngoft hepr es entc as esagai ns ther . El a mpa mp r oPe t i t i on( G. R.No.2 2 16 9 7) : Onr e s i d en c e : pe t i t i onerc ommi t t e dmat er i almi s r epr es ent at i on;s hewasbo undb yherdec l ar at i oni nt he o 2 01 2COCt h ats h ewa sar e s i d en tf o r6y e ar sa nd6mo n t h s . •

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Onc i t i z ens hi p:s hec anno tb ec ons i der ednat ur al bor nasi nt er na t i onall a w doe sno tc o nf ern at ur al bor n s t at usonf o undl i ngs .Ther ef or e,s hei sno tqual i fi edt oap pl yf orr e ac qui s i t i onu nd erRA9225.As s umi ng a r g ue nd ot h ats h ewa sn at u r a l b or n ,s h ea c qu i r e dt h i ss t a t u swh ens h eb ec a me meaUS c i t i z e n.Na t u r a l bor nc i t i z ens hi pmus tbec ont i nuouss i nc ebi r t h. OnDe c e mb mb e r0 1 ,2 0 1 5,t h eCOMEL EC Se c o n dDi v i s i o ng r a n t e dEl a mp mp a r o ’ sPe t i t i o nt oDe n yDu eCo u r s et oo r Ca nc el Cer t i fi c at eo fCa nd i d ac y , Cont r e r a s / T at a d/ Va l de zpe t i t i ons( G. R.Nos .2 21 69 87 00 ) : o T at adal l egedt hatt hePhi l i ppi nesadher est o j uss angui ni s ,a ndhe nc e ,p ar e nt sofu nk no wno r i g i nsu c ha s f o un dl i n gs c a nn otb ec o ns i d er e dn at ur a l bo r n.Mor e ov e r ,t h er ei s no ts t a nda r ds t at ep r a ct i c et h at aut omat i c al l yconf er snat ur al bor ns t at ust of oundl i ngs . Onr e si d en cy ,T at a dc l ai mst h atp et i t i o nero nl yac q ui r edh erd omi c i l ei nQC wh ens h er e no unc edh erUS o c i t i z ens hi p,whi c hwasi n2010or2 01 1.Th er ewasl ac kofi nt ent i ont oaband ondomi c i l easpe t i t i on er ’ s h us ba nds t a y edi nt h eUSa ndh adf r eq uen tt r i p st h er e t o. ForV al dez ,nat ur al bor nc i t i z enswhoar er epat r i at edunderRA9225wi l lnotr e ver tt ot hei ro r i gi nals t at us o asnat ur al bor nc i t i z ens .Heal s ot ooknot eo ft her epr es ent at i o ni nt h e2012COC. Cont r er as ,mean whi l e,onl yat t ac k edt her es i denc yi s s ue.Thes t at ementt hatpe t i t i onerwasar es i dentf or o 1 0y e a r sa n d1 2mo n t h swa saf a l s ee n t r y .Th er e c k o n i n gd a t es h o u l db eJ u l y1 8 ,2 0 06wh e nt h eBI appr o vedherpet i t i on. OnDec emb er1 1,20 15,t h eCOMELEC Fi r s tDi v i s i o nr u l e dt h atp et i t i o ne ri sn otan at u r a l b or nc i t i z e nan dt h at s hef ai l edt ocompl ywi t ht het eny earr es i denc yr equi r ement . Pet i t i onert henfi l edpet i t i onsf orc er t i or ar i wi t hur gentpr ay erf orTRO/ s t at usquoant eor derand/ orWPI . o

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I SSUES +RULI NG: WONt h eCOMEL ECc o mm mmi t t e dGADi nde n y i n gdu ec o u r s eo rc a n c el l i n gt h eCOCo fp e t i t i o ne r . YES. Th e COMEL EC,c an no ti t s el f ,i nt h es a me me c an c el l a t i o nc a se ,d ec i d et h eq ua l i fi c at i o no rl a ckt h er e ofo ft h e c andi d at e. No neo ft h ep owe r se nu me me r a t e di nAr t .I XC,Se c .2o ft h e1 98 7Co ns t i t u t i o nh av et h es a me mee x ac t i t u deo ft h e pr o vi s i onsofAr t .VI ,Sec .17,whi c hpr o vi desf ort heHRETandSET ,ort hatofAr t .VI I ,Sec .4,whi c hpr ov i dest hat t heSCenbanc s hal l bet hesol ej udgeofal l c ont es t sr egar di ngt hePr es i denc yandVi c ePr es i denc y . Thes et r i bun al sha v ej ur i s di c t i ono v ert hequ es t i onofqu al i fi c at i onso ft hePr es i den t ,VP ,Sen at or s ,an dt heHoR. Ther ei snosuc hpr ov i s i onf orc a nd i d at esf ort hes epr ov i s i ons . I nFer mi nvCOMELEC,t h eSCr u l e dt h atme r er u l e sc ou l dno tb es u ffic i e ntt opr o v i d et h eCOMEL ECwi t hpo we r t odec i deont hei nel i gi bi l i t yofc andi dat es . TheCOMELEC r ul eswer edr as t i c al l yr e vi s ed,a ndt hepr es ents i t uat i o ni st hati nor dert odi s qual i f yac andi dat e, t her emus tb eade cl ar at i onb yfi nal j u dgmentofac ompe t e ntc our tt hatt hec an di dat es oughtt obed i s qual i fi ed“ i s gui l t yoforf oundbyt heCommi s si ont obesuff er i ngf r om an ydi s qual i fi cat i onpr o vi dedbyl awort heCons t i t ut i on. ” The f ac tofq ual i fi c at i on mus tb e es t abl i s he di n a pr i orp r oc eedi ng bef or e an aut hor i t ypr oper l yv e st ed wi t h j ur i s di c t i on.Thepr i ordet er mi nat i onmaybebys t at ut e,EO,orj udgmentofac ompet entc our tort r i bunal . •

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[ Subi s s ue]WoNt hef ac tofpet i t i oner ’ sbl oodr el at i ons hi pwi t haFi l i pi noc i t i z enwasdemons t r abl e. YES. Thebur denofpr oofwasont hepr i v at er es pondent st os howt hatpet i t i oneri snotaFi l i pi noc i t i z en. Pe t i t i ’ di s s i t h ts h f dl i di d ts hi f tt h b d th b c hs ttsdi tt do t •



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Ot herc i r c ums t a nt i al e vi denc e:t hef ac tofbei ngab andone di naCat h ol i cChur c han dherph y si c al f eat ur es .Ther e i sdi s put abl epr es ump t i ont hatt hi ngsha v eh appene da cc or di ngt ot heor di nar yc our s eo fnat ur ean dt heor di n ar y habi t sofl i f e.

[ Subi s s ue]WoNf oundl i ngs ,asac l as s ,ar enat ur al bor nc i t i z ens . YES. Whi l et he1935Cons t i t ut i on’ senumer at i oni ssi l entast of oundl i ngs ,t her ei snor es t r i c t i v el anguagewhi c hwoul d defi ni t el yex c l udet hem ei t her . Be c au s eo fs i l en c ean da mbi mb g ui t yi nt h een umer a t i o nwi t hr es p ec tt of o un dl i n gs ,t h er ei san ee dt oe x ami n et h e i nt entoft hef r amer s . Du r i n gt h e1 93 4c on v ent i on ,Ra f ol swa nt e dt oi nt r o duc ea na me me nd me me ntt ha tc hi l d r e no f“ u nk no wnp ar e nt a ge ”b e i n c l u de di nt h ee nu me me r a t i o n;h owe v e r ,Ro x a sc i t e dt h ats i n c et h es ec a s esa r ef e wa nd f a ri nb et we en ,t h e Cons t i t ut i onneednotr ef ert ot hem. Ec h oe db yt h eOSG i nt h eo r a la r g ume nt s :t h eMo nt i n ol aa ndRo x a swe r eo ft h ev i e wt a tt h er ei sn omo r e o needt oe x pr es s l ydec l ar ef o undl i ngsasFi l i pi nosbec aus et he yar eal r eadyi mpl i edl ysor ec og ni z ed. Al l t her eCons t i t ut i ons( 1935,1973,1987)guar ant eet hebas i cr i ghtofequal pr ot ec t i onoft hel aws .Ther ear eal s o s pec i al pr ov i s i onst hatex hor tt heSt at et or enders oc i al j us t i c e. o Ac cor di ngt ot heCour t ,t hes epr ov i s i onscont r adi c ti nt entt odi s cr i mi nat eagai ns tf oundl i ngs . Domes t i cl awsonadop t i onal s os upp or tt hepr i nc i pl et h atf oundl i ngsar eFi l i pi nos .Thes el a wsdono tpr o vi det hat a do pt i o nc on f er sc i t i z e ns hi pu pont hea do pt e e.Ra t h er ,t h ea do pt e e mu stbeaFi l i p i n oi nt h efi r s tp l a cet ob e a do p t e d. Th eCo ur tl i k e wi s ep r o mu mu l g at e dRu l e so nAd op t i o ni n c l u def o un dl i n gsa sa mo mo ngFi l i p i n oc h i l d r e nwh oma yb e a do p t e d. UnderAr t .VI ,Sec .2,“ ha vi ngt oper f or m anac t ”mea nst hatt heac tmus tbeper s onal l ydon eb yt hec i t i z en.I nt he c as eoff ou ndl i ngs ,d et er mi nat i o no ft hei rs t at usi sdo neb yt hea ut hor i t i es .Theob j ec to ft hepr oc es si st h e d et e r mi n at i o no ft h e wh er e ab ou t so ft h ep ar e nt s ,n ott h ec i t i z e ns hi po ft he c hi l d .Thi sp r o ce ssi sa l s o no t anal ogoust onat ur al i z at i on. Foundl i ngsar el i k ewi s ec i t i z ensunderi nt er nat i onall aw.Gener al l yac cept edpr i nc i pl esofi nt er nat i onall a wf or m par toft hel awsoft hel and,v i at hei nc or por at i ondoc t r i ne. I nt er n at i onal c us t omar yr ul esar ea cc ept edasbi ndi ngasar es ul tf r om t hec ombi nat i onoft woel eme nt s : o Es t abl i s hed,wi des pr ead,andc ons i s t entpr ac t i c eont hepar tofSt at es •

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Ps y c hol o gi c al el ementort heopi ni on j j ur i ss i v enec es s i t at es( opi ni onast ol awornec es s i t y ) Ther ear egener alpr i nc i pl esagai ns tdi s cr i mi nat i on,whi c har et hes amec or epr i nc i pl est hatunder l i et he o PHCons t i t ut i oni t s el f . Th e UDHR s t a t e st h ate v er y o neh asar i g htt oan at i o na l i t y ,a ndt h atn oo nes h al lb ed ep r i v e do fhi s o nat i onal i t ynord eni edt her i ghtt oc hangehi snat i onal i t y . o Me an wh i l e ,t h eUNCRC i mp os esa sas t a t eo bl i g at i o nt h atac hi l dh ast h er i g htt oa cq ui r ean at i o na l i t y ands t at epar t i esmus te ns ur et hei mpl eme nt at i onofr i gh t si npar t i c ul arwher et hec hi l dwoul dot her wi s e bes t at el es s. TheI CCPRal s opr ov i desf ort her i ghtofev er ychi l dt oac qui r eanat i onal i t y . o Th e1 93 0Ha gu eCon v ent i ono nCer t a i nQue s t i o nsRe l a t i n gt ot h eCo nfl i c to fNat i o na l i t yLa wss t a t est h at o af oundl i ngi spr es umedt ohav et henat i onal i t yoft hec ount r yofbi r t h.I tal s oc ar r i est hepr i nc i pl et hata f oun dl i ngi spr es ume dbor nofc i t i z ensoft h ec ount r ywher ehei sf ound. Al t hough nota t t t he 1930 H Convent i nort t he 1961 Convent i t he Reduct i of 



WoNt hepet i t i oner ’ sr epat r i at i oni nJ ul y2006r es ul t edi nt heac qui s i t i onofnat ur al bor nc i t i z ens hi p. YES. Th eCOMEL EC r u l e dt h ats i n c et h ea pp l i c a ntf o rr e pa t r i a t i o nu nd erRA 9 22 5mu s tp er f o r ma na c t ,wh ati s r eac qui r edi snotnat ur al bor nc i t i z ens hi pbutonl ypl ai n“ Phi l i ppi nec i t i z ens hi p” Th e COMEL EC d i s r e ga r d e dc o n s i s t e ntj u r i s p r u de n c eo n RA 9 22 5.Th el a wi sar e pa t r i a t i o ns t a t u t et h at pr ov i desf oranabbr ev i at edr epat r i at i onpr oc es st hatr es t or esone’ sFi l i pi noc i t i z ens hi p. I nPar r eñovCOA,t heCour tc at egor i c al l ys t at edt hat“ i fpet i t i onerr eac qui r eshi sFi l i pi noc i t i z ens hi p( underRA 9225) ,hewi l l r ec ov erhi snat ur al bor nc i t i z ens hi p. ” COMEL EC’ spo si t i o nt ha tna t u r al b or ns t a t u smus tb ec on t i n uo uswa sa l r e ad yr e j e ct e di n Bengs onvHRET, wher et hep hr as e“ f r om bi r t h”wasc l ar i fi edt omeanatt het i meofbi r t h.Thus ,aper s onwhoa tt het i meofhi s bi r t h,i sac i t i z enofapar t i c ul arc ount r y , i sanat ur al bor nc i t i z ent her eof . o I nt hes amedec i s i o n,t heCour ts t at edt h att h er ewer eonl yt wot y pesofc i t i z ensun dert hepr es ent Cons t i t ut i on:nat ur al bor nandnat ur al i z ed. Th eCOMEL ECc a n no tr e v e r s eaj u di c i a l p r e c e de nt . WoNpe t i t i onerc ommi t t edf al s emat er i al mi s r epr es ent at i onsi nher2015COCast ot heper i o dofr es i denc e. NO. •

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Pe t i t i on er ’ sc l ai mt h ats h e wi l lha v eb ee n ar e si d en tf o r1 0y e ar san d1 1 mo nt h so nt h ed aybe f o r et h e2 01 6 el ec t i onsi st r ue. Pe t i t i o ne r ’ se nt r yi nt h eCOC c o r r e s po nd st oab eg i n ni n gd at eo fMa y2 5,2 00 5,wh ens h er e t u r n edf o r o goodf r om t heUS. T os u c c es s f u l l yeff ec tac h an gei nd omi c i l e ,o nemu s td emo ns t r a t ea na c t u alr e mo mo v a lo ra na c t u alc h an geo f domi c i l e;a bonafide i n t e nt i o no fab an do ni n gt h ef o r me rp l a c eo fr e si d en cea nde s t a bl i s hi n g an ew o ne ,a nd defi ni t eac t swhi c hc or r es pondt ot h atp ur pos e. Pe t i t i on erp r e se nt e de v i de nc es ho wi n gt h ats hea ndh erf a mi mi l yab an do nedt h ei rUSdo mi mi c i l ea ndr e l o ca t e dt ot h e Phi l i ppi nesf orgood,s uc has : Pa ss po r t e nt r ys ho wi n ga r r i v a lo nMa y2 4,2 00 5a ndh err e t u r nt ot h ePHe v er yt i mes het r a v el l e da br o ad o o Cor r es pondenc esr eg ar di ngt heshi pmento ft hei rpr o per t i est ot hePH Sc hool r ec or dsofherc hi l dr eni nPHs c ho ol ss t ar t i ngJ une20 05 o T axDec l ar at i onsandt i t l est opr oper t i esi nt hePH o Sa l eoft h ei rUSh ome o Qu es t i o nn ai r ef r o mt heSUEmb as s ys ho wi n gt h atp et i t i o ne rs t at e dt h ats h ewa saPHr e si d en ts i n c eMa y o 2005 COMELEC:t he r e wasno a ni mu sn on r e v e r t e nd i .Ar gu ed t h att hes t a yo fa na l i e nf o r me rFi l i p i n oc an no tb e c ount edunl es sheac qui r esap er man entr es i dentv i s aorr eac qui r esc i t i z ens hi p. SC:Th ec a s e st h att h e COMEL EC r e l yo nh a v eo nl ys p a r s ee v i d en c eo nr e s i d e nc e .I nc o n t r a s t ,t h e o e v i d en c ei nt h ec a s ea tb a ri so v e r wh el mi n ga nd s h o ws n oo t h erc o n c l u s i o nt h ats h ed ec i d e dt o p er ma ne n t l ya b an do nhe rUSr e s i d en c e . COMEL EC a l s ot o oki ta gai n s tp e t i t i o nert h ats hee nt e r e dv i s a f r e easa b al i k ba y an . Ho we v e r ,RA 6 7 6 8o rt h e bal i k ba y anpr ogr am doe sno tt r e atba l i k ba y ansasor di nar yt r ans i ent s . Ast ot h e2 01 2COC e nt r y ,pe t i t i o ne re x p l ai n edt ha ts hemi s un der s t o odt h ed at er e qu i r e men me ta st h ep er i odo f r e s i d en c ea soft h ed a ys h es u bmi t t e dt h atCOCi n20 12 . SC:h ere x p l a na t i o ni sb ol s t e r e db yt h ec h a ng edi n t r o du c e db yt h eCOMEL EC i nt h e2 01 5COC wh i c h o k s“ i o do f i d e it h Ph i l ii tt h ed aybe f M 0 92 01 6”Th 6” e t h u



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Pe t i t i on eral s od i dno ta pp eart oha v ehi d de na ny t h i n g.I nhe rAn swe ri nt h eSETp r oc e ed i n gsonSe pt emb er0 1, 2 01 5,s h ea dmi t t e dt h ats h emi s u nd er s t o odt h er e s i d en c yr e qu i r e me me nti nt h e2 01 2COC.Sh efi l e dh er2 01 5COC o nOc t o be r1 5.Th eSETc a s ewa sama t t e ro fp ub l i cr e c or d . Th er e mu s tb ee v i d en ce t h att h er e wa s ad el i b er a t ei n t e ntt o mi s l e ad ,mi s i n f o r m,o rhi d e af a ctt h atwo ul d ot her wi s er enderac andi dat eel i gi bl e.

a nt e d. DI SPOSI TI ON:Gr

Poe v COMELEC (Digest)

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