Grace Poe vs COMELEC Grace Poe vs COMELEC GR 221697, GR 221698-700 GR 221697, GR 221698-700 March 8, 2016 March 8, 2016 Perez, J.: Perez, J.: Facts: Facts:
In her COC for presidenc for the Ma 2016 e!ections, Grace "oe dec!ared that she is a In her COC for presidenc for the Ma 2016 e!ections, Grace "oe dec!ared that she is a nat#ra!-$orn citi%en and that her residence in the "hi!ippines #p to
$orn citi%en and that her residence in the "hi!ippines #p to the da $efore 9 Ma 2016 the da $efore 9 Ma 2016 &o#!d $e&o#!d $e 10 ears and 11 'onths co#nted fro' 2( Ma 200)*
10 ears and 11 'onths co#nted fro' 2( Ma 200)* Ma 2(, 200) &as the
Ma 2(, 200) &as the da she ca'e to the da she ca'e to the "hi!ippines after decidin+ to sta in the "hi!ippines after decidin+ to sta in the " for +ood*" for +ood* efore that ho&e.er, and e.en after&ards, she has $een +oin+ to and fro $et&een / and efore that ho&e.er, and e.en after&ards, she has $een +oin+ to and fro $et&een / and "hi!ippines*
"hi!ippines* he &as $orn in 1968, fo#nd as ne&$orn infanhe &as $orn in 1968, fo#nd as ne&$orn infant in I!oi!o, and &as !e+a!! adopted*t in I!oi!o, and &as !e+a!! adopted* he i''i+rated to the / in 1991 and &as nat#ra!i%ed as 'erican citi%en in 2001* On Ma he i''i+rated to the / in 1991 and &as nat#ra!i%ed as 'erican citi%en in 2001* On Ma 200), &itho#
200), &itho#t t de!ade!a, , she sec#red a she sec#red a a3 Identifa3 Identificatiication 4#'$er fro' on 4#'$er fro' the #rea# of the #rea# of InterInterna!na! Re.en#e* er three 5 chi!dren i''ediate! fo!!o&ed her to the "hi!ippines* hen, the chi!dren Re.en#e* er three 5 chi!dren i''ediate! fo!!o&ed her to the "hi!ippines* hen, the chi!dren of schoo! a+e $e+an attendin+ "hi!ippine pri.ate schoo!s*he petitioner and her chi!dren $rief! of schoo! a+e $e+an attendin+ "hi!ippine pri.ate schoo!s*he petitioner and her chi!dren $rief! staed at her 'others p!ace #nti! she and her h#s$and p#rchased a condo'ini#' #nit &ith a staed at her 'others p!ace #nti! she and her h#s$and p#rchased a condo'ini#' #nit &ith a parin+ s!ot at One i!son "!ace Condo'ini#' in an ;#an Cit in the second ha!f of 200)* In parin+ s!ot at One i!son "!ace Condo'ini#' in an ;#an Cit in the second ha!f of 200)* In ear! 2006, petitioner and her h#s$and ac<#ired a )09-s<#are 'eter !ot in Corinthian i!!s, ear! 2006, petitioner and her h#s$and ac<#ired a )09-s<#are 'eter !ot in Corinthian i!!s, =
=##ee%%oon n CCiitt &&hheerre e tthhee $$##ii!!t t tthheeiir r ffaa''ii!! hhoo''ee** On ;#! 18, 2006, the I +ranted her petition dec!arin+ that she had reac<#ired her Fi!ipino On ;#! 18, 2006, the I +ranted her petition dec!arin+ that she had reac<#ired her Fi!ipino citi%enship #nder R 922)*
citi%enship #nder R 922)* he re+istered as a .oter and o$he re+istered as a .oter and o$tained a ne& "hi!ippine passtained a ne& "hi!ippine passport*port* In 2010, $efore ass#'in+ her post as an appointed chairperson of the MRC, she reno#nced In 2010, $efore ass#'in+ her post as an appointed chairperson of the MRC, she reno#nced her 'erican citi%enship to satisf the R 922) re<#ire'ent* Fro' then on, she stopped #sin+ her 'erican citi%enship to satisf the R 922) re<#ire'ent* Fro' then on, she stopped #sin+ her 'erican passport* On 12 ;#! 2011, the petitioner e3ec#ted $efore the >ice Cons#! of the her 'erican passport* On 12 ;#! 2011, the petitioner e3ec#ted $efore the >ice Cons#! of the /** ?'$ass in Mani!a an @OathAffir'ation of Ren#nciation of 4ationa!it of the /nited /** ?'$ass in Mani!a an @OathAffir'ation of Ren#nciation of 4ationa!it of the /nited tates*@
tates*@
"etitions &ere fi!ed $efore the COM?B?C to den or cance! her candidac on the +ro#nd "etitions &ere fi!ed $efore the COM?B?C to den or cance! her candidac on the +ro#nd partic#!ar!, a'on+ others, that she cannot $e considered a nat#ra!-$orn Fi!ipino citi%en since partic#!ar!, a'on+ others, that she cannot $e considered a nat#ra!-$orn Fi!ipino citi%en since she cannot pro.e that her $io!o+ica! parents or either of the' &ere Fi!ipinos* It &as c!ai'ed she cannot pro.e that her $io!o+ica! parents or either of the' &ere Fi!ipinos* It &as c!ai'ed that internationa! !a& does not
that internationa! !a& does not confer nat#ra!$orn stat#s and Fi!ipino citi%enship on fo#nd!in+s*confer nat#ra!$orn stat#s and Fi!ipino citi%enship on fo#nd!in+s* here &as a!so an ar+#'ent that she fe!! short of the ten-ear residenc re<#ire'ent of the here &as a!so an ar+#'ent that she fe!! short of the ten-ear residenc re<#ire'ent of the Co
Consnstitit#t#tition on as as heher r reresisidedencnce e coco#!#!d d onon! ! $e $e coco#n#nteted d at at ththe e eaear!r!ieiest st frfro' o' ;#;#! ! 20200606** he COM?B?C en $anc cance!!ed her candidac on the +ro#nd that she is in &ant of citi%enship he COM?B?C en $anc cance!!ed her candidac on the +ro#nd that she is in &ant of citi%enship and residence re<#ire'ents, and that she co''itted 'ateria!
and residence re<#ire'ents, and that she co''itted 'ateria! 'isrepresentatio'isrepresentations in ns in her COC*her COC* On certiorari, the C re.ersed the r#!in+ and he!d 59-6 .otes that "oe is <#a!ified as a candidate On certiorari, the C re.ersed the r#!in+ and he!d 59-6 .otes that "oe is <#a!ified as a candidate for "resid
for "residenc* enc* hree #sthree #stices, ho&e.ices, ho&e.er, a$staer, a$stained to .ote ined to .ote on the nat#ra!on the nat#ra!-$orn citi%-$orn citi%enshenshipip iss#e*
Issue 1: W/N the COMELEC has jurisdictio to ru!e o the issue o" #ua!i"icatios o" cadidates Issue $: W/N Grace Poe%L!a&azares is a atura!%'or (i!i)io citize
Issue *: W/N Grace Poe satis"ies the 1+%ear residec re#uire&et
Issue -: W/N the Grace Poes cadidac shou!d 'e deied or cace!!ed "or co&&itti &ateria! &isre)resetatios i her COC 0he she stated i her COC that she has 'e"ore ad uti! Ma $+12 'ee a residet o" the Phi!i))ies "or te 31+4 ears ad e!eve 3114 &oths.
Issue 1
4o* rtic!e ID-C, ec 2 of the Constit#tion pro.ides for the po&ers and f#nctions of the COM?B?C, and decidin+ on the <#a!ifications or !ac thereof of a candidate is not one a'on+ the'*
In contrast, the Constit#tion pro.ides that on! the ? and R? tri$#na!s ha.e so!e #risdiction o.er the e!ection contests, ret#rns, and <#a!ifications of their respecti.e 'e'$ers, &hereas o.er the "resident and >ice "resident, on! the C en $anc has so!e #risdiction* s for the <#a!ifications of candidates for s#ch positions, the Constit#tion is si!ent* here is si'p! no a#thori%ed proceedin+ in deter'inin+ the ine!i+i$i!it of candidates $efore e!ections* #ch !ac of pro.ision cannot $e s#pp!ied $ a 'ere r#!e, and for the COM?B?C to assi'i!ate +ro#nds for ine!i+i$i!it into +ro#nds for dis<#a!ification in R#!e 2) in its r#!es of proced#res &o#!d $e contrar to the intent of the Constit#tion*
ence, the COM?B?C co''itted +ra.e a$#se of discretion &hen it decided on the <#a!ification iss#e of Grace as a candidate in the sa'e case for cance!!ation of her COC*
Issue $ e!d:
Ees, Grace "oe 'i+ht $e and is considera$! a nat#ra!-$orn Fi!ipino* For that, she satisfies one of the constit#tiona! re<#ire'ents that on! nat#ra!-$orn Fi!ipinos 'a r#n for presidenc* he fact is that the petitioners $!ood re!ationship &ith a Fi!ipino citi%en is de'onstra$!e*
First, there is a hi+h pro$a$i!it that Grace "oes parents are Fi!ipinos* er phsica! feat#res are tpica! of Fi!ipinos* he fact that she &as a$andoned as an infant in a '#nicipa!it &here the pop#!ation of the "hi!ippines is o.er&he!'in+! Fi!ipinos s#ch that there &o#!d $e 'ore than 99 chance that a chi!d $orn in s#ch pro.ince is a Fi!ipino is a!so a circ#'stantia! e.idence of her parents nationa!it* Fro' 196) to 197), the tota! n#'$er of forei+ners $orn in the "hi!ippines is 1),986 &hi!e the tota! n#'$er of Fi!ipinos $orn in the "hi!ippines is 1),))8,278* For this period, the ratio of non-Fi!ipino chi!dren is 1:66* o ass#'e other&ise is to accept the
a$s#rd, if not the .irt#a!! i'possi$!e, as the nor'* o den f#!! Fi!ipino citi%enship to a!! fo#nd!in+s and there$ renderin+ the' state!ess is do&nri+ht discri'inator, irrationa! and #n#st considerin+ the .er !o& pro$a$i!it that the chi!d is a f orei+ner*
econd, $ .otes of 7-), the C prono#nced that fo#nd!in+s are as a c!ass, nat#ra!-$orn citi%ens* his is $ased on the findin+ that the de!i$erations of the 19( Constit#tiona! Con.ention sho& that the fra'ers intended fo#nd!in+s to $e co.ered $ the en#'eration*
hi!e the 19) Constit#tions en#'eration is si!ent as to fo#nd!in+s, there is no restricti.e !an+#a+e &hich &o#!d definite! e3c!#de fo#nd!in+s either* eca#se of si!ence and a'$i+#it in the en#'eration &ith respect to fo#nd!in+s, the C fe!t the need to e3a'ine the intent of the fra'ers* he fra'ers intent is that there is no 'ore need to e3press! dec!are fo#nd!in+s as Fi!ipinos $eca#se the are a!read i'p!ied! so reco+ni%ed $ the e3istin+ internationa! !a& and that the are too fe& to &arrant inc!#sion in the Constit#tion*
hird, Ho'estic !a&s on adoption a!so s#pport the princip!e that fo#nd!in+s are Fi!ipinos* he 'ost $asic of s#ch !a&s is rtic!e 1) of the Ci.i! Code&hich pro.ides that @!Ja&s re!atin+ to fa'i! ri+hts, d#ties, stat#s, conditions, !e+a! capacit of persons are $indin+ on citi%ens of the "hi!ippines e.en tho#+h !i.in+ a$road*@ doption dea!s &ith stat#s, and a "hi!ippine adoption co#rt &i!! ha.e #risdiction on! if the adoptee is a Fi!ipino* It has $een ar+#ed that the process to deter'ine that the chi!d is a fo#nd!in+ !eadin+ to the iss#ance of a fo#nd!in+ certificate #nder these !a&s and the iss#ance of said certificate are acts to ac<#ire or perfect "hi!ippine citi%enship &hich 'ae the fo#nd!in+ a nat#ra!i%ed Fi!ipino at $est* o&e.er, the co#rt ans&ered that the iss#ance of a certificate of fo#nd!in+ is not ana!o+o#s to a nat#ra!i%ation proceedin+ to ac<#ire "hi!ippine Citi%enship, or the e!ection of s#ch citi%enship*
Fo#rth, that fo#nd!in+s are a#to'atica!! conferred &ith nat#ra!-$orn citi%enship is s#pported $ treaties and the +enera! princip!es of internationa! !a&* !tho#+h the "hi!ippines is not a si+nator to so'e of these treaties, it adheres to the c#sto'ar r#!e to pres#'e fo#nd!in+s as ha.in+ $orn of the co#ntr in &hich the fo#nd!in+ is fo#nd*
he "hi!ippines ratified the /4 Con.etion on the Ri+ht of the Chi!d 5/4CRC, rtic!e 7 and 1966 Internationa! Co.enant on Ci.i! and "o!itica! Ri+hts 5ICC"R &hich i'poses an o$!i+ation to the co#ntries to preser.e the ri+ht of e.er chi!d to ac<#ire a nationa!it* he co''on thread of the /HR, /4CRC and ICC"R is to o$!i+ate the "hi!ippines to +rant nationa!it fro' $irth and ens#re that no chi!d is state!ess*
he princip!es fo#nd in t&o con.entions, &hi!e et #nratified $ the "hi!ippines, are +enera!! accepted princip!es of internationa! !a&* he first is rtic!e 1( of the 190 a+#e Con.ention on Certain =#estions Re!atin+ to the Conf!ict of 4ationa!it Ba&s #nder &hich a fo#nd!in+ is presumed to have the nationality of the country of birth. he second is the princip!e that a fo#nd!in+ is presumed born of citizens of the co#ntr &here he is fo#nd, contained in rtic!e 2
of the 1961 /nited 4ations Con.ention on the Red#ction of tate!essness* a.in+ esta$!ished that "oe-B!a'an%ares is a nat#ra!-$orn citi%en, the Co#rt then states that #nder R** 4o 922), the repatriation process #nder+one $ the petitioner res#!ts in the reco.er of the ori+ina! antiona!it* In Bengson III v HRET, the Co#rt he!d that a nat#ra! $orn citi%en &ho !ost his citi%enship &i!! $e restored to his prior stat#s as a nat#ra!-$orn Fi!ipino* he COM?B?Cs position that nat#ra!-$orn stat#s '#st $e contin#o#s &as a!read reected in Bengson Ill .* HRET1! &here the phrase @fro' $irth@ &as c!arified to 'ean at the ti'e of $irth, a person &ho is a citi%en of a partic#!ar co#ntr, is a nat#ra! $orn citi%en thereof* Issue *
e!d:
Ees* Grace "oe satisfied the re<#ire'ents of ani'#s 'anendi co#p!ed &ith ani'#s re.ertendi in ac<#irin+ a ne& do'ici!e* Tere are three re<#isites to ac<#ire a ne& do'ici!e: 1* Residence or $odi! presence in a ne& !oca!itK 2* an intention to re'ain thereK and * an intention to a$andon the o!d do'ici!e*
Grace "oes do'ici!e had $een ti'e! chan+ed as of Ma 2(, 200), and not on ;#! 18, 2006 &hen her app!ication #nder R 922) &as appro.ed $ the I* COM?B?Cs re!iance on cases &hich decree that an a!iens sta in the co#ntr cannot $e co#nted #n!ess she ac<#ires a per'anent resident .isa or reac<#ires her Fi!ipino citi%enship is &itho#t 'erit* #ch cases are different fro' the circ#'stances in this case* he e.idence of petitioner is o.er&he!'in+ and taen to+ether !eads to no other conc!#sion that she decided to per'anent! a$andon her /** Residence 5se!!in+ the ho#se, tain+ the chi!dren fro' /** schoo!s, +ettin+ <#otes fro' the frei+ht co'pan, notifin+ the /** "ost Office of the a$andon'ent of their address in the /**, donatin+ e3cess ite's to the a!.ation r', her h#s$and resi+nin+ fro' /** e'p!o'ent ri+ht after se!!in+ the /** o#se and per'anent! re!ocate to the "hi!ippines and act#a!! re-esta$!ished her residence here on 2( Ma 200) 5sec#rin+ *I*4, enro!!in+ her chi!dren in "hi!ippine schoo!s, $#in+ propert here, constr#ctin+ a residence here, ret#rnin+ to the "hi!ippines after a!! trips a$road, her h#s$and +ettin+ e'p!oed here*
Issue -e!d:
4o* he COM?B?C cannot cance! her COC on the +ro#nd that she 'isrepresented facts as to her citi%enship and residenc $eca#se s#ch facts refer to +ro#nds for ine!i+i$i!it in &hich the COM?B?C has no #risdiction to decide #pon* On! &hen there is a prior a#thorit findin+ that a candidate is s#fferin+ fro' a dis<#a!ification pro.ided $ !a& or the Constit#tion that the COM?B?C 'a den d#e co#rse or cance! her candidac on +ro#nd of fa!se representations re+ardin+ her <#a!ifications*
In er >erified ns&er to the ? case, she ad'itted that she 'ade a 'istae in the 2012 COC &henshe p#t in si3 56 ears and si3 56 'onths as she 'is#nderstood the <#estion and co#!d ha.e tr#thf#!! indicated a !on+er period* Her ans"er in the #ET case "as a matter of public record. Therefore, "hen petitioner accomplished her $%$ for &resident on 1! %ctober '(1!, she could not be said to have been attempting to hide her erroneous statement in her '(1' $%$ here is no intent on the part of the petitioner to 'isrepresent* hen she c!ai'ed to ha.e $een a resident for ten 510 ears and e!e.en 511 'onths, she did so in +ood faith*
In this case, $ a#thorit of the #pre'e Co#rt Grace "oe is no& prono#nced <#a!ified as a candidate for the presidenc* ence, there cannot $e an fa!se representations in her COC re+ardin+ her citi%enship and residenc*
