By Bayawanon
The 1935, 1973 and 1986 Constitutions of the Republic of the Philippines clearly and unequivocally provide that "all children born to a Filipino mother or father are deemed citizens of the Republic of the Philippines". On that note, Grace Sonora Poe Llamanzares is a Filipino citizen since she is the adopted daughter of Filipino citizens Ronald Kelley Poe also known as Fernando Poe and Susan Sonora Roces Poe. It is true that Grace Poe is just an adopted daughter of the Poes but according to the Civil and Family Codes of the Philippines, an adopted child follows and inherits all the rights and privileges of the parent in almost all aspects hence while it is true that Grace Poe is not a natural daughter of the Poe spouses she still enjoys also the rights and privileges of her adopted parents including the citizenship of the latter.
To me the argument of the petitioners that Grace Sonora Poe Llamanzares is probably a stateless person is of no probative value, while it is true that the good Philippine senator is a foundling, that does not follow that she was born to foreign parents which makes her stateless for the Philippines does not adopt the Jus Soli Doctrine or the rule of citizenship which provides for citizenship by birth for it is also possible that she was born to natural-born Filipino citizens. It is true that the identity of her natural parents is not known but the possibility that her natural parents are actually Filipino citizens is big, great or even gargantuan since Grace Sonora Poe Llamanzares was actually born in the Philippines.
As to the issue of whether or not she reached the residency requirement of a presidential candidate my answer is in the affirmative. It is true that she did not reach the ten-year residence requirement by the constitution prior to the presidential election but it is my stand that the Animus Revertendi Doctrine is applicable in this case. The Latin word Animus Revertendi means the intent to return and Grace Sonora Poe Llamanzares has returned to the Philippines from America and has renounced her American citizenship prior to her candidacy for senator, besides she has lived in the Philippines for more than ten years from birth 'til the time when she went to the United States of America to study College.
By virtue of the foregoing premises, it is my humble view that Senator Grace Sonora Poe Llamanzares is a Filipino citizen, has reached the constitutional requirement for the Philippine presidency and is, therefore, eligible to run for the highest office of the Philippine Islands.
On the other hand, Senator Grace Sonora Poe Llamanzares cannot have my vote for once upon a time she has renounced her Filipino citizenship in favor of an American one which makes her actually an unloyal Filipino citizen not to mention the fact that her less than three years stint in the Philippine Senate is not enough experience for her to run the country as its Chief Executive.
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