Conflicts Paper

7/23/2019 Conflicts Paper

1/13

Position Paper on the Issue of Whether or Not Grace

Poe-Llamanzares, a Foundling, is a Natural-Born

Filipino Citizen

Submitted by:

Group 1 3B

Bautista, Jan Patrick A.

Gayya, Lorenzo Luii !.

Lucero, "yan #arie A.

$%%ero, Juan Pau%o #aurino &.

!a%i, Sara' Jean A.

$ctober (, )*1(

+onsidered as one o t'e a-orites to in t'e upcomin )*1/ presidentia%

e%ection, Grace Poe0L%amanzares as born under pecu%iar circumstancess'e as

ound as a ne0born inant in t'e Paris' o Jaro in 2%oi%o +ity on Sept. 3, 1/4 it'

'er parents unknon. S'e is, in ot'er ords, 'at is common%y reerred to as a

5ound%in.6 7'i%e Poe 'as ne-er considered bein a ound%in a bade o 'onor,

s'e certain%y 'as not %et it stop 'er rom risin abo-e e8pectations and pursuin 'er

ambitions. But trust 'er po%itica% ri-a%s to take t'is as an opportunity to e%iminate

Poe e-en beore t'e e%ection beins. 2n doin so, t'ey ou%d 'a-e e-eryone be%ie-e

t'eir t'eory t'at ound%ins, 'ose on%y au%t as t'e indiscretion or ot'erise o

t'eir parents o-er 'ic' t'ey 'a-e no contro% o-er, 'as no ri't to be ca%%ed

9i%ipinos in t'eir on mot'er%and.

"eeated senatoria% candidate &iza%ito "a-id, 'o c%aims to 'a-e been

mo-ed by t'e ci-ic duty to up'o%d t'e +onstitution, i%ed a uo arranto petition

aainst Poe, seekin to unseat 'er rom t'e Senate. 2mp%icit is t'e act t'at t'e true

intention o t'e petition is to pre-ent 'er rom runnin or t'e presidency, because

it impuns 'er status as a natura%0born 9i%ipino citizen. ;nder t'e 14s petition,


2/13

Supreme +ourt Justice Antonio +arpio, actin as c'air o t'e Senate ?%ectora%

!ribuna%, said t'at Poe may be considered a 9i%ipino citizen under internationa% %a

but on%y as a natura%ized citizen and not as a natura%0born citizen.

Issue

!'e uestion t'is position paper i%% dea% it' is whether or not Grace Poe

is a natural-born Filipino citizen.

Position

!'e anser to t'e abo-e uestion is a resoundin yes. Bot' domestic andinternationa% %a support t'e conc%usion t'at Poe is indeed a natura%0born citizen

or t'e o%%oin reasons, eac' o 'ic' i%% be discussed 'erein:

I. The 1935 Constitution considers foundlins as natural-

born citizens b! adoptin enerall! accepted principles of

international law"

II. The 19#1 Con$ention on the %eduction of &tatelessness

establishes the presu'ption that foundlins found in the

territor! of a state are born within that territor! of parents

possessin the nationalit! of that state"III. The 199( )* Con$ention on the %ihts of the Child

protects a child+s riht to nationalit! and fro' statelessness

fro' the 'o'ent of birth"

I,. There is no conflict between the Constitution and

International aw"

,. The Constitution classifies Filipino citizens as either

natural-born or naturalized and nothin in between..

Proceedin fro' the pre'ise that foundlins are Filipino

citizens there is no doubt that the! 'ust be natural-born

citizens because the! cannot be considered naturalized

citizens"

,I. In appro$in Poe+s application to run for senator in /(13

the &tate throuh C022C is dee'ed to ha$e

considered Grace Poe as a natural-born citizen because of

the presu'ption of reularit!" and


3/13

,II. urden of proof is on the petitioners to show that Poe is not

a natural-born citizen.

I

The !"# Constitution considers foundlings as natural-$orn citizens $%adopting generall% accepted principles of international la&

Since Poe as born in 1/4, t'e primary o-ernin %a in determinin 'er

citizens'ip is t'e 13( +onstitution. And Sec. 1, Artic%e 2@ o t'e 13(

+onstitution pro-ides:

!'e o%%oin are citizens o t'e P'i%ippines.

1 !'ose 'o are citizens o t'e P'i%ippine

2s%ands at t'e time o t'e adoption o t'is+onstitution.

) !'ose born in t'e P'i%ippine 2s%ands o orein

parents 'o, beore t'e adoption o t'is

+onstitution, 'ad been e%ected to pub%ic oice in

t'e P'i%ippine 2s%ands.

3 !'ose 'ose at'ers are citizens o t'e

P'i%ippines.

C !'ose 'ose mot'ers are citizens o t'eP'i%ippines and, upon reac'in t'e ae o maDority,

e%ect P'i%ippine citizens'ip.

( !'ose 'o are natura%ized in accordance it'

%a.

?-ident%y, Artic%e 2@ or any pro-ision o t'e 13( +onstitution make no

mention o ound%ins. But by no stretc' o imaination cou%d t'is be interpreted to

mean t'at ound%ins ere meant to be considered state%ess. 2n act, suc'

conDecture cou%d not be any art'er rom t'e trut'. !'e ramers o t'e 13(

+onstitution opted not to inc%ude a pro-ision on ound%ins, because t'ey be%ie-edit as super%uous no %oner necessary. !'e de%iberations o t'e 13C

+onstitutiona% +on-ention on 'at e-entua%%y became Artic%e 2@ is instructi-e:

Sr. &o8as ormer President #anue% &o8as: #r.

President, my 'umb%e opinion is t'at t'ese cases

reerrin to ound%ins are e and ar in beteen, t'at


4/13

t'e constitution need EnotF reer to t'em. By internationa%

%a t'e princip%e t'at c'i%dren or peop%e born in a country

o unknon parents are citizens in t'is nation is

reconized, and it is not necessary to inc%ude a pro-ision

on t'e subDect e8'austi-e%y.1?mp'asis supp%ied

As can be seen rom t'e de%iberations, t'e ramers t'ou't o puttin into

te8t t'e status o ound%ins in t'e P'i%ippines but opted not to, because cases o

ound%ins are too rare to arrant a need or a speciic pro-ision in t'e

+onstitution, and ri'ts o ound%ins are a%ready e%%0protected by internationa%

%a, and ri't%y so. Ater a%%, a so-erein=s constitution is an oranic %a not meant

to be speciic in a%% matters, as t'at is 'at statutes are or.

!'e aoresaid %eis%ati-e intent as presumab%y carried o-er to t'e 1s opinion

e8pressed on t'e %oor o t'e +onstitutiona% +on-ention is -a%uab%e, it is not

necessari%y e8pressi-e o t'e peop%e>s intent, meanin t'e +onstitution does not

deri-e its orce rom t'e con-ention 'ic' ramed it but rom t'e peop%e 'o

ratiied it.32t s'ou%d t'en be asked: 2s it not an e8pression o t'e peop%e>s i%% t'e

1 Records of the deliberation of the 1934 Constitutional Convention as culled from

http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/201/104!31"#race"poe"citi$enship"

residenc%"timeline"ar#uments

2 1!0 &CR' 10!

3 (nte#rated )ar of the *hilippines vs +amora, 33- &CR' -1


5/13

act t'at Poe arnered t'e 'i'est number o -otes durin t'e )*13 senatoria%

e%ections and is one o t'e rontrunners in t'e ne8t presidentia% raceI

And to be sure, t'is %eis%ati-e intent not on%y considers t'em as 9i%ipino

citizens but a%so natura%0born citizens, as i%% be discussed in t'e succeedin

aruments.

II

The 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness establishes the

presumption that foundlings found in the territory of a state are born within that

territory of parents possessing the nationality of that state

2t is said t'at internationa% %a considers ound%ins as citizens o t'e state

'ere t'ey are ound. "iscussion o pertinent internationa% %as is t'us ine-itab%e.

But at t'e onset, it is important to discuss t'e bindin eect o internationa%

%a on states. Sec. ), Art. 22 o t'e +onstitution pro-ides: 5!'e P'i%ippines

renounces ar as an instrument o nationa% po%icy, adopts t'e enera%%y accepted

princip%es o internationa% %a as part o t'e %a o t'e %and and ad'eres to t'e

po%icy o peace, eua%ity, Dustice, reedom, cooperation, and amity it' a%%

nations.6 !'is pro-ision, knon as t'e 5incorporation c%ause6 'as t'e eect o

dec%arin t'at internationa% %a 'as t'e orce a%so o domestic %a, 'ic' means

t'at P'i%ippine courts may use internationa% %a to sett%e domestic disputes as i

t'ey are part o t'e country>s statute books it'out t'e need or domestic%eis%ation.C!'e incorporation c%ause app%ies to customary %a and to treaties

'ic' 'a-e become part o customary %a.(2t does not app%y to treaties t'at are

a%ready ratiied by t'e P'i%ippines, because as a contractin state, it is bound by its

ob%iations in t'e treaty, pursuant to t'e princip%e opacta sunct ser$anda./

Artic%e 22 o t'e 1/1 +on-ention on t'e &eduction o State%essness

pro-ides:

A ound%in ound in t'e territory o a +ontractin State

s'a%%, in t'e absence o proo to t'e contrary, be

4 r. oauin )ernas, &.An Introduction to Public International Law. Re )oostore

2009.

5 (bid.

(bid.


6/13

considered to 'a-e been born it'in t'at territory o

parents possessin t'e nationa%ity o t'at State.

?mp'asis supp%ied

2t s'ou%d be noted t'at t'e pro-ision>s point o reerence in determinin t'e

citizens'ip o ound%ins is not on%y t'e p%ace 'ere ound%ins are ound but a%sot'eir parents. 2t presumes t'at ound%ins are born o parents possessin t'e

nationa%ity o t'at state 'ere t'ey ere ound. And it s'ou%d be remembered t'at

P'i%ippine nationa%ity is based on t'e princip%e o us sanuinisri't o b%ood.

App%yin t'e cited pro-ision in Poe>s case, it is c%ear t'at s'e is a natura%0born

9i%ipino citizen, because as a ound%in, s'e as ound in 2%oi%o +ity. Since, t'ere is

no e-idence pro-in t'at s'e as ound in anot'er state, s'e is considered to 'a-e

been born o parents possessin 9i%ipino citizens'ip. !'is in turn, ua%iies 'er to

be a natura%0born 9i%ipino citizen under Sec. 1 3 C, Art. 2@ o t'e 13(

+onstitution.

7'i%e it is true t'at t'e P'i%ippines is not a party to t'e +on-ention on t'e

&eduction o State%essness, t'e same is o no moment, because it is based on a

enera%%y accepted princip%e o internationa% %a. o

many states since 1/1 to t'e present. ence, it is deemed a Kpart o t'e %a o t'e

ation.>6

!'e P'i%ippines is a%so ric' it' Durisprudence 'erein t'e Supreme +ourt app%ied

internationa% %a to sett%e domestic cases. 2n t'e case o8uroda $s. alandoni:, t'e

Supreme +ourt app%ied t'e aue +on-ention e-en i t'e P'i%ippines as not a

sinatory t'ereto as e%% as t'e Gene-a +on-ention e-en i t'e P'i%ippines became

a party t'ereto on%y in 1C< in up'o%din t'e Durisdiction o t'e P'i%ippine #i%itary

+ommission o-er ar crimes committed in -io%ation o t'e to con-entions prior

to 1C


7/13

"ec%aration o uman &i'ts in orderin t'e re%ease on bai% o an a%ien o &ussian

descent 'o 'ad been detained pendin e8ecution o t'e order o deportation. And

in %e!es $s aatsin1(, t'e +ourt ru%ed t'at t'e doctrine o immunity rom

suit o a orein state is a princip%e o internationa% %a and t'us reconized a

state>s duty to protect orein embassies.

9rom t'e oreoin, t'ere is no reason 'y t'e +on-ention on t'e &eduction o

State%essness s'ou%d not be app%ied to t'e case o Poe or any ound%in or t'at

matter. 2n act, no %ess t'an t'e 1C4 ;ni-ersa% "ec%aration o uman &i't itse%,

o 'ic' t'e P'i%ippines is a party t'ereto, pro-ides t'at 5?-eryone 'as t'e ri't to

a nationa%ity.6

III

The 199! UN Convention on the Rights of the Child protects a child"s right to

nationality and from statelessness from the moment of birth

!'ere is an arument to t'e eect t'at since t'e +onstitution does not coner

9i%ipino citizens'ip on ound%ins, app%ication o internationa% %a s'ou%d be

treated as a process o natura%ization. !'is does not 'o%d any ater. As a%ready

discussed in t'e irst arument o t'is position paper, t'e +onstitution since 13(

ti%% t'e present considers ound%ins as 9i%ipino citizens based on t'e presumption

t'at it is a%ready %on0standin princip%e t'at ound%ins are indeed citizens o t'e

state 'ere t'ey are ound.9urt'ermore, t'e ; +on-ention on t'e &i'ts o t'e +'i%d protects a c'i%d

rom state%essness rom birt'. And t'is time, t'e P'i%ippines is a contractin state

t'ereto. Art. < o t'e +on-ention on t'e &i'ts o t'e +'i%d pro-ides:

1. !'e c'i%d s'a%% be reistered immediate%y ater birt'

and s'a%% 'a-e t'e ri't rom birt' to a name, t'e ri't to

acuire a nationa%ity and. as ar as possib%e, t'e ri't to

kno and be cared or by 'is or 'er parents.

). States Parties s'a%% ensure t'e imp%ementation o t'ese

ri'ts in accordance it' t'eir nationa% %a and t'eir

ob%iations under t'e re%e-ant internationa% instruments

in t'is ie%d, in particu%ar 'ere t'e c'i%d ou%d

ot'erise be state%ess.

10 ;.R. o. 53, 6ct. 25, 19-3


8/13

By a readin o t'e irst pararap' o Artic%e s case, s'e as born beore 1*, but 'er

ri't as a ound%in continues to e8ist, 'ence, t'e +on-ention on t'e &i'ts o t'e

+'i%d app%ies to 'er.

I'

There is no conflict between the Constitution and international law#

2n an attempt to pre-ent recourse to internationa% %a 'ic' %eans 'ea-i%y in

a-or o Poe>s bein a natura%0born 9i%ipino, t'ere is an arument t'at t'e

+onstitution enDoys primacy and trumps internationa% %a. !'is is true. oe-er,

t'e re%e-ance o t'is arument presupposes t'at t'ere is con%ict beteen t'e

+onstitution and internationa% %a, 'ic' in t'is case t'ere is none.

2t is contended t'at internationa% %a 'ic' considers ound%ins as natura%0

born citizens contra-enes t'e +onstitution in so ar as t'e %atter is si%ent in t'atreard.11

11 =iola 2015, &eptember 22. *oe a naturali$ed citi$en, ar#ues ustice Carpio.

*hilippine &tar. Retrived from http://www.philstar.com/news"

videos/2015/09/21/1502392/listen"poe"naturali$ed"citi$en"ar#ues">ustice"carpio


9/13

At t'e risk o bein repetiti-e, it s'ou%d be emp'asized t'at t'ere is a

%eis%ati-e intent to a%%o internationa% %a to make up or t'e omission o a

pro-ision in t'e +onstitution. 9urt'ermore, t'e +onstitution 'as t'e incorporation

c%ause, 'ic', aain, 5adopts t'e enera%%y accepted princip%es o internationa% %a

as part o t'e %a o t'e %and.6 ?ro, t'e P'i%ippines adopts t'e enera%%y accepted

princip%e o internationa% %a t'at ound%ins are considered citizens o t'e state

'ere t'ey are ound.

A %a, 'et'er internationa% or domestic, is considered unconstitutiona% i it

-io%ates one or more pro-isions o t'e +onstitution. !'is bes t'e uestion: "oes

t'e enera%%y accepted princip%e o internationa% %a'ic' considers ound%ins

as natura%0born citizens o t'e state 'ere t'ey ere ound-io%ate any pro-ision

o t'e +onstitutionI o, it does not, neit'er does it add or supp%ant t'e enumeration

o 'o natura% born citizens are. !'e trut' is t'at t'e +onstitution itse% i-es %ie to

suc' internationa% %a precept, by -irtue o t'e incorporation c%ause.

'

The Constitution classifies $ilipino citi%ens as either natural&born or naturali%ed

and nothing in between# 'roceeding from the premise that foundlings are

$ilipino citi%ens( there is no doubt that they must be natural&born citi%ens(

because they cannot be considered naturali%ed citi%ens#

At t'is point, it s'ou%d a%ready be c%ear t'at at t'e -ery %east, and to 'ic'some o Poe>s opponents are re%uctant but i%%in to aree, s'e is a 9i%ipino citizen.

!'e uestion t'en %et is 'at type o citizens'ip s'e possesses. And it is 'ere

'ere Poe>s opponents insist t'at s'e can on%y be considered a natura%ized citizen,

because as a ound%in, Poe as state%ess and as ranted 9i%ipino citizens'ip by

operation o %a t'rou' t'e app%ication o internationa% %a.

;nder t'e +onstitution, a 9i%ipino citizen is eit'er natura%0born or

natura%ized. !'ere is not'in in beteen. 2ne-itab%y, Poe, a ound%in and i

conceded to be a 9i%ipino citizen, is on%y eit'er a natura%0born or a natura%ized

citizen.atura%0born citizens enera%%y 5are t'ose 'o are citizens o t'e P'i%ippines

rom birt' it'out 'a-in to perorm any act to acuire or perect 'is P'i%ippine


10/13

citizens'ip.61)$n t'e ot'er 'and, natura%ized citizens are t'ose 'o 'a-e become

9i%ipino citizens in accordance it' %a.13

!'e +onstitution is t'us c%ear: to be a natura%ized citizen, one must 'a-e

one t'rou' t'e process o natura%ization in accordance it' %a, 'ic' pertains

to +ommonea%t' Act o. Cs opponents are %et it' no c'oice but to address t'e e%ep'ant in t'e

room: 2 Poe, a ound%in and a 9i%ipino citizen, is not a natura%ized citizen, t'e

on%y conc%usion is t'at s'e is a natura%0born 9i%ipino citizen.

!'e case oenson $s ;%2T1


11/13

t'ereo. As respondent +ruz as not reuired by %a to

o t'rou' natura%ization proceedins in order to

reacuire 'is citizens'ip, 'e is perorce a natura%0born

9i%ipino. As suc', 'e possessed a%% t'e necessary

ua%iications to be e%ected as member o t'e ouse o

&epresentati-es.1(

'I

)n approving 'oe"s application to run for senator in *!1+( the State( through

C,-./.C( is deemed to have considered 0race 'oe as a natural&born citi%en(

because of the presumption of regularity

o %ess t'an t'e P'i%ippine o-ernment 'as a%ready reconized Grace Poe as anatura%0born citizens. !'at Poe is an incumbent senator is proo o t'is, accordin

to Atty. #e% Sta #aria, dean o 9?; institute o La.1/!'e +onstitution reuires

candidates or senator to be natura%0born citizen. ence, 'en Poe>s app%ication to

run or )*13 senatoria% race as appro-ed by t'e +ommission on ?%ections

+$#?L?+, t'ere is a stron presumption o %a 5t'at oicia% duty 'as been

reu%ar%y perormed, meanin it 'ad di%ient%y e8amined and de%iberated Grace

Poe>s ua%iication, particu%ar%y it' reard to 'er citizens'ip, and ound it %ea%%y

comp%iant to 'at t'e +onstitution reuires.1


12/13

?-en more t'an (* years ao t'e Go-ernment a%ready 'ad t'e opportunity to app%y

internationa% %a in a-or o a ound%in. Atty. Matrina Learda, in t'e nes

proram=*C>s ;eadstart, cited t'e 1(1 case o Ant'ony a%e, a ound%in in t'e

P'i%ippines 'o %ost bot' parents in 7or%d 7ar 22. Learda said t'at t'e 'e as

ranted a P'i%ippine passport pursuant to a "epartment o Justice opinion statin

t'at a ound%in is presumed to 'a-e assumed t'e citizens'ip o t'e p%ace 'ere 'e

or s'e is ound.)*

'II

urden of proof is on the petitioners to show that 'oe is not a natural&born

citi%en( and not the other way around

2s it not absurd to ad-ance t'e t'eory t'at un%ess and unti% Poe can pro-e t'at 'erbio%oica% parents are 9i%ipino citizens, s'e is not a natura%0born 9i%ipinoI +ommon

sense ou%d dictate t'at suc' demand is 'ars' and unreasonab%e, precise%y because

it is e8treme%y diicu%t i not impossib%e or ound%ins to %ocate t'eir bio%oica%

parents. 2n act, t'ey ou%d not e-en be ca%%ed ound%ins i t'ey kne 'o and

'ere t'eir parents ere. !'e reason 'y internationa% %a re%ies 'ea-i%y on

presumptions in determinin t'e citizens'ip o ound%ins is because t'ere are no

ot'er means to do so.

ence, un%ess and unti% t'ere is proo t'at Poe>s bio%oica% parents are not

9i%ipinos, 'ic' in t'is case t'ere is none, t'e presumption t'at Poe is a natura%0born 9i%ipino stands, takin in consideration o t'e precepts pre-ious%y discussed in

t'is position paper.

Conclusion

!'e +onstitution'et'er t'e 13( or t'e present oneconsiders Grace

Poe0L%amanzares a natura%0born 9i%ipino citizen by adoptin t'e enera%%y accepted

princip%es o internationa% %a, under 'ic' ound%ins are presumed to be born oparents possessin t'e nationa%ity o t'e state 'ere t'ey are ound. !'is is

supported not on%y by t'e de%iberations o t'e 13C +onstitutiona% +on-ention but

20 =i$on 2015, 'u#ust !. ow 1951 case proves ;race *oe is ilipino. ')&"C)

ews. Retrived from: http://www.abs"cbnnews.com/focus/0-/0!/15/how"1951"case"

proves"#race"poe"


13/13

a%so t'e i%% o t'e peop%e, t'e o-er'e%min support o 'om catapu%ted Poe in

t'e Senate and mi't do so once aain in )*1/ or t'e presidency.

9ound%ins cannot be considered state%ess persons, because internationa%

%a, 'ic' t'e P'i%ippines adopts, ab'ors t'e status state%essness especia%%y on

c'i%dren. !'us, s'e is a 9i%ipino citizen. And i s'e is a 9i%ipino citizen, s'e cannotbe considered a natura%ized citizen, because s'e as ne-er natura%ized in

accordance it' %a, pursuant to t'e +onstitution. And since t'ere are on%y to

types o 9i%ipino citizensnatura%0born and natura%izedi Poe is not a

natura%ized citizen, t'en s'e must be a natura%0born citizen.

!'e oreoin %eads to t'e ine-itab%e, reasonab%e and %oica% conc%usion t'at

Poe is a natura%0born 9i%ipino citizen.

Documents

Conflicts Paper