DOJ confirms Taulava’s citizenship

MANILA - There’s no doubt anymore, Asi Taulava is indeed a Filipino. The 6’9” Powerade center received a copy last weekend of the Department of Justice (DOJ) decision that
affirmed his Filipino citizenship.

The veteran member of the RP national team heaved a sigh of relief following the DOJ decision by Chief State Prosecutor Claro A. Arellano.

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The approval likewise dismissed the case of falsification of public documents against Taulava and his mother Pauline Mateaki by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Taulava said the decision put a “closure” to the controversy that resulted to an investigation by the Senate in 2003.

“There is evidence to show that Pauline was born in the Philippines and when she gave birth to Taulava, she was still a Filipino,” the DOJ decision stated. “She only became a Tongan citizen in 1976. The Philippine consul authenticated the documents that show these facts. On top of that, there is no other birth certificate of Pauline to show that her former citizenship was not Filipino.”