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Sunday, February 22, 2004
Editorial: Poe's citizenship
TODAY or sometime this week the Supreme Court will have to decide once and for all the citizenship of one Fernando Poe Jr., mega actor turned presidential aspirant whose candidacy had cut a wide swath in the electoral race of 2004.
Poe's lawyers have reasoned that the High Tribunal has no power to determine the actor's citizenship since it is the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which has the power to determine who can run for public office.
But lawyers like Victoriano Fornier, whom constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas admitted is "having fun" pursuing this case, are adamant at their position that the actor is not a Filipino citizen since his father and grandfather are
Americans and not Filipinos.
Owing to the testimony of three employees at the National Archives it is even doubted that the records presented by the country's erstwhile recordkeeper, Ricardo Manapat, are genuine.
If one questions Poe's citizenship one would have to look for the records at the American Library, probably the largest repository of historical records in the world.
The case had become all the more sensitive owing to the threats by Fernando Poe Jr. supporters that they would stage rallies once their idol is barred from seeking public office.
And speaking of Fornier, he and the Palace who are suspected of being behind the Poe ouster moves would be treated like pariahs.
That may have been the reason why the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decided to allow Poe to run following their mishandling of the automated counting machines (ACM) deal.
They don't want to deal with more public outrage as of the moment. And it doesn't help any that Poe is talking tough about his case which in turn earned him a warning from critics.
So the question remains as to whether the Supreme Court has the power to decide on Poe's qualifications to run for office. Or more to the point whether Fernando Poe Jr. is a genuine Filipino or not, a crucial requirement for those seeking public office.
Aside from that the more pressing question to a growing number of Filipinos would be whether Fernando Poe is capable of running the highest office in the land because he never as much as held even the post of barangay chairman.
Even the American actor Ronald Reagan had to run for California's gubernatorial office before becoming President.
And Reagan back then was at least a mid-level actor before he became a politician, not achieving the greatness his contemporaries in film like Frank Sinatra had. But then he never needed to.
So it is important that the High Court settle Poe's citizenship once and for all rather than wait until the elections are over before announcing their decision. It may prove painful for either side but better this early than be sorry later.
(February 17, 2004 issue)
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