Charter backs Poe’s Pinoy citizenship

I take exception to the view of lawyer Frank Lobrigo (“Greater pitfall in Poe run for presidency,” Opinion, 9/12/15). He posited that only naturalization could have bestowed Philippine citizenship on a foundling like Sen. Grace Poe. Jus soli (citizenship by place of birth) being alien to Philippine laws on citizenship, and the Philippines not being a signatory to The Hague Convention of 1930 (which makes a foundling a citizen of the country where it is found), Poe, who never went through any naturalization process, may be considered “stateless”!

That is untenable.

Lobrigo cited our own Constitution’s provision that “generally accepted principles of international law are adopted as part of the law of the land.” There you go! Thus, whether or not the Philippines has actually subscribed to such “principles of international law,” that constitutional provision is self-executory and already made them “part of the law of the land.” The adoption of such principles is not contingent upon any positive act on the part of our government’s executive or legislative branch. By clear constitutional mandate, the adoption is a done deal, so to speak. Moreover, has there ever been any doubt as to the general acceptance of that principle of international law on “foundlings”? Only a politically-driven mad man would make an issue out of it.

—RAMON TORREFRANCA, [email protected]