No one can prove his citizenship

Reading some back issues of the Inquirer in Cagbalete Island, we were jolted by Narciso Reyes Jr.’s article which viciously maligned Grace Poe (“Grace Poe’s damaged identity,” Opinion, 10/9/15).

Reyes denigrates Poe’s parentage. As a foundling, Poe has no known biological parents. But can Reyes or anyone else (senator, justice, any public official) be certain of their own biological ascendants? The mother’s declaration is theoretically conclusive; that of the farther is merely presumptive. A birth certificate mainly proves birth not citizenship. Reyes’ passport is not even a primary evidence of citizenship; it is basically a travel document.

On the other hand, Poe has authentic, conclusive and primary documents—her oath of allegiance reverting her to the original presumed status as a natural-born Filipino, and her renunciation of American citizenship.

Reyes describes himself as a writer, a former diplomat and somebody associated with the Philippines News Agency, an official government paper. If still with PNA, he is barred by law from engaging in political activities (except to vote). His piece then on Poe seems to be an attack by P-Noy and/or Mar Roxas on Poe.

Reyes’ name does not appear on record as one who has passed the foreign service examinations. He is therefore a non-career diplomat. He had been assigned where his father was posted. But of course, a president can appoint anybody, with or without qualifications, as a diplomat. It is said that Caligula appointed his horse as consul.

The young Reyes is the son of his great presumptive father. Narciso Reyes Sr., a noted writer, diplomat par excellence, and a nationalist. One may doubt whether Reyes Jr. has inherited all these virtues. After all, Reyes Jr. has strongly opposed the Philippine claim to Sabah and has bitterly complained of the so many ailments that have plagued his country and people.

Then Reyes abruptly swings to the issue of American rule; he considers America as a “reluctant” colonizer. This view is certainly baffling. Recall that since Commodore George Dewey sailed into Manila Bay in 1898, American troops have not left our shores. What Reyes is cutely saying is that despite Claro M. Recto’s warning of a nuclear holocaust, we have been into this “fatal attraction” with America for more than one century now; and still the United States is tentative about its stark imperialistic design over our archipelago. The subtlety appears lost on many, especially Reyes.

This election season we may not vote for Grace Poe, but we have no right to libel her. The dogs of politics have been unleashed, apparently to validate the late president Manuel Roxas’ foreign policy “to follow in the glistening wake of America,” an irrational pro-Americanism followed naively and blindly by leaders like Corazon Aquino and the incumbent President Aquino, her son, who has mortgaged, through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the fate of the present and future generations of Filipinos to America, with no real hope for redemption.

—NELSON D. LAVIÑA, retired ambassador, [email protected]