Lor, Kc Hershey L BSA32KB1

FPJ is a presidential candidate in the 2004 national election. He was born before January 17, 1973 out of
wedlock to American, Bessie Kelley and Allan Fernando Sr. Atty. Victorino found a petition to disqualify
FPJ for not being a Filipino citizen. According to Victorino, FPJ is an illegitimate child so he must follow
the citizenship pf his American mother.
Question: Is the status of the child born under the terms of the 1935 const itution material in determining
his citizenship?

Answer: No. This is because, under the 1935 constitution, those whose fathers are citizens of the
Philippines are also considered Filipino Citizens. The sad provision makes no distinction between
legitimate and illegitimate children of Filipino fathers. Both petitioner Fornier and FPJ agree that the latter
is the son of Allan Fernando Poe. Hence, if Allan Fernando Poe is a Filipino, necessarily, FPJ is likewise a
Filipino. Therefore, the petition above made by Atty. Victorino during the 2004 national elections was a
mere political strategy to discredit the aforementioned candidate and confound the minds of the voters.