MERCADO versus MANZANO (307 SCRA 630)

Facts:

Respondent Eduardo Manzano won as vice mayor of Makat City in the May 1998 electons.

However, upon petton of a certain Ernesto Mamaril, the COC of Manzano was cancelled by COMELEC
on the ground that he is a dual citzen.

Issue:

Whether or Not private respondent is qualified to hold office as Vice-Mayor.

Held:

YES. Private respondent Manzano was qualified to run for the positon of vice mayor of Makat. The
COMELEC en banc held that Manzano acquired US citzenship by operaton of the United States
Consttuton and laws under the principle of jus soli. He was issued an alien certficate of registraton.
This, however, did not result in the loss of his Philippine citzenship since he did not take an oath of
allegiance to the United States. It is an undisputed fact that when Manzano attained the age of majority,
he registered himself as a voter, and voted in the electons of 1992, 1995 and 1998, which effectvely
renounced his US citzenship under American law.

According to Artcle IV Secton 5 of the 1987 Philippine Consttuton provides that dual allegiance of
citzens is inimical to the natonal interest and shall be dealt with by law. Dual citzenship is not dual
allegiance; as such dual allegiance and not dual citzenship shall be dealt with by the law.