Authorities are investigating reports that Speaker Alan Cayetano is a “stateless person” after allegedly renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 1999 but failing to reacquire Filipino citizenship.
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV revealed this in “Wala Ka sa Lolo Ko” podcast on YouTube.
Trillanes explained that Cayetano was born a dual citizen since his mother is American and his father Filipino. At the time, there was no dual citizenship law, but he could claim both.
“Ni-renounce niya ‘yung U.S. citizenship niya kasi noong ipinanganak siya, dual siya, hindi yung in the sense na dual citizenship law kung hindi, bata siya, nanay niya is an American, tatay niya ay Filipino, ipinanganak siya rito, so puwede niyang i-claim both citizenships,” Trillanes said.
According to Trillanes, at age 21 Cayetano chose to be American. When he ran and won as councilor and vice mayor of Taguig, he was still American.
“Ngayon ‘nung hustong gulang na siya 21 years old, ini-elect niya maging American citizen. Pinili niya maging Amerikano, so Amerikano siya ngayon,” he narrated.
“Tumakbo siya konsehal, vice mayor, nanalo siya as an American kasi ni-renounce niya eh, wala pang dual citizenship noon,” he added.
Trillanes claimed Cayetano renounced his U.S. citizenship in 1999, but a year later ran and won as congressman without reacquiring Filipino citizenship.
“Noong 1999, ni-renounce niya ‘yung kanyang American citizenship, pero a year after, nag-congressman na siya. Ngayon, ni-renounce niya ‘yun pero hindi pa rin niya nire-reacquire ‘yung kanyang Filipino citizenship,” Trillanes explained.
He stressed that Cayetano served multiple terms as congressman and senator, even became Foreign Affairs secretary, but remains a “stateless citizen.”
“So from that point on 1999 hanggang nakailang termino siya ng senador, congressman, nag-DFA secretary pa ‘yan, stateless citizen siya, stateless person siya kumbaga hanggang ngayon,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes urged authorities to validate the information, emphasizing that as a “stateless person,” Cayetano is not qualified to run for office, and his certificate of candidacy is void.
“So being a stateless person, hindi siya puwedeng nasa Senado. Kumbaga void from the start ‘yung kanyang pag-file ng certificate of candidacy,” he said.
He compared Cayetano’s case to that of former DFA Secretary Perfecto Yasay, who renounced U.S. citizenship before his appointment but failed to reacquire Filipino citizenship, leading to the Commission on Appointments rejecting his post.
“Pareho sila ng sitwasyon ni Perfecto Yasay, ni-renounce niya ang U.S. citizenship before siya ma-appoint pero hindi niya ni-reacquire ang Filipino citizenship,” Trillanes noted. # (RRN)
