BATAAN, Philippines – Presidential bet Grace Poe has lost her patience with former Senator Francisco Tatad for his unrelenting filing of charges against her and her family.
Tatad, who earlier filed a disqualification case against Poe over citizenship and residency issues, on Monday, April 25, sought the deportation of the candidate’s husband, Teodoro Misael Daniel “Neil” Llamanzares. (READ: SC upholds ruling: Grace Poe can run for president)
In his complaint before the Bureau of Immigration, Tatad asked the agency to determine if Llamanzares is illegally staying in the country.
Llamanzares is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and the United States since birth, having been born to Filipino parents who were then working and studying abroad. He has started the process of renouncing his American citizenship. (READ: TIMELINE: Grace Poe's citizenship, residency)
A visibly irritated Poe answered reporters’ question on Tatad’s petition.
“Okay, saan niya ipapa-deport 'yung asawa ko? Saan? Saan niya ipapa-deport? Nag-renounce na eh. Saan niya ipapa-deport? Wala bang saysay ang sinasabi na natural-born [ka kung ang] parehong mga magulang mo ay dapat Pilipino? Mapapatunayan 'yon. Hinahamon ko siya,” Poe told reporters in a chance interview in Balanga City on Wednesday, April 27.
(Okay, where would he want to deport my husband? Where? Where will he be deported? He already renounced. Where would he be deported? Is there no sense to say one is natural-born when both your parents are Filipinos? It can be proven. I dare him.)
Asked how she feels about the unending cases filed by Tatad over citizenship issues, she said: "Bigyan na ninyo ng pansin, baka 'yon na lang ang hinahanap niya. Thank you.” (Just pay him attention. Maybe that's just what he wants.)
She cut the interview short.
Tatad alleged that Llamanzares, a former US Air Force member, is not a recognized dual citizen of the US and the Philippines under the country's law.
“In fact, he is not even officially recognized by the BI as a dual citizen…. To immigration authorities, he is still officially just a US citizen,” the complaint stated.
He also alleged that Llamanzares has no working permits, which is a violation of immigration laws.
Tatad was among the senatorial candidates of Poe’s father, the late action hero Fernando Poe Jr when he ran for president in 2004. Now, the former senator is a known ally of Poe’s rival, Vice President Jejomar Binay. – Rappler.com