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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Thursday, March 9, 2017
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MANILA – The Commission on Appointments (CA) officially rejected the ad interim appointment of Perfecto Yasay Jr. as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday amid questions regarding his citizenship.
Yasay on Wednesday admitted before the CA that he obtained a US citizenship in 1986.
“I have always admitted was granted US citizenship in Nov. 26, 1986,” said Yasay.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Commission’s foreign affairs committee, announced before a plenary session that 15 members present in a caucus this morning came up with a “unanimous” vote.
“This representation, as chairman of the [Commission on Appointments] committee on foreign affairs, hereby moves to reject the ad interim appointment of Perfecto Rivas Yasay Jr.,” Lacson said.
Yasay, a distinguished alumnus of the Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, denied in a confirmation hearing in February that he became an American citizen and owned a United States passport.
However, the secretary appointed by President Rodrigo Dutetre as DFA chief in June last year said he did not lose his status as a Filipino “because I did not validly acquire US citizenship.”
He explained that while he was granted US citizenship in 1986, it was declared “null and void” since he had to return to Manila a few months after.
“The US passport issued to me in 1986 has been misplaced and could not be located,” Yasay said.
“I do not have any other US passport. I use my PH passport when I travel to the US.”
During the hearing, Yasay apologized for “having inadvertently misled” the Commission on his citizenship./PN
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