NEWSFLASH

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EDU MANZANO AN AMERICAN, SAYS IMMIGRATION BUREAU

Manila, April 26, 1998 - Makati vice Mayoralty candidate, actor Edu Manzano, is an American citizen, according to Immigration Commissioner Homobono Adaza.

Adaza told a press conference that the records of the Bureau of Immigration indicate that Manzano holds an American passport and is registered with the Philippine government's immigration office as an alien.

Manzano's spokesperson, Jackie Reyes, told newsmen that Edu has been certified as a Filipino by a certain Bureau of Immigration official, Jose Lopez, on March 27, 1997.

Adaza said Manzano failed to renounce his American citizenship when he reached the age of 21 in 1976. He pointed out that the 1987 Constitution prohibits the holding of dual citizenship.

As further proof that Edu is an American, Adaza presented documents that showed Manzano applied for an alien certificate of registration (ACR) on June 23, 1980 and on Dec. 21, 1995.

In his defense, Manzano had presented a certification issued to him in 1993 by then Immigration Associate Commissioner Bayani Subido Jr. recognizing him as a Filipino citizen. But Adaza said the document had no legal basis because only the courts and Congress are empowered by law to determine or grant Philippine citizenship. He also pointed out that while Manzano obtained the Subido certification in 1993, he still renewed his Alien Certificate of Registration (as an American) two years later.

The Commission on Elections is set to hear the case of Manzano's citizenship on April 28.