Frivaldo vs COMELEC (Election Laws)

Frivaldo vs COMELEC

174 SCRA 245

(Municipal Corporation, Disqualification for Public Office)

Facts: 

Petitioner was proclaimed governor-elect of the province of Sorsogon on January 22, 1988. On October 27, 1988, respondents filed with the COMELEC a petition for the annulment of petitioner’s election and proclamation on the ground that he was a naturalized American citizen and had not reacquired Philippine citizenship on the day of the election on January 18, 1988. He was therefore not qualified to run for and be elected governor.

Petitioner insisted that he was a citizen of the Philippines because his naturalization as an American citizen was not “impressed with voluntariness.” His oath in his COC that he was a natural-born citizen should be a sufficient act of repatriation. Additionally, his active participation in the 1987 congressional elections had divested him of American citizenship under the laws of the US, thus restoring his Philippine citizenship.

The Solicitor General contends that petitioner was not a citizen of the Philippines and had not repatriated himself after his naturalization as an American citizen. As an alien, he was disqualified for public office in the Philippines. His election did not cure of this defect because the electorate could not amend the Constitution, the Local Government Code and the Omnibus Election Code.

Issue: 

Whether or not petitioner was qualified to run for public office.

Held: 

No. First, petitioner’s loss of his naturalized American citizenship did not and could not have the effect of automatic restoration of his Philippine citizenship.

Second, the mere filing of COC wherein petitioner claimed that he is a natural born Filipino citizen, is not a sufficient act of repatriation.

Third, qualifications for public office are continuing requirements and must be possessed  not only at the time of appointment or election or assumption of office but during the officer’s entire tenure. Once any of the required qualifications is lost, his title may be seasonably challenged.