Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — To deny full Filipino citizenship to all foundlings is downright “discriminatory, irrational and unjust.”
This is what Solicitor General Florin Hilbay said as he went all out in defending Sen. Grace Poe in her citizenship and residency cases before the Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 16).
Hilbay said denying foundlings natural born status is a denial of their birthright.
Also read: SC justices, Poe’s counsel tackle if foundlings are natural born citizens
Hilbay also presented a certification from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to support his argument.
He explained, from 1965 to 1975, the total number of foreigners born in the country was around 16,000; while the total number of Filipinos born was 11 million.
Hilbay said the ratio of non-Filipino to Filipino children is 1:661, establishing a solid statistical probability that any child born within that period would be a natural-born Filipino.
Also read: Comelec defends decision in SC oral arguments on Grace Poe case
Poe, a resident for 10 years?
On residency, Hilbay said Poe has satisfied the 10-year requirement of presidential candidates under the constitution.
Hilbay argued first, Poe has been in the country since 2005.
Second, her life here from 2005 to the present is a “coherent narrative of a permanent return to her roots and permanent abandonment of her second home.”
For Hilbay, Poe’s presence in the Philippines, as well as her children’s enrollment in local schools mark her resolve to return to the country, and these are more telling than any travel papers.
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno agrees with Hilbay — grilling Comelec Commissioner Arthur Lim on why the poll body threw out facts such as Poe’s relocation and her children’s schooling.
Also read: Solicitor General backs SET decision: Poe is a natural-born Filipino
The respondents to the case on the other hand insist, the Comelec did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it ruled against Poe, again claiming the senator is not a natural-born Filipino and has not met the residency requirement.
They are appealing to the justices not to give Poe special treatment.
Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, however, isn’t too quick to buy Hilbay’s statistics.
What she’s after is the legal basis of Hilbay in claiming that foundlings are natural born status.
She adds the solicitor general must provide solid evidence for his argument.
