BI Commissioner David approves dual citizenship of Syrian national
- Published : Friday, April 26, 2013 00:00
- Article Views : 407
- Written by :
YET another scandal hit the Bureau of Immigration after Comm. Ricardo David approved the ‘dual citizenship’ of a Syrian national under questionable circumstances.
Documents provided to this reporter showed that David, in an undated order, granted Filipino citizenship to Nade Briek Fares, 24, under the provision of Section 3 of RA 9225, also known as the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, which provides that only natural-born Filipinos who lost their Philippine citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of other countries are qualified to apply for ‘dual citizenship.’
A ‘briefer’ on Briek culled from the records of the Department of Foreign Affairs showed that Briek arrived in Manila last February 15 aboard Qatar Airways flight number QR646.
He is a holder of Syrian passport O07399530 and was born in Al Souida’a, Syria, to Fares and Hanadi Briek, “clearly showing he (suspect) is a natural-born citizen of Syria,” the sources who provided the documents said.
Almost a month after his arrival, last March 11, Briek applied for dual citizenship with the assistance from a lawyer from the BI “close to Comm. David,” the sources said and subsequently, the application was approved by him, they pointed out.
Reached for comment, BI intelligence chief and concurrent spokesperson, Atty. Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang, said the action of David cannot be considered ‘official.’
She stressed that both the memorandum by David and the ‘certificate of dual citizenship’ of Briek have not yet been released. “Nasa amin pa po ‘yung mga dokumento; nagtataka nga po ako bakit may kopya na po ang media.”
She added that the Atty. Mark Bautista Antonio, chief of the BI’’s ‘Dual Citizenship Office’ has been ordered relieved by David.
Mangrobang further said that David also ordered a ‘manhunt’ for the immediate arrest of Briek and his subsequent deportation.
She said there is now an “ongoing investigation” by the bureau’s ‘Board of Discipline’ on the issue.
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento