MANILA, Philippines – Arguing that he could not “blindly ignore the alarming and revealing warnings” from Philippine government agencies, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed a bill that would have given Filipino citizenship to Chinese businessman Li Duan Wang.
In a briefing on Friday, April 11, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed that the President vetoed House Bill No. 8839.
The bill was approved by the House and later, a 19-1 majority in the Marcos-allied Senate in late January, despite the protestations of opposition leader Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros over “huge red flags” in the businessman’s background.
Only Hontiveros voted against granting Wang Filipino citizenship in the Senate.
Marcos said in his veto message, “I am unable to blindly ignore the alarming and revealing warnings raised by our relevant national agencies that find the subject grantee’s character and influence to be full of ominous and dire consequences. If not, of a clear and present danger.”
During deliberations on the bill, Hontiveros had pointed out Wang’s links to Philippine offshore gambling operations (POGO) personalities, his connections to an association with alleged links to the Communist Party of China’s United Front Work, as well as his supposed misrepresentation before the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Castro did not specify the “warnings” raised before the President. Malacañang has yet to release the President’s veto message in full. But the Palace press briefer, speaking to reporters, emphasized that Filipino citizenship was a “privilege” that should not be a “tool” for those with “questionable interests.”
“Ayon sa Pangulo, ang ipagsawalang-bahala ang babalang ito ay tila pagsuway sa ating tungkulin sa sambayanang Pilipino. Ang Filipino citizenship ay isang pribilehiyo at hindi ipinamimigay nang basta-basta. Hindi rin ito dapat gawing kasangkapan upang pagbigyan ang pagsulong ng mga kaduda-dudang interes,” said Castro in the briefing.
(According to the President, ignoring these warnings means neglecting our responsibility towards the Filipino nation. Filipino citizenship is a privilege that shouldn’t be handed out to just anyone. This should also not be a tool accorded to those who want to advance seemingly questionable interests.)
“Sinabi rin ng Pangulo na kapag tayo ay nagbigay ng Filipino citizenship, higit pa sa mga legal na karapatan ang ating ibinibigay — binubuksan natin ang buong karangalan ng ating kasaysayan, ang ating lahi, at ang ating pamana kaya dapat ang tatanggap nito ay sumasailalim din sa mga adhikain ng ating bayan,” she added.
(The President also saod that when we grant aFilipino citizenship, we grant more than just a legal right — we open up the honor of our history, our race, and our legacy so anyone who is accorded this should fall under the aspirations of our nation.)
The signing of the bill into law that would have accorded Wang the privilege of being a Filipino citizen just months after a blockbuster Senate hearing into the activities of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, who was later accused of being a Chinese citizen and of being a Chinese spy as well — a claim she vehemently denies.
“Unang-una po, nais ipaalam ng Pangulo na kung may mga kaduda-dudang interes at hindi naman po bingi ang ating Pangulo para dinggin at pakinggan kung ano iyong kaniyang mga nakukuhang mga data or facts about supposed to be grantee. So, kung nagkaroon man ng desisyon ang Kongreso na patawan or bigyan ng Philippine citizenship itong si Li Duan Wang, hindi po kumbinsido ang Pangulo. At iyon lamang po, hindi natin ipamimigay ang Philippine citizenship kung may mga kaduda-dudang interes iyong tinatawag na grantee,” said Castro.
(The President wants to make it clear that if there are people with dubious interests, the President is not deaf to the data and facts about the supposed grantee that come his way. So even if the Philippine Congress decides to grant Philippine citizenship to Li Duan Wang, the President is not convinced. That’s it — we do not give Philippine citizenship if the interests of the grantee are dubious.)
A naturalized Filipino citizenship would have given Wang several privileges, including the right to full own land in the Philippines, and vote in local and national elections, among others. Naturalized Filipinos may also run for local chief executive posts, such as mayor or governor.
Hontiveros welcomed the presidential veto, saying it “shows our government’s commitment to protecting the sanctity of our Filipino citizenship.”
“Rewarding Wang with Filipino citizenship, despite these red flags, would have sent the wrong message and set a dangerous precedent. I firmly believe that rejecting Li Duan Wang’s application is a firm stand for our national interest,” she said. – Rappler.com