Pimentel on Yasay’s ‘complicated case:’ Let’s give him a chance to explain

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is giving Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. the benefit of the doubt on the issues surrounding his citizenship until the Cabinet official faces the Commission on Appointments (CA) anew.

Pimentel admitted, however, that Yasay’s case has become “complicated” in the past few days.

“I hope he is able to explain kasi ang feeling ng members ng CA, the documents submitted and the explanation do not match,” Pimentel, chair of the bicameral CA, told reporters Wednesday night.

“Let’s give him a chance to explain,” he said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, chair of the CA committee on foreign affairs, earlier warned Yasay of perjury raps after a newspaper report cited a document showing he acquired US citizenship.

When he faced the CA committee on February 22, Yasay insisted that he is a Filipino citizen and that he never acquired a US citizenship.

According to Yasay, he left the Philippines in 1978 during the Marcos regime and gained legal permanent resident status in the US. He returned to the country in 1987 and reestablished his Filipino citizenship.

“I also ran for the Senate twice in 2003 and 2007 without questions on my citizenship,” Yasay said during his confirmation hearing. “Those who may want to question my Filipino citizenship may go to the appropriate court.”

A document obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, however, states that Yasay did acquire US citizenship. The report said Yasay took his oath as a US citizen in 1986.

The report also said Yasay only formally renounced his US citizenship two days before President Rodrigo Duterte took his oath of office or on June 28, 2016. It said Yasay failed to reacquire his Philippine citizenship.

Pimentel said Yasay’s “fitness” for the post can further be questioned before the CA.

“Hindi na siguro perjury as a crime but it will be taken against sa fitness…If you cannot even talk straight or tell the truth in a congressional commitee, [sa] fitness [‘yun],” he said.

Lacson’s committee has yet to schedule another confirmation hearing for Yasay’s appointment. — RSJ, GMA News