September 12, 2019

SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES

Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila,

Your Honor,

This seeks to answer the filed allegation against me in regards to my

citizenship and as to whether or not I am qualified to take the bar.

Yes, I am a natural born citizen of the Philippines, a Filipino, and I am

qualified to take the bar. The following best support my answer:

The 1935 Constitution adopted the principle of jus sanguinis as an

absolute rule. The child of a Filipino father, whether born in the Philippines
or abroad, was a Filipino citizen from the moment of birth.

The principle of jus sanguinis as an absolute rule that is being followed

in the Philippines is a clear showing, that I, born with whose mother and
father are both a Filipino citizen is consequently, a Filipino citizen.

Under the jus soli principle – where if born in a country, a person is a

citizen of the same.

The supplementary rule, jus soli, is likewise, enough to prove that I,

being born in the Philippines, is a Philippine citizen, a Filipino.

Art. IV, Section 1 of the Constitution provides that “Section 1: The

following are citizens of the Philippines:

(1) Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption
of this Constitution;
(2) Those whose fathers and mothers are citizens of the Philippines; xxx”

Under the New Civil Code, it states that the meaning of a Natural-born
citizen is those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having
to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. (Art. III,
Section 4, 1973 Constitution) This definition was reiterated under the 1987
Constitution, Art. IV, Section 1, No. 2, provides that, “Natural-born citizens
are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to
perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. xxx”
Consequently, the New Civil Code defined the natural-born citizen based on

1
the 1973 Constitution which was reiterated in the 1987 Constitution is a clear
evidence that I, without having to perform any legal act to acquire or perfect
my citizenship as Filipino, is logically clear that, I am a natural-born citizen, a
Filipino.

In conclusion, I, Bon Yuseff Migalbin Ali born on March 23, 1997 in

Cotabato city, Philippines, whose grandparents are born before the 1935
constitution, and born to the spouses, that are both native of Cotabato City
is clearly, a Filipino citizen of the Philippines and is evidently, qualified to take
the bar.

Most Sincerely,
Bon Yuseff M. Ali