BI junks deportation case vs N. Ecija lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has dismissed the deportation complaint filed against Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna Vergara.

In a five-page order signed by Commissioner Jaime Morente dated Dec. 20 and released on Thursday, the BI junked the complaint filed by Philip Piccio, who questioned Vergara’s citizenship.

Vergara, who was naturalized as an American citizen in 1998, reacquired her Filipino citizenship in 2006.

Morente said the BI is not the forum to resolve questions regarding citizenships. The complaint should have been filed before the Department of Justice or a regular court, he said.

“An attack on a person’s citizenship may only be done through a direct action for its nullity filed in a court of competent jurisdiction,” Morente said.

Morente said the case should be brought before  a trial court ”where all relevant facts have been fully and properly developed, where opposing counsel have been given opportunity to demolish the opposite party’s case and where the evidence has been thoroughly weighed and considered.”