Luigi insists: ‘I’m a true-blooded Mandauehanon’

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu sixth district Representative  Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing has dispelled rumors that he is not a true-blooded Mandauehanon following leakage of a copy of his birth certificate showing that he was born in Makati.

Quisumbing admitted he was not born in Mandaue City, where he is seeking the mayo-ralty post in 2016, but insisted that he is a Mandauehanon.

“My family has been here for more than 60 years. I was not born here, that’s true. I was born in Makati. However, I am Mandauehanon. We are from Mandaue. We do business in Mandaue. We live in Mandaue. This is our home not just by tradition but by choice. We choose Mandaue because we love this city. They can check where I pay my taxes,” Quisumbing said.

Quisumbing graduated high school at the Cebu International School and earned his degree in Business Management at the Center for International Education. He also studied law at the University of San Carlos.

“I certainly hope that this is not politically motivated because forgery is a serious crime. For the person who requested my birth certificate, he need not have to gone through the trouble of forging my signature. He could have simple ask for it,” Quisumbing said, adding there is nothing to hide in his birth certificate.

Quisumbing said somebody informed him last week about his birth certificate being leaked from the Philippine Statistics Authority. He denied having issued a letter of authorization to anyone to obtain copy of his birth certificate.

Asked why someone would forge his signature to get a copy of his birth certificate, the congressman said he does not want to speculate.“I’d rather not draw any conclusion. I already asked the police to investigate and for Philippine Statistics Authority to fully cooperate in the investigation because their system of confidentiality is being breached,” he said.

Quisumbing said that he has nothing to hide in his birth certificate and it was not a big deal for him. However, he was more concerned on the breach of the rule of confidentiality.

“In fact, I find it irrelevant. I really don’t care very much. It’s fine. What I am concerned on behalf of the private citizens that may face similar circumstances. I am concerned that this breached is allowed to happen,” Quisumbing said.

Quisumbing claimed that they have already identified the man who requested his birth certificate based on the name and address in the airway bill.

“Yes, we have identified him. He is from barangay Casuntingan. He is an existing person,” said Quisumbing.  The congressman had already reported the incident to Casuntingan Police Station on Thursday.

“As a public official, I completely understand that things like my birth certificate are fine to be released to the public. But for other individuals, that’s  a highly sensitive document especially in cases of adopted children and other circumstances that people may not want it released,” he said.

Quisumbing was elected to the provincial board in 2004-2007. He run for congressman in 2007 but lost to then congresswoman Nerissa Soon Ruiz. He eventually won a seat in congress in 2010 and got reelected in 2013.  (FREEMAN)