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Tecson and Desiderio, Jr. vs. COMELEC, Fernando Poe Jr, et al. [DISSENTING OPINION, J. CARPIO-MORALES]

MARIA JEANETTE C. TECSON and FELIX B. DESIDERIO, JR., petitioners, vs. The COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, RONALD ALLAN KELLY POE (a.k.a. FERNANDO POE, JR.) and VICTORINO X. FORNIER, respondents. [DISSENTING OPINION, J. CARPIO-MORALES]

G.R. No. 161434 | 2004-03-03

DISSENTING OPINION

CARPIO MORALES, J.:

The Constitution, in unmistakable terms, declares that -

No person may be elected President unless he is a natural born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election.[1]

Foremost, thus, in the qualifications for one to seek to become the highest official of the land is that he must be a natural-born Filipino, a "citizen of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect his Philippine...