Citizenship Issues and the Presidential Elections in the Philippines —Dante Gatmaytan, University of the Philippines, College of Law There is an issue shadowing the presidential elections in the Philippines in May 2016. The leading candidate is Senator Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares. Senator Poe (she does not use her husband’s name) was the daughter of movie royalty but she stayed out of the limelight for most of her life. She was naturalized as a citizen of the United States in 2001 after being petitioned by her husband who has dual citizenship.[1] Her father Fernando Poe, Jr. ran for President in 2004, but…

Prof. Batongbacal: "Submissiveness as a Foreign Policy Strategy?" "Submissiveness as a Foreign Policy Strategy?" Writing on the President's intent to unilaterally announce Scarborough Shoal as a marine sanctuary, Prof. Jay Batongbacal said that such a move may seem like a solution beneficial to both Philippines and China; rather, it entails serious risks when executed prematurely compared to a negotiated agreement with clear terms and conditions. Citing how the status will limit fishing activities to outside the reef, Prof. Batongbacal said: "It actually favors China more than the Philippines, since it can result in a marked reduction, rather than full recovery,…

Prof. Tony La Viña: What does the 1987 Constitution say in case of disability or serious illness of the President? Touching on current reports on the health of the President Duterte, legal scholar and teacher Tony La Viña directs attention to the “controlling constitutional provisions” on “Presidential health and succession.” Professor La Viña writes a weekly column “Eagle Eyes” in the  Manila Standard. Link for the full discussion: http://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/277483  

Prof. Jay Batongbacal: Federalism Option and National Territory Highlights from RBH No. 15 (The original article is posted on Prof. Batongbacal’s Facebook page, linked at the bottom. His three-part post is collated here in full.) Speaker Macapagal-Arroyo’s September Surprise of a charter-change proposal certainly raised eyebrows, but it was not until the inflation and rice issues blew over somewhat that proper consideration was directed toward the unexpected constitutional initiative. Attention immediately zeroed in on the incredibly brazen attempt to exclude the current duly-elected Vice President from the line of succession to the Presidency through a transitory provision: a sleight-of-hand to…