MANILA, Philippies (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – An online petition urging the Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOH) to revoke the dual citizenship of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa has, as of this writing, garnered over 7,000 signatures — more than the total number of islands in the Philippines.
The petition, started less than 48 hours ago, cites Ressa’s efforts to destablize the government and the Filipino people by claiming “suppression of Press Freedom,” “political harassment and intimidation.” It urged DOJ through the Bureau of Immigration to review Ressa’s activities which the petitioner says violate her oath of allegiance when she became a dual citizen. She also has U.S. citizenship.
Natural-born Filipinos who have naturalized as foreign citizens are allowed under Republic Act 9225 to re-aquire Philippine citizenship but must swear to uphold the Constitution, follow the law and recognize duly-constituted authorities. Ressa faces several cases for violating the Constitution and Philippine laws.
Responding to the petition, Ressa told The Adobo Chronicles that if the number of signatures reaches 16 Million — the number of votes Rodrigo Duterte garnered in the last Presidential elections — she will voluntarily give up her dual citizenship and relocate to her other country, America.
Additional signatures to the petition are still being accepted HERE.