UP Law's Roque contests Mayor Lim's Filipino citizenship

University of the Philippines law professor Harry on Thursday presented documents that allegedly proved that incumbent Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is not a Filipino citizen. In a television report aired on GMA 7’s “24 Oras”, Roque presented a photocopy of Lim’s alleged birth certificate, which identified the mayoralty bet’s parents as “Chinese Meztizo.” However, in another birth certificate with a “late registration” tag, Lim’s parents were identified as Filipino. Roque also presented a certificate from the National Statistics Office, which showed that Alfredo Siojo Lim’s birth certificate was not on their record. “Kung hindi niya mae-explain bakit walang recorda ang census nung kanyang birth certificate na nagpapakita na siya ay anak ng dalawang Pilipino," asked Roque. "Kinakailangan pagbatayan natin ang ating desisyon doon sa naunang birth certificate na nagsasabi na ‘yung isang Alfredo Lim ay anak ng dayuhan.” A “concerned citizen” supposedly provided Roque with the documents. Roque also denied any affiliation with former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who is running against Lim for the Manila mayorship. Estrada had earlier contemplated filing a disqualification case against Lim, questioning the latter’s citizenship. Valid birth certificate In its own inquiry, GMA News spoke with the NSO's Office of Statistics administrator Carmelita Ericta, who explained that the agency did not house the birth certificates of Manila citizens born in 1952 and earlier. These were stored at the Manila City Hall and the National Archives. Meanwhile, Ric De Guzman, Lim’s chief of staff, ,reiterated that Lim is a Filipino citizen with a valid birth certificate., “Mayroong birth certificate si Mayor, siyempre na kay Mayor na ‘yun kung ipapakita niya. Hinahamon nga sila... kung hindi maipapakita ni Mayor [Lim] magwi-withdraw si Mayor. Kung maipapakita naman ni Mayor, sila mag-withdraw," challenged De Guzman. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/DVM, GMA News