Yasay insists he never lied about citizenship, dares critics to go to court

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. insisted he never lied about his citizenship, a day before he faces the Commission on Appointments (CA) for the second time. 

Yasay on Tuesday met with Senator Loren Legarda, a member of the CA, but said he only raised "climate change" concerns. 

In an interview, Yasay said he took offense in criticisms that he lied under oath before the appointments body. 

"My only concern is that I've been hearing talks about people saying that I lied. I just would like to assure everyone that I never lied in my testimony," Yasay told reporters. 

Yasay challenged his critics to file the proper charges in court. 

"If you will believe me or not, I have nothing more to [say] in so far as the evidence to support my cases is concerned," the Cabinet official said. 

"Let the other party who asserts that I am not a Filipino go to the proper forum, to the courts to precisely raise this issue where I will also be given this opportunity to defend myself. Dito niyo dinadaan sa Commission on Appointments, wala akong laban," he added. 

Yasay is scheduled to face the CA committee on foreign affairs Wednesday, two weeks after a newspaper report cited a document showing Yasay acquired US citizenship. The report said Yasay took his oath as a US citizen in 1986. 

In the interview, Yasay said he was granted a naturalization certificate in the US in 1986, and was also issued a passport.

"But at that time that it was granted to me — and I was even give a naturalization certificate. On the basis of the naturalization certificate, I was issued a passport. But three months later, in violation of the Immigration nationality laws of the United States, I abandoned my residence in the Untied States to return back [sic] to the Philippines and remain here for good," Yasay explained. 

On February 22, however, Yasay told the CA: "I never held any American passport." 

Yasay further said the tourist visas he used to enter the US over the past years prove that he was never a US citizen. 

"If I was an American, the American embassy no less would have rejected that application for visa," he said.

"So that basis alone, I had submitted all of the evidence that show that I had always been a Filipino and that I did not legally acquire US citizenship," Yasay added. 

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, an ex-officio member of the CA, earlier said that they will "likely" reject the appointment of Yasay. 

"Likely [the CA will reject his appointment]... It will be difficult to convince the majority to turn a deaf ear," Sotto said in a text message to GMA News Online. 

Senator Panfilo Lacson, chair of the CA committee, said he will give Yasay a chance to explain during his confirmation hearing. 

"Hindi pa ma-conclude at this point kung i-re-reject siya kasi pagbo-botohan eh... I'll give the opportunity to the members of the committee to propound some questions," Lacson said. — MDM, GMA News