EDITORIAL - Don’t mess this up

The Constitution is clear: only a natural-born Philippine citizen can become president of this country. There is a legal definition of who is natural-born, and if movie star Fernando Poe Jr. does not fit the description, he will have to be disqualified from the race. No matter who is behind the legal challenge to Poe’s citizenship, the actor has no choice but to come clean on this one. A man selling honesty and decency to the electorate has no business foisting a deception on the public even before the official start of the campaign period.

On the other hand, because of the circumstances accompanying the legal challenge, the question about Poe’s citizenship must be settled decisively, with no doubt about the fairness and credibility of the investigation and its outcome. This the administration must help ensure, if only because the fallout from a less than credible probe is bound to hit candidate Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hard come May 10.

Because Poe is perceived to be the frontrunner in the presidential race, it is inevitable that accusing fingers are pointing at Malacañang in the case filed by lawyer Victorino Fornier, questioning the citizenship of Poe. Fornier’s documents have been certified as authentic by the chief of the National Archives, Ricardo Manapat. Poe’s camp has virtually accused Manapat of involvement in the forgery of at least one document – a purported marriage certificate of Poe’s father that would make the presidential aspirant not only an illegitimate child but also an American citizen.

The Senate is set to investigate Manapat today. The chamber is expected to do everything short of wringing Manapat’s neck to make him identify who is behind the alleged forgery of official documents. As well it should be, but senators must not lose track of what should be the main thrust of any investigation of Fornier’s allegations: Are his documents authentic?

Any ruling on the authenticity of the documents must be accepted without protest by all parties concerned. If necessary, experts must be called in from the United States. Or if the opposition is suspicious of the Americans, French or German experts can be asked to help. Investigators can call in the United Nations, if they must, as long as this question is settled without leaving any trace of doubt. The answer to this question could determine whether or not the administration that will start at noon on June 30 can enjoy the stability needed to pull the nation out of its rut.