Asi gets closure on citizenship rap

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice yesterday affirmed Asi Taulava’s status as a Filipino citizen, putting an end to the controversy stirred by a Senate probe in 2003 on a number of “Fil-shams” playing in the PBA.

The DOJ also dismissed a falsification of public documents charge against him.

The DOJ decision on I.S. No. 2005-118 was approved on May 7, 2010 by Chief State Prosecutor Claro Arellano, a copy of which was received by Taulava only last weekend.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon recommended approval of the decision also signed by Assistant State Prosecutor Ma. Cristina Rilloraza and Prosecutor III Lourdes Zapanta.

Taulava expressed relief and elation over the DOJ decision, which he considered as a “closure” to the controversy spawned by a Senate investigation in 2003 on a number of Fil-Am who were seeing action in the pro league.

A center in the PBA team Powerade, Taulava stressed that his faith in the Philippine justice system never wavered. Through the years, he had played for several RP teams in international competitions.

Also cleared with Taulava on the falsification charge filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were his mother Pauline Mateaki, Sergio Madoranda and Yuri del Valle.

The complaint for perjury against Pauline, Lydia Medici, Rolando Bersamin and Jonas Karl Perez, as well as the charge for the removal, concealment or destruction of documents against Del Valle, were also dismissed.

The decision stated that “there is evidence to show that Pauline was born in the Philippines [and that] when she gave birth to Taulava, she was still a Filipino.”

“She only became a Tongan citizen in 1976. The Philippine consul authenticated the documents that show these facts. On top of that, there is no other birth certificate of Pauline to show that her former citizenship was not Filipino,” read parts of the DOJ resolution.

The prosecutors said Taulava submitted the birth certificate of his mother in good faith and that complainant NBI, despite being given sufficient time, failed to prove that it was falsified or to back up any of its complaints.

“We are convinced that respondent Paul Asi believed in good faith that he has a valid claim as a Filipino citizen. Other than the documents he submitted, Paul Asi relied on the information that his maternal grandmother was a natural-born Filipino citizen,” they said.

They shot down the claim that Taulava was born to American parents as being unsupported by evidence.

The perjury complaint on the testimonies given in support of Taulava’s application for recognition of Philippine citizenship “has no legal leg to stand on,” they said.