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Eaglefan972
Guest
The biggest problem here is that FIBA ASIA refused to acknowledge Filipino citizenship law as stated by our constitution.
Citizenship laws can be quite confusing and complicated
For my examples, I will use Philippine and US Law as these are the ones I am most familiar with. But I am sure you can extrapolate the argument and see how it can be confusing once applied to other nations' laws.
An example of complication:
Under US law, which uses jus loci, you are granted citizenship based on your location. So an American born in the Philippines by US law can elect to be a natural Filipino. But he needs to do so by his age of independence. However, it is odd because he will NOT be recognized by the Philippine government because he does not have a Filipino birth parent. He can elect to be naturalized though and HIS children will be automatically Filipinos. (i.e. MBA star Alex Compton and why he couldn't play for the national team)
Under Philippine law, which uses jus sangguini (sp?) you are AUTOMATICALLY given Filipino citizenship if any one of your parents are Filipino. Hence, even if you are born on the MOON. Or in the South Pole. Or in the friggin White House. If your parent has Filipino Citizenship, you are AUTOMATICALLY a Filipino.
So by that virtue, all you need is certification that ONE of the parents was Filipino.
Now, if the SBP didn't submit that, then it's their fault but HAGOP and FIBA ASIA company kept
They were also telling Foreign Media that it was a naturalization issue. (hence Mojado's fair but misguided assessment.) That is also why commentators mistakenly believe that the two guys are naturalized players and NOT natural born Filipinos.
Fact is, the passport issue is valid for ANY naturalization claim. HOWEVER, since the two players in question were NOT naturalized players, but rather legally naturally born Filipinos, then it cannot be applied to their status.
For example, does CHINA need to prove that Wang ZhiZhi got his passport at age 16? (heh, we can't even remember WHEN wang zhizhi was 16. I was monitoring international basketball during his youth team scandal which were never resolved.) Or does Rice University player Arsalan Kazemi to prove he got his Iran citizenship at age 16?
One thing the foreign media and fans do not know is that the local players association here in the Philippines is VERY STRICT on citizenship issues. They actually ask for more documentation than FIBA because there was a wave of pretenders in the late 90s who took jobs away from Filipinos because they were claiming to be Filipino-Foreigners and abusing this law to play in the Filipino League.
Because of the players union, we are now EXTREMELY strict on this issue. Even bloodlines and family trees are scrutinized right down to the ancestors of the players and their forefathers' citizenships. In fact, they try EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to discredit EVERY foreign born player who claims to be a Filipino. Which is why we are confident that all the players playing for the Philippines as Filipinos are indeed Filipinos by BLOOD.
Citizenship laws can be quite confusing and complicated
For my examples, I will use Philippine and US Law as these are the ones I am most familiar with. But I am sure you can extrapolate the argument and see how it can be confusing once applied to other nations' laws.
An example of complication:
Under US law, which uses jus loci, you are granted citizenship based on your location. So an American born in the Philippines by US law can elect to be a natural Filipino. But he needs to do so by his age of independence. However, it is odd because he will NOT be recognized by the Philippine government because he does not have a Filipino birth parent. He can elect to be naturalized though and HIS children will be automatically Filipinos. (i.e. MBA star Alex Compton and why he couldn't play for the national team)
Under Philippine law, which uses jus sangguini (sp?) you are AUTOMATICALLY given Filipino citizenship if any one of your parents are Filipino. Hence, even if you are born on the MOON. Or in the South Pole. Or in the friggin White House. If your parent has Filipino Citizenship, you are AUTOMATICALLY a Filipino.
So by that virtue, all you need is certification that ONE of the parents was Filipino.
Now, if the SBP didn't submit that, then it's their fault but HAGOP and FIBA ASIA company kept
They were also telling Foreign Media that it was a naturalization issue. (hence Mojado's fair but misguided assessment.) That is also why commentators mistakenly believe that the two guys are naturalized players and NOT natural born Filipinos.
Fact is, the passport issue is valid for ANY naturalization claim. HOWEVER, since the two players in question were NOT naturalized players, but rather legally naturally born Filipinos, then it cannot be applied to their status.
For example, does CHINA need to prove that Wang ZhiZhi got his passport at age 16? (heh, we can't even remember WHEN wang zhizhi was 16. I was monitoring international basketball during his youth team scandal which were never resolved.) Or does Rice University player Arsalan Kazemi to prove he got his Iran citizenship at age 16?
One thing the foreign media and fans do not know is that the local players association here in the Philippines is VERY STRICT on citizenship issues. They actually ask for more documentation than FIBA because there was a wave of pretenders in the late 90s who took jobs away from Filipinos because they were claiming to be Filipino-Foreigners and abusing this law to play in the Filipino League.
Because of the players union, we are now EXTREMELY strict on this issue. Even bloodlines and family trees are scrutinized right down to the ancestors of the players and their forefathers' citizenships. In fact, they try EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to discredit EVERY foreign born player who claims to be a Filipino. Which is why we are confident that all the players playing for the Philippines as Filipinos are indeed Filipinos by BLOOD.
