All I want is a little more than I can get.—Ashleigh Brilliant
Dear Professor Olivar,
Here you are; it’s already February 24, 2010, two weeks after it became known that you are a government official with dual allegiance, and you are still clinging to your job.
I read what you said in response to questions about your divided loyalties. “My government work is fully compliant with both the privileges and constraints of that status as defined by both the Philippine and US governments.”
My dear Professor Olivar, it does not matter whether you believe it’s okay to “recognize and accept the supreme authority” of two flags and to “maintain true faith and allegiance” to both. The legal opinion of both the Philippine and US governments is not the issue here. What matters here is what Philippine law states very clearly.
“Those appointed to any public office shall subscribe and swear to an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and its duly constituted authorities prior to their assumption of office: provided, that they renounce their oath of allegiance to the country where they took that oath;”—Section 5 (3) of the Dual Citizenship Law
What part of “provided” don’t you understand?
For your edification, “provided” means “on the condition or understanding that….” That means when you accept any appointive position in the Philippine government, whether it be for dogcatcher or a “senior policy-making” post as you describe the position you hold, you must go through the renunciation bit. You cannot be a dual citizen and a government official at the same time. It is prohibited.
The reason for Section 5 (3) is obvious. There is no “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” involved in your situation. The choice is not between God and man, it is between two Golden Calves, although I can understand why you would mistake America for God.
There are no loopholes, no “ifs or buts,” no legal technicalities to use as weapons to kill the letter and the spirit of the stipulation prohibiting dual allegiance for government officials. Do read the law again, and carefully this time around, so you don’t go around whining and blaming everyone else for your predicament.
I know you’re disappointed that Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita did not vouch for your patriotism. “All I can say is Professor Gary Olivar is a Filipino citizen and he tells me, well, he has dual citizenship and under that principle, he is confident that this is backed up by appropriate law, that he is right now in Malacañang.”
Ermita left you twisting in the wind. But can you blame him for not covering your behind? You wanted a little more than you can get and that, especially in a government run by thieves, is a no-no.
I know it’s harsh, especially for someone who appears to have mastered the art of serving two flags simultaneously, to remind you that you have no option except to resign from your job or renounce your allegiance to the US. But the Dual Citizenship Law does not allow a dual citizen to hold a government job. Period. As former Miss International Melanie Marquez would put it, “You can’t eat your cake and bake it, too.”
Hugs and kisses,
MB
Popularity: 1% [?]
Thank you for this, MB.
The story has been largely glossed over by the establishment press. But I puke at the barefaced prevarications of this former political firebrand.
I am going to repost your letter in my blog for further virallig, If I may.
Ding,
Post it please. The guy thinks he can get away with it
MB,
Fascinating issue to me, who just got done opining on another blog thread that “it is possible to love more than two countries at one time”. But I suppose it is like women in that way. Once you commit to marriage, you step to another level of allegiance.
Joe
erratum: “it is possible to love two countries at one time”
Joe
it is possible to love many countries at the same time. It is good actually. But the issue here is allegiance, the allegiance of a government official.
When one works for a government divided allegiance becomes a problem. As you very well know, national interest is always at play when international relations are involved. Whenever a conflict arises, not necessarily a shooting war, the government official with dual allegiance will have to choose sides. And one can never be sure which side he will choose.
And so to avoid such a problem the authors of the Dual Citizenship Law wisely included a provision that a dual citizen shall choose sides before he joins the government in any capacity.
Section 5 (3) of the Dual Citizenship Law is not in my favor? considering that I was born under the coconut tree? lol.
Joe, I thought you have an agenda? am tired of FV.. it’s too yellow.
Kayo naman, maybe Olivar is destitute and needs this job badly for the salary alone.
Yes he does need the job…matagal nang walang trabaho yan (bayantel i think) when the job to become one of GMA’s mouthpieces fell on his lap. Ang tao nga naman pag nangailangan….
Do you know what my moles in the Palace told me recently?
A Cabinet man who prefers to be called by an academic title allegedly sports a sign on his dashboard saying “Do Not Delay. Government Project”
clue! clue! walang blind item sa ating tambayan!
Kaya mo yan.
akala ko, “do not relay: government project”
There are people with multiple allegances; dual allegances; and
shifting allegances. In this world of “end justifying the means.”
We go where the grass is greener. Prof. Oliver keeps his U.S. citizeship. what happen to him when Gloria Arroyo is gone? So, is it not
bad to think for your future?
rats. close cousins to pawikan, as far as may evolution biology lessons go. the former is first to abandon a sinking ship, the latter comes back only to retire, after making so much noise about the disarray in the home s/he abandoned for a lifetime. both have something in common: nagpapalutawlutaw.
@ thenashman:
Eto na nga, kuya.
http://atmidfield.com/2010/01/02/giving-gloria-a-political-teflon-coating/
ikaw naman. akala ko may iba pang Prof bukod kay Olivar.
how did Olivar become a ‘Professor’ anyway? Who gave him academic tenure?
Just like his cousin DJB, who is not exactly an academic dean…
My Google search yielded this info:
“Gary Olivar. Associate Professor of Finance at Asian Institute of Management”
It’s just an MBA: http://www.oldaimgsb.aim.edu/mod/faculty.html
so hindi nga pala siya talaga professor.
lila, in fairness to djb, dean is part of his name, and not a title. that was easy to figure out. a physicist worth his salt will not attempt to distort facts.
wala yan sa anak ng kapitbahay namin. ang first name niya ‘General’.
Well, inodoro, he could’ve just signed his name “Dean” or “Mr Bocobo,” but it was always “Dean Bocobo,” which made me wonder. Not everything I write ends with “Lila Shahani” — I tend to abbreviate to “Lila” or “L” or “Ms Shahani.” But then again that’s just me and I could be wrong.
Olivar is a university professor? so he is not subject to the dual citizenship law then. Public office means one is voted by the people. If Olivar is hired to do consulting work for the government, he is eligible to do so. He can even be appointed by the president to do executive work.
MB, please clarify his position!!
He sometimes comes out of TV speaking on behalf of the President. I guess that is enough basis.
Well the president can hire PR or consulting work as an independent contractor in a less than part time basis. Maybe olivar is just donating his time. Public official on dual citizenship law are those seeking full time public service voted by the people like kapitan, mayor , congressman, governor, senator and president.
So if I will open a consulting company to provide services in government , I will be disqualified because I am a dual citizen? Or if I will apply as the head of comelec or head of civil service comission, I will also be disqualified? No wonder this country is very backward.
ayan, gary…may kumampi pa sa ‘yo…
wow, may batas (RA 9225, na nakasaad na sa itaas) na nga e! ulitin ko lang…
AN ACT MAKING THE CITIZENSHIP OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENS WHO ACQUIRE FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP PERMANENT
baycas,
Is AIM a subsidiary or an educational entity owned by Philippine Government at least by 50%? If not, then the dual citizenship law will not apply.
Public officials are any individuals salaried and employed by the Philippine government.
macapili,
If Olivar sometimes speak on TV in behalf of Gloria then there there are many arguments:
1. did Olivar received a salary in a form of a check coming from the Philippine government?
2. If Olivar is employed by AIM as a non government entity , then he is not subject to the dual citizenship law. Olivar received his compensation from AIM not from Philippine government.
Another example: Baycas INC, a private corporation hired leytenian to do consulting work for comelec and Css to organize its policy and procedure, to train hire level corrupt managers on other managerial processes, etc. Leytenian has dual citizenship. The Philippine government paid Baycas Co, a certain amount of money for the contractual work. Baycas Co. then pay Leytenian a salary. Leytenian therefore is not subject to the dual citizenship law because she is not directly employed by Philippines but by Baycas Co.
just think about it…
2 links for clarity:
PGMA appoints 2 spokesmen for the economy
Arroyo’s deputy spokesman a foreigner
thanks baycas, that’s clear enough.
If his age fits, Gary Olivar is actually entitled to have dual citizenship: one, a Filipino citizen and two, a Senior citizen.
———-
Newsflash…
After having said that gloria is too busy to attend the Joint Session of Congress on the ML declaration last year and that gloria is too busy to sign the Senior Citizen Act recently, Gary Olivar finally admits he is too busy to renounce his American Citizenship.
A Palace reporter curtly remarked, “Magpakalalaki ka…pumunta ka na sa U.S. Embassy, ‘no!”
—–
*obviously a jibe on Gary Olivar’s advise to Noynoy last year: “Palasyo umatake na kay Noynoy”
This is not to defend Gary Olivar, who I don’t have a high regard of, but I gather there is a distinction between holding a civil service job in government and running for public office.