Ambassador to Spain seeking Spanish citizenship?

Update: Bernardo denies applying for Spanish citizenship.

He said. “A check with the Spanish embassy on the veracity of this statement will certainly substantiate my claim.”

He did not apply with the Spanish embassy in Manila. His letter was addressed to Sr. Mendez, then a member of the Spanish parliament who is also a member ofthe cabinet.

by Anthony Ian Cruz

Bernardo’s letter

Joseph Delano M. Bernardo, Philippine ambassador to Spain, has sought Spanish citizenship, to be taken up after his service with the government.

Bernardo expressed his wish to take up Spanish citizen during a meeting with an official of his host country in 2004 and followed up his request two months after the meeting.

Bernardo told the Spanish official that he is of Spanish lineage and is allowed to hold “dual citizenship” under a recently enacted Philippine law.

Bernardo could not be reached at his Madrid office yesterday.

DFA spokesman Claro Cristobal said he checked with Bernardo who he said told him “there is no truth to that claim.”

Bernardo, who was appointed by President Arroyo in 2002, coordinated the visit of Arroyo last month to Spain. During the visit, Arroyo was feted by Spanish King Carlos and was awarded a gold medal for her “defense of human rights.”

It was not clear if Bernardo officially filed an application for Spanish citizenship.

But in a meeting on June 22, 2204 with Delegado del Gobierno Constantino Mendez, Bernardo requested the latter to “expedite” his application.

Mendez was secretary of state for public administration in 1994 and 1995, member of parliament from 1993 to 1996 and general manager of the Social Security Institute from 1987 to 1993.

In a letter dated Aug. 19, 2004, Bernardo reminded Mendez of his visit and his request.

An insider in the Department of Foreign Affairs made available a copy of Bernardo’s letter.

The letter, written entirely in Spanish, was printed on what appears to be an official stationery bearing the seal of the Republic at the upper left corner and the words “Embajada de Filipinas Madrid.”

Bernardo informed Mendez that the Philippines has adopted a law on dual citizenship, adding that “I, being a Spanish descendant on my mother’s side, a daughter of a Spaniard, born in Montoro, Cordoba, would like to take advantage of the opportunity to apply for Spanish citizenship and request you to facilitate the processing.”

“I have with me now all the legal documents to establish my Spanish lineage although I understand that to be able to apply for citizenship you must have a resident visa and should have resided in Spain for at least one year,” wrote Bernardo.

Bernardo also suggested he, being a member of the diplomatic corps, be exempted from the residency rule.

“Would it be possible to apply for a resident permit with my Philippine passport as an ordinary citizen and not as an officer or would it be possible to apply directly for a Spanish passport being of Spanish origin?” he said.

Treason

Former Negros Occidental Rep. Apolinario Lozada, author of the dual citizenship law, called Bernardo a traitor.

“If the reports are proven true, what he did was treason. He should not even have contemplated being a Spanish citizen in the first place. As an ambassador, he represents the president and the country. He is also privy to state secrets,” said Lozada.

Lozada said the dual citizenship law applies only to Filipinos who lost their citizenship due to naturalization as citizen of other countries.

“It cannot apply to Bernardo who is supposedly a Filipino citizen. He has to give up his Filipino citizenship first and become a Spanish citizen. Only when he is already a foreign national can he apply to become a Filipino citizen again.”

“But that means that if ever he was granted Spanish citizenship, he instantly lost his Filipino citizenship which is a principal qualification for appointment to such posts as ambassador,” said Lozada.

Lozada said: “Bernardo should not only be recalled or be made to resign. He should be prosecuted and punished for betraying the Philippines.”

Pacifico Agabin, former dean of the UP College of Law, said “public officers are supposed to be citizens.”

“If they become citizens of another country, they lose their positions,” said Agabin.

Unethical

Lawyer Neri Javier Colmenares said Bernardo may face sanctions for violating the Constitution and R.A. 6713 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

“What he did was unethical. An administrative complaint may be filed with the Department of Foreign Affairs to have him recalled,” said Colmenares.

Colmenares said R.A. 6713 provides that “public officials and employees shall at all times be loyal to the Republic and to the Filipino people.”

The law also provides that “public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties,” Colmenares said.

Maita Santiago, secretary general of Migrante International, said if Bernardo’s purported letter is proven authentic, the envoy should be held liable.

“Bernardo may have compromised his work as purported protector of Filipinos in Spain,” said Santiago.

Non-career

Before he was named ambassador by Arroyo, Bernardo was president of ink manufacturer CDI Sakata Inx Corp. and plastic colorant maker Chemdis Manufacturing.

Bernardo, who is married to Conchitina Sevilla, holds a PhD in International Business Administration from the Kennedy-Western University of California and an MBA in Finance from the University of Navarra in Barcelona, Spain.

He obtained summa cum laude honors for two degrees, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, from De La Salle College Manila.