PASSPORT PROBLEMS: Will Sarah Discaya face disqualification over dual citizenship?

Mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya faces backlash after owning and using a British passport, citing the recorded flight denials last January 2025. This subjects her to a possible complaint and disqualification case. 

However, Discaya argues that she was born in London, making her eligible in holding two passports, including the British one. 

Discaya faces criticisms after using British passport

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto alleged that his opponent, mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya, owns and uses a British passport after citing reports about her flight details last January 2025.

However, Sotto chose to not file a disqualification case to prove to Pasig residents that his agenda is to ‘break away from the cycle of trapo [traditional politics] and corruption’.

Meanwhile, Atty. Edward Gialogo, Discaya's legal counsel, said that she committed no legal violation as she was born in London, England, making her a dual citizen by birth.

Can Discaya still run despite being a dual citizen?

Under Republic Act No. 9225 or the “Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003”, Filipinos who become naturalized citizens must give up their foreign citizenship to be eligible to run for Philippines’ public office.

But Gialogo iterated that even if Discaya was born in London, her parents were both Filipino citizens working overseas, indicating that there were no violations of law. 

In a 2022 Supreme Court Ruling, RA 9225 exempts Filipinos who acquired foreign citizenship by birth to renounce it when running for public office. 

“Being a dual citizen by birth, she automatically acquired British citizenship by being born in London, while retaining her Filipino citizenship,” Gialogo said.

Sotto said that Discaya’s ownership and use of British passport is against the Philippine election law.

“To affirm your British citizenship by using your UK/British passport AFTER filing your certificate of candidacy constitutes a continuing "act of allegiance" to a foreign state, and is not allowed under Philippine election law,” he said.

On the other hand, Gialogo challenges Sotto to back up his claims and show proof that DIscaya violated a law. 

“We encourage Mayor Vico Sotto to provide proof to back his allegations [that Disaya violated the law].”