MANILA, Philippines—Eduardo Manzano ran for vice mayor of Makati in 1998, but his citizenship was brought up by his rival's supporter as ground for his disqualification.

Manzano was born in San Francisco, California on September 14, 1955, and acquired US citizenship by operation of the US Constitution. Manzano however insisted his Filipino citizenship as he was born to Filipino parents.

On May 7, 1998, four days before the elections, the Commission on Elections Second Division disqualified Manzano for his dual citizenship.

The next day, in a press conference, he held up his American passport before tearing it up to pieces, asking Makati constituents to vote for him as his camp filed a motion for reconsideration before the Comelec.

Manzano won the May 11 elections, but it was only in August 31 when the Comelec, in an en banc decision, ruled that he is a Filipino citizen as records showed that Manzano asked the Bureau of Immigration to cancel his alien registration in 1993.

During his term, he became the national president of the Vice Mayor's League of the Philippines.

He was awarded the Outstanding and Unblemished Vice Mayor Award by the National Press Club and the Outstanding Vice Mayor Award by the Consumers Union of the Philippines.

In 2001, Manzano ran for mayor, but lost to incumbent Mayor Jejomar Binay.

In February 2004, Arroyo appointed Manzano as chairman of the Optical Media Board, which regulates the production of optical discs and combats piracy. He resigned from the post in August 2009.

The 54-year-old multi-awarded actor is one of the hosts of the morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda" and the main host of the game show, "Pilipinas, Game KNB?", both on ABS-CBN.

Manzano is the ex-husband of Batangas Governro Vilma Santos, who is now the wife of former socioeconomic planning secretary Ralph Recto.

Manzano was also married to actress Maricel Soriano.

Source: Inquirer Archives