THE citizenship of embattled Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who drew flak for the Manila hostage-taking incident on August 23, will be another stumbling block to his confirmation when the Commission on Appointments (CA) holds hearings for Cabinet appointees.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued a ruling in 2007 that declared Robredo as a non-Filipino citizen.

Robredo has been severely criticized for his leadership failure in the August 23 hostage-taking incident that resulted in the death of eight Chinese tourists and the hostage-taker, Rolando Mendoza, a former policeman.

With this, Malacañang is reportedly not going to seek Robredo’s confirmation in the CA.

In its 2007 ruling, the Comelec said Robredo remained a Chinese citizen in view of his grandfather Lim Teng, who failed to establish proof of residency in the Philippines.

In his response to the Comelec disqualification suit, Robredo said his grandfather later adopted the name “Juan Robredo.”

The Comelec said there was no evidence that Lim Teng was the same person as “Juan Robredo.”

In addition, the Comelec said Lim Teng remained a Chinese citizen, since the only proof of his being in the Philippines was Lim’s arrival on April 2, 1896.

It said there was no evidence that “would show that he was able to establish his permanent residence here.”

In addition, the Comelec said Robredo failed to perform any act showing his intention to elect Filipino as his citizenship.

“[Robredo] is now deemed to have forfeited his privilege to avail of the option of electing Philippine citizenship,” the Comelec said.

Sen. Francis Escudero earlier said Robredo faces rough sailing in the CA because of the hostage-taking incident.