NFA chief: I gave up dual citizenship

Palace stands by Calayag

MANILA, Philippines - Embattled National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Orlan Calayag yesterday said he renounced his US citizenship shortly after gaining dual citizenship last January.

Calayag made the statement as Malacañang stood pat on the legality of his appointment as chief of the state grains procurement agency.

Lawyer Argee Guevarra earlier raised questions about Calayag’s dual citizenship, noting that the NFA charter allows only natural-born Filipinos to lead the agency.

“I am no longer an American or a dual citizen. I have already renounced my US citizenship,” Calayag told The STAR in a text message.

Calayag said he acquired dual citizenship in January this year before renouncing his US citizenship shortly thereafter.

He did not go into details, but said he followed the process set by the US government in renouncing US citizenship which he gained in 2009. 

Calayag was a mortgage professional licensed by the Department of Financial Institution of Washington state in the United States and has worked as loan and mortgage consultant in large US companies.

A native of Quezon, he was also the former chief of staff of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala when he was a lawmaker serving his first term. 

It was Alcala who endorsed Calayag to become the next NFA chief.

Calayag was appointed as NFA administrator on Jan. 17, 2013 to serve the unexpired term of his predecessor, Angelito Banayo, who resigned from his post to participate in the May 2013 midterm elections.

Calayag’s appointment was valid until last June. He was reappointed on July 12.

A text message sent to The STAR by the office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said that based on an assessment of the documents provided by Calayag, he has met all the qualifications necessary to hold his current position. – With Delon Porcalla, Evelyn Macairan