Congress of the Philippines
Twelfth Congress
Third Regular Session
Begun held in Metro Manila on Monday, the
twenty-eighth day of July, two thousand three.
Republic Act No. 9225
August 29, 2003
AN ACT MAKING THE CITIZENSHIP OF PHILIPPINE
CITIZENS WHO ACQUIRE FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP PERMANENT.
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE COMMONWEALTH ACT. NO. 63, AS AMENDED AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1.
Short Title �
this act shall be known as the "Citizenship
Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003."
Section 2.
Declaration of Policy
- It is hereby declared the policy of the
State that all Philippine citizens of another country shall be deemed
not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under the conditions of
this Act.
Section 3.
Retention of Philippine Citizenship
- Any provision of law to the contrary
notwithstanding, natural-born citizenship by reason of their
naturalization as citizens of a foreign country are hereby deemed to
have re-acquired Philippine citizenship upon taking the following oath
of allegiance to the Republic:
"I _____________________, solemny
swear (or affrim) that I will support and defend the Constitution of
the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and legal orders
promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines;
and I hereby declare that I recognize and accept the supreme
authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and
allegiance thereto; and that I imposed this obligation upon myself
voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion."
Natural born citizens of the
Philippines who, after the effectivity of this Act, become citizens of a
foreign country shall retain their Philippine citizenship upon taking
the aforesaid oath.
Section 4.
Derivative Citizenship
- The unmarried child, whether legitimate,
illegitimate or adopted, below eighteen (18) years of age, of those who
re-acquire Philippine citizenship upon effectivity of this Act shall be
deemed citizenship of the Philippines.
Section 5.
Civil and Political Rights and Liabilities
- Those who retain or re-acquire Philippine
citizenship under this Act shall enjoy full civil and political rights
and be subject to all attendant liabilities and responsibilities under
existing laws of the Philippines and the following conditions:
(1) Those intending to exercise
their right of suffrage must Meet the requirements under Section 1,
Article V of the Constitution, Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise
known as "The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003" and other
existing laws;
(2) Those seeking elective public
in the Philippines shall meet the qualification for holding such
public office as required by the Constitution and existing laws and,
at the time of the filing of the certificate of candidacy, make a
personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship
before any public officer authorized to administer an oath;
(3) Those appointed to any
public office shall subscribe and swear to an oath of allegiance to
the Republic of the Philippines and its duly constituted authorities
prior to their assumption of office:
Provided, That they renounce their oath
of allegiance to the country where they took that oath;
(4) Those intending to practice
their profession in the Philippines shall apply with the proper
authority for a license or permit to engage in such practice; and
(5) That right to vote or be
elected or appointed to any public office in the Philippines cannot
be exercised by, or extended to, those who:
(a) are candidates for or are
occupying any public office in the country of which they are
naturalized citizens; and/or
(b) are in active service as
commissioned or non-commissioned officers in the armed forces of
the country which they are naturalized citizens.
Section 6.
Separability Clause
- If any section or provision of this Act
is held unconstitutional or invalid, any other section or provision not
affected thereby shall remain valid and effective.
Section 7.
Repealing Clause
- All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 8.
Effectivity Clause
� This Act shall take effect after fifteen
(15) days following its publication in the
Official Gazette or two (2) newspaper of
general circulation.
Approved,
This Act, which is a consolidation of
Senate Bill No. 2130 and House Bill No. 4720 was finally passed by the
the House of Representatives and Senate on August 25, 2003 and August
26, 2003, respectively.
