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Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
Twelfth Congress
Third Regular
Session
Begun
and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-eight day of July,
two thousand three.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225
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 the 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 who become 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 citizens of the Philippines who have lost their
Philippine 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_________________________________, solemnly swear (or affirm) 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 impose 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 citizens 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 office in the Philippines shall
meet the qualifications 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) newspapers of general
circulation.
Approved.
(SGD.) JOSE DE VENECIA JR
(SGD.) FRANKLIN M. DRILON
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
of Representative
This Act, which is a
consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2130 and House Bill No. 4720 was
finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on
August 25, 2003 and August 26, 2003, respectively.
(SGD.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO
(SGD.) OSCAR G. YABES
Secretary General
Secretary of the Senate
House of Representative
Approved: AUGUST 29,
2003
(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the
Philippines
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