REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225
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.”
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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. 918, 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause.
— All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 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 Representatives
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 May 27, 2002 and May 9, 2002, respectively.
(Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO (Sgd.)
OSCAR G. YABES
Secretary General Secretary
of the Senate
House of Representatives
Approved: August 29, 2003
(Sgd.) GLORIA
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines
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