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.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECT!$# 3. Short Title. 4 This a5t shall 6e 7nown as the 8Citi9enshi:
Retention and Re-a5;uisition "5t of &<<2.=
SEC. &. Declaration of Policy. 4 !t is here6y de5lared the :oli5y of the
State that all Phili::ine 5iti9ens who 6e5o>e 5iti9ens of another 5ountry shall 6e
dee>ed not to ha?e lost their Phili::ine 5iti9enshi: under the 5onditions of this
"5t.
SEC. 2. Retention of Philippine Citizenship. 4 "ny :ro?ision of law to the
5ontrary notwithstanding, natural-6orn 5iti9ens of the Phili::ines who ha?e lost
their Phili::ine 5iti9enshi: 6y reason of their naturali9ation as 5iti9ens of a
foreign 5ountry are here6y dee>ed to ha?e re-a5;uired Phili::ine 5iti9enshi:
u:on ta7ing the following oath of allegian5e to the Re:u6li5@
8! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, sole>nly swear Bor affir>C that ! will su::ort and defend
the Constitution of the Re:u6li5 of the Phili::ines and o6ey the laws and legal orders
:ro>ulgated 6y the duly 5onstituted authorities of the Phili::inesD and ! here6y de5lare
that ! re5ogni9e and a55e:t the su:re>e authority of the Phili::ine and will >aintain true
faith and allegian5e theretoD and that ! i>:ose this o6ligation u:on >yself ?oluntarily
without >ental reser?ation of :ur:ose of e?asion.=
#atural-6orn 5iti9ens of the Phili::ines who, after the effe5ti?ity of this
"5t, 6e5o>e 5iti9ens of a foreign 5ountry shall retain their Phili::ine 5iti9enshi:
u:on ta7ing the aforesaid oath.
SEC. E. Derivative Citizenship ! The un>arried 5hild, whether
legiti>ate, illegiti>ate or ado:ted, 6elow eighteen B3FC years of age, of those who
re-a5;uire Phili::ine 5iti9enshi: u:on effe5ti?ity of this "5t shall 6e dee>ed
5iti9ens of the Phili::ines.
SEC. '. Civil and Political Rights and "iabilities ! Those who retain or
re-a5;uire Phili::ine 5iti9enshi: under this "5t shall enGoy full 5i?il and :oliti5al
rights and 6e su6Ge5t to all attendant lia6ilities and res:onsi6ilities under eHisting
laws of the Phili::ines and the following 5onditions@
B3C Those intending to eHer5ise their right of suffrage >ust >eet
the re;uire>ents under Se5tion 3, "rti5le I of the Constitution,
Re:u6li5 "5t #o. %3F%, otherwise 7nown as 8The $?erseas
"6sentee Ioting "5t of &<<2= and other eHisting lawsD
B&C Those see7ing ele5ti?e :u6li5 offi5e in the Phili::ines shall
>eet the ;ualifi5ations for holding su5h :u6li5 offi5e as
re;uired 6y the Constitution and eHisting laws and, at the ti>e
of the filing of the 5ertifi5ate of 5andida5y, >a7e a :ersonal
and sworn renun5iation of any and all foreign 5iti9enshi:
6efore any :u6li5 offi5er authori9ed to ad>inister an oathD
B2C Those a::ointed to any :u6li5 offi5e shall su6s5ri6e and swear
to an oath of allegian5e to the Re:u6li5 of the Phili::ines and
its duly 5onstituted authorities :rior to their assu>:tion of
offi5e@ Provided, That they renoun5e their oath of allegian5e to
the 5ountry where they too7 that oathD
BEC Those intending to :ra5ti5e their :rofession in the Phili::ines
shall a::ly with the :ro:er authority for a li5ense or :er>it to
engage in su5h :ra5ti5eD and
B'C That right to ?ote or 6e ele5ted or a::ointed to any :u6li5
offi5e in the Phili::ines 5annot 6e eHer5ised 6y, or eHtended to,
those who@
BaC are 5andidates for or are o55u:ying any :u6li5 offi5e in the
5ountry of whi5h they are naturali9ed 5iti9ensD andJor
B6C are in a5ti?e ser?i5e as 5o>>issioned or non-5o>>issioned
offi5ers in the ar>ed for5es of the 5ountry whi5h they are
naturali9ed 5iti9ens.
SEC. 1. Separability Clause. 4 !f any se5tion or :ro?ision of this "5t is
held un5onstitutional or in?alid, any other se5tion or :ro?ision not affe5ted
there6y shall re>ain ?alid and effe5ti?e.
SEC. K. Repealing Clause. 4 "ll laws, de5rees, orders, rules and
regulations in5onsistent with the :ro?isions of this "5t are here6y re:ealed or
>odified a55ordingly.
SEC. F. #ffectivity Clause ! This a5t shall ta7e effe5t after fifteen B3'C
days following its :u6li5ation in the $fficial %azette or two B&C news:a:ers of
general 5ir5ulation.
"::ro?ed.
BsignedC BsignedC
JOSE DE VENECIA JR. FRANKLIN M. DRILON
Spea&er of the House of President of the Senate
Representatives
This "5t, whi5h is a 5onsolidation of Senate Bill #o. &32< and +ouse Bill #o.
EK&< was finally :assed 6y the Senate and the +ouse of Re:resentati?es on "ugust &',
&<<2 and "ugust &1, &<<2,res:e5ti?ely.
BsignedC Bsigned-
ROBERTO P. NAZARENO OSCAR G. YABES
Secretary %eneral Secretary of the Senate
House of Representatives
"::ro?ed@ "ugust &%, &<<2
BsignedC
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines
Re:u6li5 of the Phili::ines
0e:art>ent of Justi5e
Bureau of Immigration
Manila
Mar5h 3<, &<<E
MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR No A!!"#$"#%
RULES GOVERNING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP UNDER REPUBLIC ACT
(R.A.) NO. 9225 AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER (A.O.) NO. 9 SERIES OF
2!!"
'H#R#(S, R.". #o. %&&' de5lares that natural-6orn 5iti9ens of the Phili::ines
who 6e5o>e 5iti9ens of another 5ountry shall 6e dee>ed not to ha?e lost their Phili::ine
5iti9enshi: under 5onditions :ro?ided thereinD
'H#R#(S, ".$. #o. %3, Se5tion 3 designates the Bureau of !>>igration BB!C, in
5onsultation with the 0e:art>ent of -oreign "ffairs B0-"C, 0e:art>ent of Justi5e B0$JC,
$ffi5e of the Ci?il Registrar-*eneral, #ational Statisti5s $ffi5e B#S$C, as the
i>:le>enting agen5y of R.". #o. %&&'D
'H#R#(S, ".$. #o. %3, Se5tion & authori9es the B! to :ro>ulgate and issue
rules and regulations to i>:le>ent R.". #o. %&''D
'H#R#)$R#, 6y authority of ".$. #o. %3, Se5tion & in relation to
Co>>onwealth "5t #o. 132, Se5tion 2, as a>ended, the following rules are here6y
ado:ted to 5arry out the :ro?isions of R.". #o. %&&'.
Se5tion 3. C#$%&'(%. 4 These rules shall a::ly to for>er natural-6orn 5iti9ens of the
Phili::ines, as defined 6y Phili::ine law and Guris:ruden5e, who ha?e lost their
Phili::ine 5iti9enshi: 6y reason of their naturali9ation as 5iti9ens of a foreign 5ountry.
Se5tion &. F#&)%& *'+,&'--.#&* P/0-0110*% 20+03%* '-&%'45 0* +/% P/0-0110*%6 '*4 '
BI-&%(06+%&%4 '-0%* 4 " for>er natural-6orn 5iti9en of the Phili::ines who is already in
the Phili::ines and registered in the B! shall file a :etition under oath to the
Co>>issioner of !>>igration for the 5an5ellation of "lien Certifi5ate of Registration
B"CRC and !ssuan5e of an !dentifi5ation Certifi5ate B!CC, as the 5ase >ay 6e, under R.".
#o. %&&'.
Se5tion 2. F#&)%& *'+,&'--.#&* P/0-0110*% 20+03%* 7/# 06 '.&#'4 .,+ ' BI-&%(06+%&%4
'-0%* 4 " for>er natural-6orn 5iti9en :f the Phili::ines who is a6road 6ut who is a B!-
registered alien shall file a :etition under oath to the nearest Phili::ine -oreign Post for
e?aluation. Thereafter, it shall forward the entire re5ords to the Co>>issioner of
!>>igration for the 5an5ellation of "lien Certifi5ate of Registration B"CRC and issuan5e
of an !C under R.". #o. %&&'.
Se5tion E. F#&)%& *'+,&'--.#&* P/0-0110*% 20+03%* '-&%'45 0* +/% P/0-0110*%6 '*4 *#+
' BI- &%(06+%&%4 '-0%* 4 " for>er natural-6orn 5iti9en of the Phili::ines who is already
in the Phili::ines 6ut has not registered with the B! within siHty B1<C days fro> date of
his arri?al shall file a :etition under oath to the Co>>issioner of !>>igration for the
issuan5e of an !C under R.". #o. %&&'.
Se5tion '. F#&)%& *'+,&'--.#&* P/0-0110*% 20+03%* 7/# 06 '.&#'4 '*4 *#+ ' BI-
&%(06+%&%4 '-0%* 4 " for>er natural-6orn 5iti9en of the Phili::ines who is a6road and is
not a B!-registered alien shall file a :etition under oath to the nearest Phili::ine -oreign
Post for the issuan5e of an !C under R.". #o. %&&'.
Se5tion 1. F#&7'&40*( '44&%668 P/#+#(&'1/6 4 !n all :etitions under Se5tion & to '
hereof, the a::li5ant >ust indi5ate his or her latest forwarding address. Three B2C re5ent
&= L &= :hotogra:hs of the a::li5ant Bfront, left side, and right side ?iews o?er white
6a57groundC shall 6e atta5hed to the :etition.
Se5tion K. F%%6. 4 Ea5h a::li5ant under these Rules shall :ay a one-ti>e fee for the
:ro5essing of the a::li5ation and issuan5e of the 5orres:onding !C.
(pplicants already in the Philippines shall attach the official receipt for the
amount of P*+,---- as proof of payment of processing fee (pplicants .ho are
abroad shall attach the official receipt for the amount of /S0,- or its e1uivalent
in foreign currency acceptable to the Philippine )oreign Post concerned
Se5tion F. P&##9 '6 *'+,&'--.#&* 20+03%* #9 +/% P/0-0110*%6. 4 " for>er natural-6orn
5iti9en of the Phili::ines, who was 6orn in Phili::ines, shall su6>it the #S$-
authenti5ation 5o:y of his.Jher 6irth 5ertifi5ate.
$n the other hand. " for>er natural-6orn 5iti9en of the Phili::ines, who was 6orn
a6road, shall su6>it the original 5o:y of the Re:ort of Birth issued 6y the Phili::ine
-oreign Post and in a::li5a6le 5ases, the Birth Certifi5ate issued 6y 5o>:etent foreign
authorities.
These do5u>ents shall 6e suffi5ient to esta6lish that the a::li5ant is a natural-
6orn 5iti9en of the Phili::ines for :ur:oses of these Rules.
Se5tion %. S,.)0660#* #9 +/% O'+/ #9 A--%(0'*2%. 4 "::li5ants under these Rules shall
also sign and atta5h an $ath of "llegian5e to the Re:u6li5 of the Phili::ines as follows@
2 3name of applicant4 solemnly s.ear 3or affirm4 that 2 .ill support and defend
the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the la.s and local
orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines+ and 2
hereby declare that 2 recognize the supreme authority of the Philippines and .ill
maintain true faith and allegiance thereto+ and that 2 impose this obligation upon
myself voluntarily .ithout mental reservation or purpose of evasion
Se5tion 3<. S+&02+ C#)1-0'*2%. E99%2+ #9 *#*-2#)1-0'*2%. 4 "ll :etitions >ust stri5tly
5o>:ly with the :re5eding re;uire>ents :rior to the filing at the $ffi5e of the
Co>>issioner or at the nearest Phili::ine -oreign Post, as the 5ase >ay 6e. "fter the
filing of the :etition, the sa>e shall 6e assigned to an e?aluating offi5er who shall
e?aluate the :etition without further :ro5eedings.
!n the 5ase of :etitions that do not 5o>:ly with the re;uire>ents, the a::li5ant
shall 6e notified to su6>it the re;uired do5u>ents within thirty B2<C days fro> re5ei:t
thereof. $therwise, the :etition shall not 6e fa?ora6ly a5ted u:on 6y the Bureau of
!>>igration of 6y the Phili::ine -oreign Post.
!f after e?aluation, the do5u>ent su6>itted fail to esta6lish that the a::li5ant is a
natural-6orn 5iti9en of the Phili::ines, the a::li5ant shall 6e notified of su5h fa5t in
writing 6y the Co>>issioner of !>>igration or 6y the Phili::ine -oreign Post.
Se5tion 33. A11&#$'- P&#2%4,&%6. 4 !f the :etition is found to 6e suffi5ient in for> and
in su6stan5e, the e?aluating offi5er shall su6>it the findings and re5o>>endation to the
Co>>issioner of !>>igration or Consul-general, as the 5ase >ay 6e. .ithin fi?e B'C
days fro> date of assign>ent.
)or applications filed under Sections * and 5 of these Rules+ the Commissioner of
2mmigration shall issue+ .ithin five 3,4 days from receipt thereof+ an $rder of
(pproval indicating that the petition complies .ith provisions of R( 6o 7**,
and its 2RR+ and further direct of the Chief of the (lien Registration Division
3(RD4 to cancel the sub8ect (CR and9or to issue the corresponding 2C to the
applicant
Ea5h 5an5elled "CR shall, howe?er, 6e atta5hed to the $rder of "::ro?al to for>
:art of the re5ords of the a::li5ant.
-or a::li5ations filed under Se5tions 2 and ' of these Rules, the Consul-*eneral
shall issue, within fi?e B'C days fro> re5ei:t thereof, the $rder of "::ro?al indi5ating
that the :etition 5o>:lies with the :ro?isions of R.". #o. %&&' and its !RR. +e shall then
trans>it 5o:ies of the $rder of "::ro?al, $ath of "llegian5e, in5luding the authenti5ated
Re5ord of Birth of Birth Certifi5ate to the B!. !>>ediately u:on re5ei:t thereof, the B!
shall issue the 5orres:onding !C to the a::li5ant and forward the sa>e to the Phili::ine
-oreign Post 5on5erned. !f the a::li5ant is a B!-registered alien, the B! shall also 5an5el
the su6Ge5t "CR.
Se5tion 3&. C#*9%&)%*+ #9 P/0-0110*% C0+03%*6/01. C#*40+0#*6. 4 Su6Ge5t to full
5o>:lian5e with these Rules, the $ath of "llegian5e shall 6e the final a5t that 5onfers
Phili::ine 5iti9enshi:.
2n case the applicant is in the Philippines+ he may ta&e his $ath of (llegiance
before the Commissioner of 2mmigration or any officer authorized under e:isting
la.s to administer oath 2n the latter case+ the applicant must submit the $ath of
(llegiance to the B2 to form part of his records
!n 5ase the a::li5ant is a6road, only the Consul-general or a duly 5o>>issioned
foreign ser?i5e offi5er of the Phili::ine -oreign Post 5on5erned shall ad>inister the $ath
of "llegian5e.
The $ath of "llegian5e shall thereafter 6e registered in a55ordan5e with the
:ro?isions of the Ci?il Registry laws.
Se5tion 32. R%1#60+#&5 #9 R%2#&46. 4 The B! Re5ords Se5tion shall >aintain the
integrity of all the do5u>ents filed under these Rules. !t shall send offi5ial 5o:ies of the
$rder of "::ro?al and $ath of "llegian5e to the #S$.
Se5tion 3E. C#10%6 9#& +/% A11-02'*+. I4%*+0902'+0#* C%&+0902'+%8 C#&&%2+0#* #9 E&&#&6.
4 The a::li5ant shall 6e :ro?ided with offi5ial 5o:ies of the $rder of "::ro?al and the
$ath of "llegian5e. -urther, all !CMs issued under these Rules shall indi5ate Phili::ine
5iti9enshi: under R.". #o. %&&' and ".$. #o. %3, s. &<<E. "ny 5leri5al error or errors in
the entries of the !C >ay 6e 5orre5ted, u:on written re;uests to and a::ro?al 6y the
Co>>issioner of !>>igration. The #S$ shall 6e :ro>:tly :ro?ided with a 5o:y of the
5orre5ted !C.
Se5tion 3'. C#*904%*+0'-0+5 #9 R%2#&46. 4 "ny a::li5ation, do5u>ent or infor>ation
gi?en 6efore the Bureau of !>>igration or any Phili::ine -oreign Post shall not 6e
di?ulged in any >anner to any :erson or entity without the eH:ress written 5onsent of the
:erson to who> su5h a::li5ation, re5ord or infor>ation 6elongs.
Se5tion 31. O+/%& .%*%9020'&0%6 #9 R.A. N#. 9225. 4 This >e>orandu> 5ir5ular shall
e;ually a::ly to the un>arried 5hild, whether legiti>ate, illegiti>ate or ado:ted, 6elow
eighteen B3FC years of age, of those who re-a5;uire Phili::ine 5iti9enshi: u:on the
effe5ti?ity of R.". #o. %&&'.
Se5tion 3K. E:%)1+0#* 9&#) '4)0*06+&'+0$% &%$0%7. L0)0+'+0#*6. 4 The 5onfer>ent of
Phili::ine 5iti9enshi: under these Rules shall no longer 6e su6Ge5t to the affir>ation of
the Se5retary of Justi5e :ursuant to 0$J Poli5y 0ire5ti?e of K Se:te>6er 3%K< and
$:inion #o. 3<F, s. 3%%1.
+owe?er, Phili::ine 5iti9enshi: under these Rules >ay 6e re?o7ed 6y 5o>:etent
authority u:on a su6stanti?e finding of fraud, >isre:resentation or 5on5eal>ent on the
:art of the a::li5ant.
Se5tion 3F. E99%2+0$0+5. 4 This >e>orandu> 5ir5ular ta7es effe5t fifteen B3'C days after
its :u6li5ation in two B&C news:a:ers of general 5ir5ulation.
BsignedC
ALIPIO F. FERNANDEZ8 J&.
Co>>issioner
APPROVED;
BsignedC
;( ;#RC#D2T(S 6 %/T2#RR#<
"5ting Se5retary
0e:art>ent of Justi5e
C5@ Chief, "R0, This Bureau
Re5ords Se5tion, This Bureau
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