Citizenship

Membership in a political community which is personal and more or less permanent in character.
Nationality is membership in an ethnic, social, racial and cultural group, while citizenship is membership
in a political society.

Citizens under the 1935 Constitution

(Sec. 1, Article III)

1) Those who are citizens of the Philippine Islands at the time of the adoption of this Constitution.
2) Those born in the Philippine Islands of foreign parents who, before the adoption of this Constitution,
had been elected to public office in the Philippine Islands.
3) Those whose fathers are citizens of the Philippines.
4) Those whose mothers are citizens of the Philippines and, upon reaching the age of majority, elect
Philippine citizenship.
5) Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

Filipino Citizens (under Par. 1, Sec. 1, Art. III, 1935 Constitution

a) Persons born in the Philippines who resided
therein on April 11, 1899, and were Spanish subjects
on that date, unless they had lost their citizenship on
or before the adoption of the Philippine Constitution
on May 14, 1935 (Phil. Bill of 1902 and Jones Law of
1916);
b) Natives of Peninsular Spain who resided in
the Philippines on April 11, 1899, and who did not
declare their intention of preserving their Spanish
nationality between that date and October 11, 1900,
unless they had lost their citizenship by May 14,
1935 (Phil. Bill of 1902 and Jones Law of 1916);
c) Spanish subjects who resided in the Philippines on
April 11, 1899, and who did not declare their
intention of preserving their Spanish nationality
between that date and October 11, 1900, unless
they had lost their citizenship by May 14, 1935 (Phil.
Bill of 1902 and Jones Law of 1916);
d) Children born of (a), (b), and (c) subsequent
to April 11, 1899, unless they had lost their
citizenship by May 14, 1935 (Phil. Bill of 1902 and
Jones Law of 1916);
e) Persons who became naturalized citizens of
the Philippines in accordance with the formal
procedure set for in the Naturalization Law since its
enactment on March 1920 (Act No. 2927), unless
they had lost their citizenship by May 14, 1935.
f) Children of persons embraced under (e), unless
they had lost their citizenship by May 14, 1935.
g) Filipino women who, after having lost Philippine
citizenship by marriage to foreigners, had
subsequently become widows and regained
Philippine citizenship on or before May 14, 1935.
h) Children of (g), above, who were still under 21
years of age at the time their mothers regained
Philippine citizenship.
i) Foreign women who married Filipino citizens on or
before May 14, 1935, provided that they themselves
could be lawfully naturalized, provided further that
they had not lost Philippine citizenship by May 14,
1935 and provided finally that their Filipino
citizenship had been so declared by judgment of a
court of justice in the proper naturalization or
citizenship proceedings.
j) All other persons born in the Philippines
who, on the strength of the erroneous recognition of
the “jus soli” doctrine, were mistakenly declared by
the courts to be Filipino citizens, unless they had lost
their citizenship by May 14, 1935.
Comparison
1935 Constitution
Those who are citizens of the Philippine Islands
at the time of the adoption of this Constitution.
Those born in the Philippine Islands of foreign
parents who, before the adoption of this
Constitution, had been elected to public office
in the Philippine Islands.
Those whose fathers are citizens of the
Philippines.
Those whose mothers are citizens of the
Philippines and, upon reaching the age of
majority, elect Philippine citizenship.
Those who are naturalized in accordance with
law
1973
Section 2, Article III: A female citizen of
the Philippines who marries an alien shall retain
her Philippine citizenship, unless by her act or
omission she is deemed, under the law, to have
renounced her citizenship
Natural-born Citizen
1973 Constitution
Sec. 4, Art. III:
A natural-born citizen is one who is a
citizen of the Philippines from birth without
having to perform any act to acquire or perfect
his Philippine citizenship.
1987 Constitution
1973 & 1987 Constitutions
Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the
time of the adoption of this Constitution.
Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of
the Philippines.
Those who elect Philippine citizenship pursuant
to the provisions of the Constitution of 1935.
Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino
mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon
reaching the age of majority)
Those who are naturalized in accordance with
law.
1987
Section 4, Article IV: Citizens of the
Philippines who marry aliens shall retain their
citizenship, unless by their act or omission they
are deemed, under the law, to have renounced
it.
Sec. 2, Art. IV:
Kinds of Citizens under the 1987 Constitution

Natural-Born Citizens Naturalized Citizens

__________________________________________________________________

Modes of Acquiring Philippine Citizenship

BY BIRTH BY NATURALIZATION – The act of formally

Jus sanguinis – citizenship by blood adopting a foreigner into the political body of a
Jus soli – citizenship by place of birth nation by clothing him or her with privileges of
a citizen.

___________________________________________________________________
Naturalization under Philippine Law
Judicial Naturalization
(Commonwealth Act No. 473, as amended by Republic Act No. 530)

Administrative Naturalization
(Administrative Naturalization under Republic Act No. 9139)

Legislative Naturalization by Congressional Act.

____________________________________

C.A. 473, as amended by R.A. 530

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE APPLICANT:

a) not less than 21 years of age on the date of the hearing of the petition;

b) resided in the Philippines for a continuous period of not less than 10 years.
It may be reduced to 5 years if:

(a) he honorably held office in Government;

(b) established a new industry or introduced a useful invention in the Philippines;
(c) married to a Filipino woman;
(d) been engaged as a teacher in the Philippines (in a public or private school not established
for the exclusive instruction of persons of a particular nationality or race) or in any of the branches
of education or industry for a period of 2 years; and
(e) born in the Philippines.

c) good moral character; believes in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution; must have
conducted himself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of his residence in the
Philippines in his relations with the constituted government as well as the community in which he is living;
d) own real estate in the Philippines worth not less than P5,000.00, or, must have some known lucrative
trade, profession or lawful occupation;

e) speak and write English or Spanish and any of the principal Philippine languages;

f) Enrolled his minor children of school age in any of the public or private schools recognized by the
Government where Philippine history, government and civics are taught as part of the school curriculum,
during the entire period of residence in the Philippines required of him prior to the hearing of his petition
for naturalization.

DISQUALIFICATIONS:
Those who are …
a) Those who are opposed to organized government affiliated with any association or group of
persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments;

b) Defending or teaching the success or predominance of their ideas;

c) Polygamists or believers in polygamy;

d) Convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;

e) Suffering from mental alienation or incurable contagious disease;

f) who, during the period of their residence in the Philippines, have not mingled
socially with the Filipinos, or who have not evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace
the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipinos;

g) Citizens or subjects of nations with whom the Philippines is at war, during the period of such
war;
h) Citizens or subject of a foreign country whose laws do not grant Filipinos the right to
become naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

Procedure (C.A. 473)

1) Filing with Office of the Solicitor General of a declaration of intention to become a Filipino
citizen, at least 1 year prior to the filing of the petition in the proper court, except:

Those born in the Philippines and have received their primary and secondary education in public or
private schools recognized by the Government and not limited to any race or nationality;

Those who resided in the Philippines for 30 years or more before the filing of the petition, and enrolled
his children in elementary and high schools recognized by the Government and not limited to any race
or nationality; and

Widow and minor children of an alien who has declared his intention to become a citizen of the
Philippines and dies before he is actually naturalized.

2) Filing of the petition with the appropriate Regional Trial Court, together with the affidavits of 2
credible, citizens of the Philippines, who personally know the petitioner (as character witnesses).
3) Publication of the petition in the Official Gazette and in a newspaper of general circulation in the
province where the applicant resides, once a week for 3 consecutive weeks.

4) Hearing of the petition

5) If the petition is approved, there will be a rehearing two years after the promulgation of the
judgment to establish the following:

a) applicant has not left the Philippines;

b) dedicated himself continuously to a lawful calling or profession;
c) not been convicted of any offense or violation of rules; and
d) not committed an act prejudicial to the interest of the nation or contrary to any Government-
announced policies

6) Oath-taking and issuance of the Certificate of Naturalization

Effects of Naturalization (C.A. 473)

On the wife:

- vests citizenship on the wife provided that she is not disqualified to be a citizen of the Philippines
under Section 4 of C.A. 473. It is not anymore necessary for an alien woman to institute naturalization
proceedings. All she has to do is to file before the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation a petition for
the cancellation of her Alien Certificate of Registration. (Moy Ya Lim Yao vs. Commissioner of
Immigration, G.R. No. L-21289)

On Minor Children

A) If born BEFORE naturalization:

1) If born in the Philippines – is a Filipino

2) If born outside the Philippines

2.01. if dwelling in the Philippines at the time of the parent’s naturalization – is a Filipino

2.02. If dwelling outside the Philippines at the time of parent’s naturalization – is a

Filipino only during his minority unless he permanently resides in the Philippines when still a minor, in
which case he will continue to be a Philippine citizen even after becoming of age
B) If born AFTER naturalization:

1) If born in the Philippines – is a Filipino

2) If born outside the Philippines – shall be considered a Philippine citizen, unless within one
year after reaching the age of majority he fails to register himself as a Philippine citizen at the Philippine
consulate of the country where he resides and to take the necessary oath of allegiance.
Cancellation of Naturalization (C.A. 473)
If it is shown that said naturalization certificate was obtained fraudulently;

If, within 5 years, he returns to his native country or to some foreign country and establishes residence
there; provided, that 1-year stay in the native country, or 2-year stay in a foreign country shall be prima
facie evidence of intent to take up residence in the same;

Petition was made on an invalid declaration of intention;

Minor children failed to graduate through the fault of the parents, either by neglecting to support them
or by transferring them to another school;

Petitioner allowed himself to be used as dummy.

Who may institute denaturalization proceedings:

Section 18, C.A. No. 473

Upon motion made in the proper proceedings by the Solicitor General or his representative, or
by the proper Provincial Fiscal, the competent judge may cancel the naturalization certificate.

Effect of Denaturalization
If the ground of the denaturalization affects the intrinsic validity of proceedings, the denaturalization
shall divest the wife and children of their derivative naturalization.

If the ground was personal to the denaturalized Filipino, his wife and children shall retain their
Philippine Citizenship.

Administrative Naturalization(R.A. 9139)

QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicant must be:

1) Born in the Philippines and residing therein since birth;

2) Not be less than 18 years of age at the time of filing his/her petition;

3) Be of good moral character and believes in the underlying principles of the Constitution and
must have conducted himself/herself in a proper and irreproachable manner during his/her entire
period of residence in the Philippines and in his relations with the duly constituted government as well
as with the community in which he/she is living;

4) Have received his/her primary and secondary education in any public school or private educational
institution duly recognized by the Department of Education, where Philippine history, government and
civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrolment is not limited to
any race or nationality, provided that should he/she have minor children of school age, he/she must
have enrolled them in similar schools;
 5) Have a known trade, business, profession or lawful occupation, from which he/she derives income
sufficient for his/her support and that of his/her family; provided that this shall not apply to applicants
who are college degree holders but are unable to practice their profession because they are disqualified
to do so by reason of their citizenship;

6) Be able to read, write and speak Filipino or any of the dialects of the Philippines; and

7) Have mingled with the Filipinos and evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs and
traditions and ideals of the Filipino people.

R.A. No. 9139 : DISQUALIFICATIONS

– same as those provided in C.A. 473-

R.A. No. 9139: PROCEDURE:

1) Filing of the petition with the Special Committee on Naturalization;

2) Publication of the pertinent portions of the petition once a week for three consecutive weeks in
a newspaper of general circulation and posting of the petition in any public or conspicuous area, and
furnishing copies thereof to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation,
Civil Registrar of petitioner’s place of residence, and the National Bureau of Investigation, which shall
post copies of such petition in any public or conspicuous place in their buildings or offices;

3) Within 30 days from receipt of their copies of the petition, the DFA, BID, LCR, and NBI will submit to
the Special Committee on Naturalization a report stating whether or not petitioner has any derogatory
record on file, or any such relevant and material information which might be adverse to petitioner’s
application for citizenship. If there is any adverse report, the Committee shall allow the petitioner to
answer, explain, or refute the same;

4) The committee shall then approve or deny the petition;

5) If petition is granted, the petitioner shall take an oath after 30 days from approval and after payment
of P100,000.00

Effects of R.A. No. 9139

Wife and minor children of the applicant may file a petition for cancellation of their alien certificates of
registration with the Special Committee on Naturalization.

But if the applicant is a married woman, the approval of the petition shall not benefit her alien husband,
although her minor children may avail of the right to seek cancellation of their alien certificate of
registration.
Cancellation of Administrative Naturalization
The Special Committee on Naturalization may cancel certificates of naturalization on any or all of
the grounds:

1) If the naturalized person or his duly authorized representative made any false statement or
misrepresentation or committed any violation of law, rules and regulations in connection with the
petition, of if he obtains Philippine citizenship fraudulently or illegally;
2) If, within five years, he shall establish permanent residence in a foreign country,
provided that remaining for more than 1 year in his country of origin or 2 years in any
foreign country shall be prima facie evidence of intent to permanently reside
therein;
3) If he allowed himself or wife or child with acquired citizenship to be used as dummy;

4) If he, his, wife or child with acquired citizenship commits any act inimical to national security.

Loss of Philippine Citizenship (C.A. No. 63)

a) By naturalization in a foreign country
Modified by R.A. 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act; Sept. 17, 2003)
b) By express renunciation of citizenship

c) By subscribing to an oath of allegiance to support the Constitution of a foreign country upon

attaining 21 years of age; provided, however, that a Filipino may not divest himself of Philippine
citizenship in any manner while the Republic of the Philippines is at war with any country.
Modified by R.A. 9225
d) By rendering service to or accepting commission in the armed forces of a foreign country; provided,
that the rendering of service to, or acceptance of such commission in, the armed forces of a foreign
country and the taking of oath of allegiance incident thereto, with the consent of the Republic of the
Philippines, shall not divest a Filipino of his Philippine citizenship if either of the following circumstances
is present:

1) The Philippines has a defensive 2) The said foreign country maintains

and/or offensive pact of armed forces in Philippine territory with
alliance with the said foreign the consent of the Republic of the Philippines.
country;

e) By cancellation of the certificate of naturalization;

f) By having been declared by competent authority a deserter of the Philippine armed forces in
time of war, unless subsequently, a plenary pardon or amnesty has been granted.

Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship

1) Under R.A. 9225 – by taking the oath of allegiance required of the
former natural-born Filipinos;
2) By naturalization
3) By repatriation
R.A. 965 – for those who rendered service to, or accepting commission in, the armed forces of an allied
foreign country during the war.
R.A. 2630 – for persons who lost citizenship by rendering service to, or accepting commission, in the
armed forces of the United States.
P.D. 725 - for Filipino women who lost citizenship by marriage and for natural-born Filipinos.
R.A. 8171 - For Filipino women who lost their citizenship by reason of marriage to aliens and for former
natural-born who lost Filipino citizenship on account of political or economic necessity.

4) By direct act of Congress

Dual Citizenship/Allegiance
Section 5, Article IV, 1987 Constitution

Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law.