Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

918
House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. IRWIN C. TIENG, HON. MARIANO MICHAEL M. VELARDE
and HON. JOSE L. ATIENZA, JR.

EXPLANATORY

Republic Act No. 9225, otherwise known as Citizenship Retention and Re-
Acquisition Act of 2003, grants former Filipino citizens the privilege to reacquire or retain
Philippine Citizenship. While the said Act has encouraged erstwhile Filipino citizens to
build emotional and intellectual connections to their birth country, the said law and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations have certain flaws. This has been proven by a
number of cases in which former Filipino citizens have evaded sentence or conviction
for the crime they committed abroad by simply renouncing their foreign citizenship and
thereafter, reacquiring Philippine citizenship through the privilege of R.A. 9225.

Considering that the present law does not disqualify certain applicants with
criminal records or pending cases, there is a great possibility that the Philippines might
become a haven of criminals. Towards this end, it shall be the duty of the State to
control and regulate the admission of former Filipino citizens who wish to avail the
privilege of R.A. 9225.

This bill, therefore, provides some security precautions against a former Filipino
citizen with pending civil, criminal or administrative case when he left the country or in

the foreign country he had adopted.

nce, immediate passage of the Bill is earnestly sought

MARIANO MICHAEL M. VELARDE

JOSE L. ATIENZA, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

918

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. IRWIN C. TIENG, HON. MARIANO MICHAEL M. VELARDE
and HON. JOSE L. ATIENZA, JR.

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND RE-ACQUISITION ACT OF 2003”

Be enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress
assembled.

Section 1. — A new section after Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9225 is hereby
added to read as follows:

SECTION 4. DISQUALIFICATIONS — THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT
QUALIFIED TO RETAIN OR REACQUIRE FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP UNDER
THIS ACT:

A. THOSE OPPOSED TO ORGANIZED GOVERNMENT OR
AFFILIATED WITH ANY ASSOCIATION OR GROUP OF PERSONS
WHO UPHOLD AND TEACH DOCTRINES OPPOSING ALL
ORGANIZED GOVERNMENTS;

B. THOSE DEFENDING OR TEACHING THE NECESSITY OF OR
PROPRIETY OF VIOLENCE AND PERSONAL ASSAULT OR
ASSASSINATION FOR THE SUCCESS OR PREDOMINANCE OF
THEIR IDEAS;

C. POLYGAMIST OR BELIEVERS IN THE PRACTICE OF POLYGAMY;
AND

D. THOSE SENTENCED BY FINAL JUDGMENT FOR AN OFFENSE
INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE OR FOR AN OFFENSE
PUNISHABLE BY SIX (6) YEARS OR MORE OF IMPRISONMENT.

Section 2. Section 4 and the subsequent sections of Republic Act No. 9225 are
hereby renumbered accordingly.

Section 3. Implementing Rules and Regulation. - The Bureau of Immigration is
hereby authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be needed for the
proper implementation of the provisions of this Act.

Section 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
rule and regulations or any parts thereof which are inconsistent of this Act are hereby


repealed accordingly
Section 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take immediately upon its approval

Approved,