EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. B. No.
SENATE
16
TME
BILLS
Introduced by SENATOR FRANKLIN M. DRILON
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND REACQUISITION ACT OF 2003"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Following the constitutional policy that "those whose fathers or mothers are 
citizens of the Philippines," citizenship acquired by parentage or through the 
principle of ju s sanguinis is a right guaranteed by the highest law of the land. As 
such, natural-born citizens may not be automatically deprived of Philippine 
citizenship absent any corresponding free, willful and voluntary act on their part to 
expressly and 
formally 
renounce their citizenship 
before 
proper 
Philippine 
authorities.
Pursuant to this this legal precept, Republic Act No. 9225, otherwise known as 
the "Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act o f 2003," was passed. While the 
law has since benefitted thousands of natural-born Filipinos all over the world, the 
bureaucratic requirements have discouraged a greater number of our countrymen 
from availing of the benefits under the measure. The bill thus aims to simplify the 
manner by which Philippine citizenship is retained or reacquired.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.
FRANKLIN M. DRILON


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. BrNo. 
1 6
TIME;
BILLS &
Introduced by SENATOR FRANKLIN M. DRILON
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND REACQUISITION ACT OF 2003"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9225 is hereby amended to read
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as follows:
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SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy 
of the State that all NATURAL-BORN Philippine citizens who 
become citizens of another country shall be deemed not to have 
lost their Philippine citizenship under the conditions of this Act.
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SEC. 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9225 is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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SEC. 
3. 
Retention AND REACQUISITION o f 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


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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."]
UNLESS 
THEY 
RENOUNCE 
UNDER 
OATH 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
CITIZENSHIP 
BEFORE 
A 
PHILIPPINE 
CONSULAR 
OFFICIAL 
ABROAD. 
OR 
ANY 
PUBLIC 
OFFICER AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER AN OATH: 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT A RENUNCIATION WHICH 
WAS MERELY A PART OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, 
THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE REQUIRED BY A FOREIGN 
COUNTRY FOR PURPOSES OF NATURALIZATION W ILL 
NOT BE A BAR TO REACQUISITION OF PHILIPPINE 
CITIZENSHIP UNDER THIS ACT.
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]
UNLESS THEY RENOUNCE PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP IN 
THE 
MANNER 
PROVIDED 
IN 
THE 
PRECEDING 
PARAGRAPH.
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SEC. 3. A new section after Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9225 is hereby
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added to read as follows:
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SEC. 4. 
IRREVOCABILITY OF RENUNCIATION. - A 
RENUNCIATION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP UNDER 
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL BE TO ITS 
GOVERNING JUDICIAL NATURALIZATION OF ALIENS. A 
RENUNCIATION MADE BY PARENTS SHALL NOT HAVE


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THE EFFECT OF DIVESTING THEIR MINOR CHILDREN OF 
PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP.
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SEC. 4. Section 4 and the subsequent sections of Republic Act No. 9225 are
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hereby renumbered accordingly.
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SEC. 5. The Title of Republic Act No. 9225 is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
AN ACT [MAKING THE] PROVIDING FOR THE RETENTION 
AND REACQUISITION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP [OF
PHILIPPINE CITIZENS WHO ACQUIRE FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP 
PERMANENT], 
AMENDING 
FOR 
THE 
PURPOSE 
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 63, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
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SEC. 6. Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in
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full force and effect.
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SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
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accordingly.
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SEC. 8. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days after
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,