FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
• 
s4Io. 137 
Introduced by Senator FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
Pursuant to Section 1 [2], Article IV of the Constitution which mandates 
that "(t)hose whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines" are among 
those embraced by the State as its citizens, it should be the the policy of the 
State to recognize that Philippine citizenship acquired by parentage or by the 
principle of jus sanguinis is constitutionally guaranteed and protected, such 
that its natural-born citizens may not be automatically deprived of Philippine 
citizenship ipso jure absent any corresponding free, willful and voluntary act on 
their part to expressly and formally renounce their citizenship before proper 
Philippine authorities. 
Thus, in 2003, Republic Act No. 9225, otherwise known as the 
"Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003," was signed into law. As 
of 30 June 2010, the Bureau of Immigration and the various Philippine 
consulates have processed, approved and issued certificates of Philippine 
citizenship under R.A. No. 9225 to some 95,000 natural-born Filipinos. 
While R.A. No. 9225 has been enthusiastically welcomed by our 
countrymen who have become naturalized citizens of foreign countries, the 
documentary and bureaucratic requirements being imposed under the law's 
Implementing Rules and Regulations have discouraged a great number of them 
from availing of the benefits of the law. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to simplify the manner by which Philippine 
citizenship is retained or reacquired. 
F 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
~No.137 
Introduced by Senator FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
AN ACT 
AMENDING 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND RE-
ACQUISITION ACT OF 2003" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled. 
SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9225 is hereby amended 
, 
to read as follows: 
"Sec. 2. Declaration of 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." 
SECTION 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9225 is hereby amended 
to read as follows: 
"Sec. 3. Retention AND REACQUISITION 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."] 
UNLESS THEY RENOUNCE UNDER OATH 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 WILL 
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. 
SECTION 3. A new section after Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9225 
is hereby added to read as follows: 
SEC. 4. IRREVOCABILITY OF RENUNCIATION. - A 
RENUNCIATION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP UNDER 
THE 
PROVISIONS 
OF 
THIS 
ACT 
SHALL 
BE 
IRREVOCABLE, 
WITHOUT 
PREJUDICE 
TO 
ITS 
REACQUISITION 
UNDER 
THE 
LAWS 
GOVERNING 
JUDICIAL 
NATURALIZATION 
OF 
ALIENS. 
A 
RENUNCIATION MADE BY PARENTS SHALL NOT HAVE 
THE EFFECT OF DIVESTING THEIR MINOR CHILDREN 
OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP. 
SECTION 4. Section 4 and the subsequent sections of Republic Act 
No. 9225 are hereby renumbered accordingly. 
SECTION 5. The Title of Republic Act No. 9225 is hereby amended 
to read as 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 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of 
this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or provisions 
not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules 
and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after 
fifteen (15) days following its publication in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved, 
2