FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 2523 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Presidential Decree No. 1638 as amended, otherwise known as "Establishing A New 
System Of Retirement And Separation For Military Personnel Of The Armed Forces Of The 
Philippines And For Other Purposes" as amended, enumerates the benefits for military retirees 
and the conditions for entitlement thereto. Through the years, this law has been the source of 
rights for our retirees through which they could avail themselves of the benefits that they 
rightfully deserve. 
Section 27 thereof, however, provides that the name of a retiree who loses his Filipino 
citizenship shall be removed from the retired list and his retirement benefits terminated upon 
such loss. At first glance, this provision seems justified since the retiree has lost his Filipino 
citizenship anyway and therefore should not be qualified to receive any monetary benefit from 
the government. However, with the passage of RA No. 9225, otherwise known as "Citizenship 
Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003," civil and political rights may now again be enjoyed 
by those who reacquire Philippine citizenship. 
This bill therefore gives back the right to former retirees who have reacquired Philippine 
citizenship under RA No. 9225 the same benefits they used to receive but were cut off when they 
lost their Philippine citizenship. But such re-entitlement to the retirement benefits will only 
accrue upon the date of such reacquisition of Philippine citizenship. 
This bill was originally filed by Sen. Rodolfo G. Biazon during the First Regular 
Session of the Fourteenth Congress. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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FURTHER AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1638 AS AMENDED, 
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OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "ESTABLISHING A NEW SYSTEM OF 
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RETIREMENT AND SEPARATION FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL OF THE 
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ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES BY 
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GRANTING THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO 
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RETIREEES WHO HAVE REACQUIRED PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 27 of Presidential Decree No. 1638 as amended, otherwise known 
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as "Establishing A New System Of Retirement And Separation For Military Personnel Of The 
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Armed Forces Of The Philippines And For Other Purposes" as amended, is hereby further 
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amended to read as follows: 
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"Section 27. Military personnel retired under Sections 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 shall be carried 
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in the retired list of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The name of a retiree who loses his 
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Filipino citizenship shall be removed from the retired list and his retirement benefits terminated 
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upon such loss. IN CASES WHERE A RETIREE RE-ACQUIRES PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP 
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UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NUMBE.R NINETY-TWO TWENTY FIVE, OTHERWISE 
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KNOWN AS THE 'CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND RE-ACQUISITION ACT OF 2003,' HIS 
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NAME SHALL BE REINSTATED IN THE RETIRED LIST AND HE SHALL LIKEWISE 
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CONTINUE TO RECEIVE HIS RETIREMENT BENEFITS BUT EFFECTIVE ONLY UPON 
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THE DATE OF SUCH REACQUISITION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP." 
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SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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