Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 106)
A Filipino citizen may lose Philippine citizenship by: 1) Naturalization in a foreign country; 2) Express renunciation of citizenship; 3) Subscribing to an oath of allegiance to a foreign country upon attaining 21 years or more, except during war; 4) Rendering service to or accepting commission in foreign armed forces, with conditions; 5) Cancellation of naturalization certificates; 6) Being declared a deserter of the Philippine armed forces in time of war unless pardoned or granted amnesty; 7) In the case of a woman, upon marriage to a foreigner if she acquires her husband's nationality by his country's laws.
No, a Filipino citizen may not divest himself of Philippine citizenship by subscribing to an oath of allegiance to a foreign country while the Republic of the Philippines is at war with any country.
If the Filipino citizen renders service or accepts commission in foreign armed forces with the consent of the Philippines and either: (a) The Philippines has a defensive/offensive alliance pact with that foreign country; or (b) The foreign country maintains armed forces on Philippine territory with Philippine consent, then the Filipino citizen does not lose citizenship.
Such a citizen shall not participate or vote in any Philippine election during the period of service or commission with the foreign armed forces. Upon discharge, he automatically regains full civil and political rights as a Filipino citizen.
Cancellation of certificates of naturalization is one of the grounds for loss of Philippine citizenship as per the amended Section 1 of Commonwealth Act No. 63.
A Filipino woman loses citizenship upon marriage to a foreigner only if, by law of her husband's country, she acquires his nationality.
Yes, if the deserter is subsequently granted plenary pardon or amnesty, he does not lose citizenship.
The amendments took effect upon the approval of Republic Act No. 106 on June 2, 1947.
Yes, persons who lost Philippine citizenship under Commonwealth Act No. 63 but fall within the proviso of paragraph (4) of section one as amended are entitled to benefits retroactively.
The proviso clarifies that with Philippine consent, the Filipino citizen’s service or commission in foreign armed forces and accompanying oath of allegiance do not divest citizenship if certain alliance conditions exist.