QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 6131)
RA No. 6131 is an act of Congress declaring Dr. Patrick B. Connon (Brother H. Gabriel Connon, FSC) a Filipino citizen and conferring upon him all rights, duties, privileges, and prerogatives of Philippine citizenship. Its purpose is to grant citizenship by legislative naturalization upon compliance with the required oath.
The law names Dr. Patrick B. Connon, also known as Brother H. Gabriel Connon, FSC, President of De La Salle College, Manila.
He must take and register the required oath of allegiance as specified in Section 1.
He swears (or affirms) to: (1) renounce absolutely and forever any allegiance or fidelity to any foreign prince/potentate/state/sovereignty, particularly the U.S. government of which he is a subject or citizen; (2) support and defend the Constitution of the Philippines; (3) obey Philippine laws and legal orders/decrees; (4) recognize the supreme authority of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines; and (5) maintain true faith and allegiance without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.
It requires absolute and forever renunciation of allegiance or fidelity, particularly to the Government of the United States.
It must be recorded in the Civil Registry of the City of Manila.
Within thirty (30) days after the approval of the Act.
It takes effect upon its approval, as provided in Section 2.
It is legislative naturalization: Congress directly declares the named person a Filipino citizen, subject to taking and registering the prescribed oath of allegiance.
It confers all rights, duties, privileges, and prerogatives incident to, and conferred by, Filipino citizenship under the Constitution and laws of the Philippines.
The law states he has had twenty (20) years’ residence in the Philippines. It is used to justify that his long stay and service make him worthy of citizenship.
His roles and initiatives in education (as President of De La Salle College; founding De La Salle colleges; training college; creation of PAASCU) and his civic/social/economic participation, including charity drives and establishment/participation in programs like AIM (1968-70).
While the law declares him a citizen in Section 1, it specifies that he shall enter upon the full enjoyment of Filipino citizenship upon taking and registration of the oath of allegiance within the required period.
It reflects the requirement for allegiance to the Philippines in naturalization/citizenship processes, including renunciation of prior allegiance, consistent with the policy underlying Philippine citizenship acquisition.
They provide factual background and legislative rationale (his desire to become a citizen, length of residence, and service to the Filipino people) that may be used to understand congressional intent, though the operative provisions are mainly in Sections 1 and 2.