QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 8171)
RA 8171 provides a procedure for the repatriation (reacquisition) of Philippine citizenship by Filipino women who lost Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens, and by natural-born Filipinos who also lost Philippine citizenship, including their minor children, subject to statutory requirements.
Covered applicants are (1) Filipino women who lost Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens, and (2) natural-born Filipinos who lost Philippine citizenship—both on account of political or economic necessity—together with their minor children.
It addresses the citizenship-loss situation where a Filipino woman (and, in the law, a natural-born Filipino) may have lost Philippine citizenship due to marriage to an alien, and provides a remedy through repatriation.
It states that the loss of Philippine citizenship must have occurred on account of political or economic necessity, and reacquisition may be through repatriation under the manner provided in Section 4 of Commonwealth Act No. 63, as amended.
It requires reacquisition through repatriation in the manner provided in Section 4 of Commonwealth Act No. 63, as amended, subject to the additional restrictions in RA 8171.
It bars repatriation if the applicant is within any of the listed disqualifications, which function as eligibility requirements.
The applicant must not be (1) opposed to organized government or affiliated with associations/groups teaching doctrines opposing organized government; (2) defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence or personal assault or association for the predominance of their ideas; (3) convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude; or (4) suffering from mental alienation or incurable contagious diseases.
The applicant must take the necessary oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and register in the proper civil registry and in the Bureau of Immigration.
The Bureau of Immigration shall cancel the pertinent alien certificate of registration and issue a certificate of identification as Filipino citizen to the repatriated citizen.
It is a procedural requirement; Section 2 expressly mandates taking the necessary oath of allegiance as part of effectuating repatriation.
It includes their minor children among those who may reacquire Philippine citizenship through repatriation, subject to the law’s requirements.
It repeals or amends all laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations—or parts thereof—inconsistent with RA 8171.
It takes effect thirty (30) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
It indicates enactment by constitutional lapse mechanism under Section 27(1), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, meaning the law became effective as provided without presidential signature.
The applicant must register in the proper civil registry and in the Bureau of Immigration; the Bureau of Immigration then cancels the alien certificate and issues a Filipino identification certificate.
No. Section 1 expressly disqualifies applicants convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude from repatriation under the Act.