Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8171)
The purpose of Republic Act No. 8171 is to provide for the repatriation of Filipino women who have lost their Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens and natural-born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship, including their minor children, allowing them to reacquire Philippine citizenship.
The primary beneficiaries are Filipino women who lost their Philippine citizenship by marriage to aliens, natural-born Filipinos who lost their citizenship due to political or economic necessity, and their minor children.
Applicants are disqualified if they are opposed to organized government or affiliated with groups teaching doctrines against organized government; teach or defend violence or personal assault; have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude; or suffer 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 cancels the pertinent alien certificate of registration and issues a certificate of identification as a Filipino citizen to the repatriated citizen.
RA 8171 applies to Filipino women who lost citizenship by marriage to aliens, natural-born Filipinos who lost citizenship due to political or economic necessity, and their minor children.
Section 4 of Commonwealth Act No. 63, as amended, is referred to for the repatriation process.
RA 8171 does not expressly specify penalties for non-compliance or false representations within its text.
RA 8171 took effect thirty (30) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and it lapsed into law on July 3, 1995 without the President's signature.
All laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with RA 8171 are repealed or amended accordingly.