Question & AnswerQ&A (Commonwealth Act No. 63)
A Filipino citizen may lose citizenship by naturalization in a foreign country; express renunciation; subscribing to an oath of allegiance to a foreign country after age 21; accepting commission in foreign military; cancellation of naturalization certificate; being declared a deserter of the Philippine armed forces in wartime (unless pardoned); and for a woman, by marriage to a foreigner if she acquires his nationality by the husband's country's law.
Citizenship may be reacquired by naturalization (if applicant lacks disqualifications under the relevant laws); repatriation of deserters of the Philippine armed forces; repatriation of a woman who lost citizenship due to marriage to an alien after termination of the marital status; and by direct act of the National Assembly.
The applicant must be at least twenty-one years of age.
The applicant must have resided in the Philippines for at least six months before applying.
The applicant must have conducted himself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire residence period in relation to the government and the community.
The applicant must subscribe to an oath declaring an absolute and perpetual renunciation of all faith and allegiance to the foreign authority, state, or sovereignty of which he was formerly a citizen or subject.
The naturalization procedure prescribed under Act Numbered Twenty-nine hundred and twenty-seven, as amended, applies, except that the general and special qualifications in Sections 3 and 4 of that Act are not required for reacquisition.
Repatriation is effected by taking the necessary oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of the Philippines and registration in the proper civil registry.
The Secretary of Justice is responsible for issuing necessary regulations for the proper enforcement of the Act.
The Solicitor General prepares and furnishes the naturalization blanks and other necessary forms, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Justice.