Law Summary
Service in Foreign Armed Forces and Citizenship
- Serving or accepting commission in foreign armed forces may lead to loss of citizenship.
- Exception if service or commission is with Philippine consent and under either:
- A defensive/offensive alliance with the foreign country.
- Presence of the foreign country’s armed forces on Philippine soil with consent.
- The Filipino must declare the service is connected only with such foreign military duty.
- Filipinos in such service cannot vote nor participate in Philippine elections during their tenure.
- Upon discharge, full civil and political rights are restored automatically.
Additional Grounds for Loss of Citizenship
- Cancellation of naturalization certificates results in loss.
- Being declared a deserter in wartime by proper authorities causes loss, unless pardoned or granted amnesty.
- Filipino women marrying foreigners lose citizenship if the foreign law grants her husband’s nationality to her.
Effective Date and Retroactivity of Benefits
- The Act takes effect immediately upon approval.
- Benefits apply retroactively to those who lost citizenship before this Act under specified conditions related to foreign military service as amended.