Who are the Citizens of the Philippines?

A Filipino citizen may be considered natural-born or

naturalized citizen. Both statuses bestow upon the individual
certain privileges and exclusive rights such as the rights to vote,
to run for public, etc. which may be denied the foreigner.
NATURAL-BORN FILIPINO
Art. IV, sec. 2 of the 1987 Constitution defines the NATURALBORN Filipino citizens as:
1. Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the
adoption of this (1987) Constitution
2. those whose fathers OR mothers are citizens of
the Philippines and
3. those born before January 7, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who
elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of
majority.
Even if the child is born to an alien father and a Filipino
mother, the Filipino citizenship of the mother will bestow naturalborn Philippine citizenship upon the child PROVIDED his birth
occurred on or after January 17, 1973 (date of ratification of the
1973 Constitution), otherwise he followed the citizenship of the
alien father and acquired at best only an inchoate Philippine
citizenship which he could perfect by election upon attaining
majority age. EXCEPT if he is born out of lawful wedlock, in which
case, he will be considered a Filipino by virtue of his mothers
citizenship.
In addition, only natural-born citizens are allowed to
hold constitutional offices such as the office of the President;
Senators; Members of the House of Representatives; Members of
the Supreme Court; and the Chairman and Commissioners of the
Constitutional Commissions (Civil Service Commission, COMELEC
and the Commission on Audit).
NATURALIZED FILIPINO
Naturalization takes place either voluntarily by complying both
the substantive and procedural requirements of the general
naturalization law or by operation of law. This process may be
direct or derivative.

Under the Commonwealth Act 473, a foreigner who is not

married to a Filipino but seeks to acquire Philippine citizenship is
required to have lived in the Philippines for a continuous period
of NOT LESS than ten (10) years. The said period shall be
reduced to five (5) years if he is being married to a Filipino.
Other prescribed qualifications pertain to the age, moral,
occupational, language and educational qualifications of the
petitioner.
However, naturalization shall be subject to the Rule of
Reciprocity, hence, the alien petitioner must prove by evidence
that the laws of his country grant Filipinos the right to be
naturalized.
The following are the ways of acquiring Filipino citizenship by
naturalization:
1. By judgment of the court application for naturalization shall be
filed in the proper Regional Trial Court.
2. By direct act of Congress the Congress enacts an act conferring
citizenship on a foreigner.
3.

administrative proceedings subject to Republic Act 9139 The

Administrative Naturalization Law of 2000 (January 8, 2001).

Dual Citizenship vs. Dual Allegiance

Dual citizenship refers to the possession of two citizenships by an

individual, that of his original citizenship and that of the country where he
became a naturalized citizen. It may also arise in an instance wherein a
person was born of Filipino parents but in another country where said
country followsjus soli or jus loci principle.

Dual allegiance, on the other hand, refers to the continued allegiance of

a naturalized citizen to their mother country even after acquiring Filipino
citizenship.

avoid as to the one having a dual citizenship shall support just in case the
national interest of the countries where he has citizenships collide most
especially if there is a state of war.

The Philippine government prohibits dual allegiance. Section 5, Article IV

of the 1987 Constitution declares that dual allegiance of citizens is
inimical to the national interests and shall be dealt with by law.

An instance where dual allegiance is not allowed is in the qualification for

an elective or appointive position in the Philippine government service.
Public service requires utmost loyalty (Section 1, Article XI, 1987
Constitution). It was deemed that a public officer having dual allegiance
cannot serve with utmost loyalty.

Dual allegiance is not prohibited, however, it may be regulated or

restricted by Philippine laws where it is conducive or could deal to dual
allegiance. It is because citizenship requires allegiance to a country to
which one is a citizen which must be absolute and undivided. This is to

Filipino citizens having dual citizenships are disqualified from seeking an

elective position in the Philippines.