Since 2004, over 116,000 'former Pinoys' reacquire Filipino citizenship

Since the Dual Citizenship Act was first implemented in 2004, a total of 116,059 Filipinos who took on other nationalities have reacquired Philippine citizenship, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Friday.   Under Republic Act 9225, also known as the citizenship retention and reacquisition act of 2003, natural-born Filipinos who became naturalized citizens of other countries are deemed not to have lost their citizenship by taking the required oath of allegiance.   Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said 36,851 people filed their petitions at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) main office in Manila while 79,208 applied at the various Philippine consulates abroad.   David encouraged Filipinos who wish to regain their rights and privileges as Philippine citizens to avail of the benefits of the dual citizenship law. These include the right to:

• vote,
• run for public office,
• own real properties,
• secure a Philippine passport, and
• stay in the Philippines.

David said Filipinos may also avail of dual citizenship if the laws of their foreign country allow it.   “They can also enter and exit the country anytime or stay here for as long as you wish without the need to apply for an extension of stay,” he said.   BI legal officer Maricel Salcedo Sulit, who heads the BI’s task force on RA 9225, said Americans topped the list of approved applicants, followed by Britons and Canadians.   Sulit said most of the dual citizens filed their petitions with Philippine consulates, particularly those in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu, Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto, and London.   To apply, the applicant only pays a fee of P3,000 for immediate processing of papers, as long as all documentary requirements are submitted. - with B.L. Vergara/VVP/YA, GMA News