G.R. No. 160869, May 11, 2009 [Dual Citizenship; Dual Allegiance; RA 9225 - Citizenship Reacquisition Act of 2003]
FACTS:
Petitioner prays for a writ of prohibition be issued to stop respondent from implementing RA 9225, or Act Making the Citizenship of the Philippine Citizens Who Acquire Foreign Citizenship Permanent, Amending for the Purpose Commonwealth Act No. 63, as Amended, and for Other Purposes. Petitioner avers that said Act is unconstitutional as it violates Section 5, Article IV of the 1987 Constitution: "Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law."
ISSUE:
Whether or not RA 9225 is unconstitutional by recognizing and allowing dual allegiance.
RULING:
No. Section 5, Article IV of the Constitution is a declaration of policy and is not self-executing provision.
What RA 9225 does is to allow dual citizenship to natural-born Filipino citizens who have lost their Philippine citizenship, by reason of naturalization as citizens of a foreign country. In its face, it does not recognize dual allegiance.
