G.R. No. 163256, 10 Nov 2004 [Naturalization; Reacquisition]
FACTS:
Private respondents filed with the COMELEC to disqualify and deny due course or cancel the certificate of candidacy of Ciceron P. Altarejos, on the ground that he is not a Filipino citizen and that he made a false representation in his COC that he was not a permanent resident of the Municipality of San Jacinto, Masbate, the town he's running for as mayor in the May 10, 2004 elections. Altarejos answered that he was already issued a Certificate of Repatriation by the Special Committee on Naturalization in December 17, 1997.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the registration of petitioner’s repatriation with the proper civil registry and with the Bureau of Immigration a prerequisite in effecting repatriation.
RULING:
Yes. The registration of certificate of repatriation with the proper local civil registry and with the Bureau of Immigration is a prerequisite in effecting repatriation. Petitioner completed all the requirements of repatriation only after he filed his certificate of candidacy for a mayoralty position but before the elections. Petitioner’s repatriation retroacted to the date he filed his application and was, therefore, qualified to run for a mayoralty position in the government in the May 10, 2004 elections.
