Quietly, Congress passes alien naturalization measure

The two chambers of Congress have approved a bill allowing aliens to acquire Philippine citizenship through administrative naturalization.

The House of Representatives and the Senate passed the proposed Administrative Naturalization Law of 2001 before adjourning their third and last regular session on Thursday.

The bill is now awaiting the signature of President Arroyo.

Under the measure, aliens who were born in the Philippines and have resided here since birth are qualified to acquire Philippine citizenship.

Among other requirements, an applicant must at least be 18 years of age and of good moral character, must believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution, and must have received his primary and secondary education in a public or private school recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.

The prospective citizen must also have a known trade, business, profession or lawful occupation from which he derives income enough for him and his family, must be able to read, write and speak Filipino or any local dialect, and must have mingled with Filipinos and shown a sincere desire to embrace their customs, traditions and ideals.

Those opposed to the government, polygamists, convicts, and those suffering from mental illness or incurable disease are not qualified to apply for citizenship.

The bill provides for the creation of a special committee on naturalization composed of the Solicitor General as chairman, with the secretary of foreign affairs and the national security adviser or their representatives as members.

Applicants may file their applications with the committee, providing the panel with the necessary information about themselves, their families, business or occupation, and other pertinent information.

An applicant would be required to pay a processing fee of P40,000. The special committee is required to publish applications in a newspaper of general circulation for three consecutive weeks before approving or rejecting them.

The special committee is mandated to decide on applications within 60 days from filing. If approved, the applicant given Philippine citizenship would pay a naturalization fee of P100,000. He may then petition for the cancellation of the alien certificates of his wife and children.

The applicant should take his oath of allegiance to the Philippines shortly after his application for naturalization is approved.

His certificate of naturalization may be revoked on certain grounds, including establishment of residence in a foreign country within five years from the grant of Philippine citizenship.

The special committee on naturalization would be authorized to issue implementing rules and regulations.

Those who forge citizenship certificates or assist in such forgery would face a prison term of five years and a fine of not more than P500,000. If the convicted person is a naturalized citizen, his certificate would be revoked.