Dual citizenship law signed in Philippines

Former Filipino citizens can now re-acquire their citizenship after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed a dual citizenship law yesterday.

The controversial measure is expected to benefit at least three million former Filipinos scattered the world over, of which at least one million are in the United States.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, the law's chief sponsor in the Senate, said a dual citizen would get back 'full political and civil rights', including the right to vote, to be appointed or elected into public office.

However, dual citizens would need to renounce their citizenship of the other country if they wanted to be appointed or to run for public office. Should war break out between the two countries to which dual citizens belong, they will have to 'instantly' choose one citizenship and renounce the other.

They will have the right to own property and invest in sectors where majority ownership is restricted to Filipinos, and practice professions restricted to citizens. They will also not be taxed on any of their income abroad. Their children, below 18 years old, will also become dual citizens.

The only ones barred from becoming dual citizens, he said, were those who had run as candidates or been elected to public office or have served in the armed forces in those countries where they were naturalised citizens.