ARTICLE IVCITIZENSHIP

Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines:

Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution;

Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;

Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine Citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and

Those who are naturalized in the accordance with law.

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CITIZENSHIP – it is a status of being a citizen, is one who by birth, naturalization or otherwise, is a member of an independent political society, called a state, kingdom, or empire, and as such is subject to its law and entitled to it protection in all his rights incident to that relation.3 KINDS OF CITIZENS

1. NATURAL BORN CITIZENS – They are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine Citizenship.2. NATURALIZED CITIZENS – They are citizens who become such through judicial proceedings.3. CITIZENS BY ELECTION – They are citizens who become such by exercising the option to elect a particular citizenship, usually within a reasonable time after reaching the age of majority.NATURALIZATION

Direct – Judicial or Administrative, Special Act of the Legislature, Collective change of nationality, as a result of cession or subjugation; in some cases adoption .Derivative – Wife of Naturalized husband, Minor children of naturalized person, Alien woman upon marriage to a national.Doctrine of indelible allegiance – An individual may be compelled to retain his original nationality even if he has already

renounced or forfeited it under the laws of the second State whose nationality he has acquired.Section 2. Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. Those who elect Philippine citizenship in accordance with paragraph (3), Section 1 hereof shall be deemed natural-born citizens.

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Citizenship by Birth

Jus Soli or loci – citizenship is determined by the place of birthJus Sanguinis – citizenship is determined by blood relationsSection 3. Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the manner provided by law.

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LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP A. By naturalization in a foreign countryB. By Express renunciation of citizenshipC. By subscribing to an oath of allegiance to support the Constitution or laws of a foreign countryD. By rendering service to or accepting commission in the armed forces of a foreign countryE. By cancellation of the certificate of naturalizationExpatriation refers to the voluntary loss or renunciation of citizenship.Expatriate are those who voluntarily lost or renounced their citizenship.Repatriation is the reacquisition of one's nationality by taking the necessary of oath of allegiance.Section 4. Citizens of the Philippines who marry aliens shall retain their citizenship, unless by their act or omission they are deemed, under the law to have renounced it.

Section 5. Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law.Dual allegiance refers the continued allegiance of naturalized nationals to their mother country even after acquiring Filipino citizenship.Dual citizenship refers to the possession of two citizenships by an individual.

ARTICLE VSUFFRAGE

Section 1. Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines, not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.

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What is SUFFRAGE – is the right to vote in elections, it is the expression of the sovereign will of the people.Section 2. The Congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad.

The Congress shall also design a procedure for the disabled and the illiterates to vote without the assistance of other persons. Until then, they shall be allowed to vote under existing laws and such rules as the Commission on Elections may promulgate to protect the secrecy of the ballot.Discussions:

The Overseas Absentee Voting Act, officially known as Republic Act No. 9189, is a law in the Philippines passed on February 13, 2003 which provides for a system for citizens of the Philippines currently residing or working outside of the Philippines to vote in an election. This act was a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2104 and House Bill No. 3570, the first draft was authored in congress on July 22, 2002. The act is implemented by the

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) with the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).Republic Act No. 10366 – An Act Authorizing the Commission on Elections to Establish Precincts Assigned to Accessible Polling Places Exclusively for Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens