An Act To Provide For The Acquisition Of Philippine Citizenship By Naturalization, And To Repeal Acts Numbered Twenty-Nine Hundred And Twenty-Seven And Thirty-Four Hundred And Forty-Eight.
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An Act To Provide For The Acquisition Of Philippine Citizenship By Naturalization, And To Repeal Acts Numbered Twenty-Nine Hundred And Twenty-Seven And Thirty-Four Hundred And Forty-Eight.
Commonwealth Act No. 473
November 6, 1939
Case Overview and Summary
COMMONWEALTH ACT No. 473Revised Naturalization Law
- Qualifications for naturalization (Section 2):
• At least 21 years old
• Resided in the Philippines for at least 10 continuous years
• Good moral character, believes in Philippine Constitution principles
• Owns real estate worth at least 5,000 pesos or has lucrative trade/profession
• Can speak/write English or Spanish and a Philippine language
• Enrolled minor children in schools teaching Philippine history/civics
- Special qualifications for 5-year residency (Section 3):
• Held government office in the Philippines
• Established new industry or introduced useful invention
• Married to a Filipino woman
• Worked as teacher in the Philippines for at least 2 years
• Born in the Philippines
- Disqualifications from naturalization (Section 4):
• Opposed to organized government or affiliated with such groups
• Advocates violence, assault, or assassination for ideological success
• Polygamists or believers in polygamy
• Convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude
• Suffering from mental alienation or incurable contagious diseases
• Did not mingle socially with Filipinos or embrace their customs
• Citizens of nations at war with the U.S. and Philippines
• Citizens of countries that don't allow Filipino naturalization
- Declaration of intention required 1 year before petition (Section 5)
• Details like name, age, occupation, arrival date, etc.
• Enroll minor children in schools teaching Philippine history/civics
- Exemptions from declaration of intention (Section 6):
• Born in the Philippines and received primary/secondary education
• Resided in the Philippines for at least 30 years
• Widow and minor children of alien who declared intention
- Petition requirements and process (Sections 7-12):
• File petition with competent court with details like qualifications
• Publish notice of petition and hearing for 90 days
• Solicitor-General represents Commonwealth at hearing
• Court issues naturalization certificate if qualified
• Appeal to Supreme Court allowed
- Naturalization certificate and oath (Sections 12-13):
• Certificate details like file number, personal circumstances, dates
• Oath renouncing foreign allegiance, supporting Philippine laws
• Court record books for petitions and certificates
- Effect on wife and children (Section 15):
• Wife of Filipino citizen deemed a citizen if lawfully naturalizable
• Minor children born in Philippines considered citizens
• Foreign-born minor children become citizens during minority
• Children born abroad after parent's naturalization are citizens
- Cancellation of naturalization (Section 18):
• Concealment of material facts or willful misrepresentation
• Dishonorable discharge from Philippine armed forces
• Desertion of U.S. armed forces in Philippine territory
• Failure to enroll children in schools teaching Philippine history/civics
• Used as dummy to violate Constitutional provisions
- Penalties for violations (Sections 19-20):
• Fines up to 5,000 pesos or imprisonment up to 5 years, or both
• Cancellation of naturalization certificate
• 5-year prescription period for offenses
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An Act To Provide For The Acquisition Of Philippine Citizenship By Naturalization, And To Repeal Acts Numbered Twenty-Nine Hundred And Twenty-Seven And Thirty-Four Hundred And Forty-Eight.
Commonwealth Act No. 473
•November 6, 1939
COMMONWEALTH ACT No. 473
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALIZATION, AND TO REPEAL ACTS NUMBERED TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN AND THIRTY-FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT.
Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines:
Section 1. Title of Act. ? This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Revised Naturalization Law."
Section 2. Qualifications. ? Subject to section four of this Act, any person having the following qualifications may become a citizen of the Philippines by naturalization:
First. He must be not less than twenty-one years of age on the day of the hearing of the petition;
Second. He must have resided in the Philippines for a continuous period of not less than ten years;
Third. He must be of good moral character and believes in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution, and must have conducted himself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of his residence in the Philippines in his relation with the constituted government as well as with the community...
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