On Dual Citizenship and Voting in Philippine Elections

...I'm just putting this out there for anyone that qualifies and/or is interested. This is long and may get complicated, so contact me for more info if you're interested.

Take a look at the article below (written on 8/19/06) from the Philippine News website:

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Dual citizens gain reprieve on poll listup

By Rio Araja

The Commission on Elections yesterday approved a one-month extension of registration for Filipinos overseas including those who have acquired dual citizenship.

Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and commissioners Florentino Tuason Jr., Romeo Brawner, Rene Sarmiento and Nicodemo Ferrer approved Resolution 7694, following a Supreme Court decision allowing expatriates to register as overseas absentee-voters.

The Court invoked Republic Act 9225, otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, reaffirming the suffrage right of Filipinos who were granted dual citizenship.

The high court ruled that there is no provision in the Dual Citizenship Act stipulating “dual citizens to actually establish residence and physically stay in the Philippines first before they can exercise their right to vote.”

The commission will utilize the one-month grace period to inform the Filipinos overseas about their right to take part in the poll process starting next year.

The OAV registration is supposed to end on Aug. 31.

James Arthur Jimenez, Comelec spokesman, said the poll body is likely to grant another extension “if the response is good.”

SC ruled that there is no provision in the Dual Citizenship Act stipulating “dual citizens to actually establish residence and physically stay in the Philippines first before they can exercise their right to vote.”

Abalos directed OAV registration centers in all Philippine Postal Corp. offices abroad and other centers at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Ninoy Aquino International Airport to accept the applications of absentee-voters until Sept. 30.

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So what does this mean?

If you are a dual citizen of the Philippines and any other country, you now have the right to vote in Philippine national elections (like the upcoming 2007 senatorial elections) without having to sign an Affidavit of Intent to Return.

The whole Philippine Overseas Absentee Voting system started in 2003; however, registration turnout for the 2004 national elections was very low because people did not want to sign the Affidavit of Intent to Return which would have meant that they must establish physical residence in the Philippines within 3 years.

Just last month the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that dual citizens don't have to sign said affidavit anymore to register to vote. This could mean that a dual citizen that hasn't even stepped foot in the Philippines his or her entire life could vote in Philippine national elections.

So if you are a dual citizen right now and is interested in voting, you have until September 30 2006 to register. Contact me or the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles for more info.

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But wait, what if I'm not a dual citizen? Am I qualified to be one?

You are qualified to be a dual citizen if at least one parent was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth, and that your birth must was reported to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which exercises jurisdiction over the place of birth.

You can apply for dual citizenship if you qualify at the Philippine Consulate or Embassy.

What are the benefits of being a dual citizen?

Taken from the LA Consulate's website:

right to vote in Philippine national elections
- right to own land and property in the Philippines
- right to engage in business or commerce as a Filipino
- right to travel bearing a Filipino passport
- other rights and privileges enjoyed by Filipino citizens

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Ok, this is getting long. Bottom line, if you are interested in either becoming a dual citizen or voting in the 2007 Philippine national elections if you currently are a dual citizen, contact me or the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles.