ANTONIO BENSON III VS. HRET AND TEODORO CRUZ. G.R. NO. 142840. MAY 7, 2001
FACTS:
Respondent Cruz was a natural born Filipino citizen and of
Filipino parents. The fundamental law then applicable is 1935 Constitution.
In 1985, Cruz enlisted in the U.S Marine Corps and without
consent of the Republic of the Philippines, took an oath of allegiance to the
United States. As a consequence, he lost his Philippine Citizenship for
rendering service or accepting commission in the Armed Forces of Foreign
Country. In 1994, Cruz reacquired his Philippine citizenship through
repatriation under R.A. 2630. He ran and elected as the Representative of the
Second District of Pangasinan in 1998 elections. Petitioner filed a petition
for qou-warranto contending that as Cruz only reacquire his Philippine
citizenship, he is not a Filipino natural born citizen.
ISSUE:
Whether Cruz, a natural born Filipino citizen who became an
American citizen, can still be considered natural born upon his re-acquisition
of his Philippine citizenship.
HELD:
Yes. Repatriation results in recovery of the original
nationality. This means that a naturalized Filipino who lost his citizenship
will be restored of his Philippine citizenship when he subsequently reacquired
Philippine citizenship under R.A. No 2630. Having thus taken the required oath
of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and having registered the same
in the Civil Registry of Pangasinan in accordance with the afore-cited
provision, respondent Cruz is deemed to have recovered his original status as
natural born Filipino citizen, a status which acquired at birth as the son of a
Filipino father. The act of repatriation allows him to recover, for return to
his original status when he lost his Philippine Citizenship. Petition
dismissed.