Allow Filipinos with Dual Citizenship to Run in Election – Arroyo

Gloria Arroyo Appeals to Allow Filipinos with Dual Citizenship to Run in Election

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appealed to allow Filipinos with dual citizenship to run in the election and have a government position.

The Senior Deputy Speaker introduced a bill that calls for the appointment of Filipinos with dual citizenship to the government. Arroyo promotes House Bill 485 to support candidates with dual citizenship in the Philippine elections.

The purpose of the bill is to amend RA 9225 or the Citizens Retention and Reacquisition Act which will remove the requirement that a candidate must renounce his foreign citizenship at the time he files the certificate of candidacy. Under section 5 of the Constitution, the foreign citizenship of an individual must be formally rejected through a sworn affidavit before being able to participate in the election.

However, according to Arroyo’s proposal, this will also be removed. She added that it would be a disservice to Filipinos abroad if they are not granted the same rights as those staying in the country.

“While dual citizens are given the right to vote in the Philippine elections under the existing laws, those seeking public office or appointment to public office are given a disincentive under RA 9225 requiring them to make a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officers authorized to administer an oath,” Arroyo added.

The prohibition, in Arroyo’s opinion, blatantly discriminates against Filipinos who reside abroad. It diminishes their strategic contribution to maintaining the national economy by sending their hard-earned money abroad in the form of remittances, she continued.

According to the former president, the goal of his proposal is to allow Filipinos who have immigrated from other countries to serve their country without having to give up their dual citizenship. The House Committee on Justice is now considering the bill.

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