Suffrage
"Philippine citizenship is a gift that must be deserved to be retained. The Philippines, for all her modest resources compared to those of other states, is a jealous and possessive mother demanding total love and loyalty from her children.“
-Justice Isagani Cruz-
What is Citizenship?
• A term denoting membership in a political community with full civil and political privilege and this membership imply, reciprocally, a duty of allegiance on the part of the member and duty of protection on the part of the state.
• This legal relationship involves rights and obligations on the part of both the individual and the state itself.
*Citizen : “inhabitant of a city” (Anglo-French “citizein”)
*Ship : Anglian “scip: or “state, condition of being)
ARTICLE IV
CITIZENSHIP
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.
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.
Section 3. Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the manner provided by law.
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.
Terminologies:
• Importance of Citizenship
• Natural Born ( Jus Sanguinis – Latin “right of blood” and Jus Soli –