4/29/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly "I _____________________, solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and legal orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines; and I hereby declare that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; and that I imposed this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion." Natural born citizens of the Philippines who, after the effectivity of this Act, become citizens of a foreign country shall retain their Philippine citizenship upon taking the aforesaid oath. Arnado falls under the first category as a natural-born Filipino citizen who was deemed to have lost his Philippine citizenship upon his naturalization as an American citizen. Under the given facts, Arnado indisputably re-acquired Philippine citizenship after taking the Oath of Allegiance not only once but twice – on July 10, 2008 and April 3, 2009. Separately from this oath of allegiance, Arnado took an oath renouncing his American citizenship as additionally required by RA 9225 for those seeking public office. Section 5 of RA 9225 on this point provides: Section 5. Civil and Political Rights and Liabilities - Those who retain or re-acquire Philippine citizenship under this Act shall enjoy full civil and political rights and be subject to all attendant liabilities and responsibilities under existing laws of the Philippines and the following conditions: (2) Those seeking elective public office in the Philippines shall meet the qualification for holding such public office as required by the Constitution and existing laws and, at the time of the filing of the certificate of candidacy, make a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer an oath. In Japzon v. Commission on Elections,[31] we ruled that Section 5(2) of RA 9225 requires the twin requirements of taking an Oath of Allegiance and the execution of a similarly sworn Renunciation of Foreign Citizenship. We said: Breaking down the afore-quoted provision, for a natural born Filipino, who reacquired or retained his Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225, to run for public office, he must: (1) meet the qualifications for holding such public office as required by the Constitution and existing laws; and (2) make a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenships before any public officer authorized to administer an oath.[32] elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/55820 41/49