Filipinos not acting on offer for citizenship

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

A new Philippines law allowing former Filipino nationals to claim dual citizenship has lured only a handful to participate in the next Philippines national election, with tomorrow as the registration deadline.

The Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act, which took effect Sept. 17, allows anyone born in the Philippines to reclaim citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance. The oath also qualifies unmarried children under 18 for citizenship.

However, one of the incentives for dual citizenship — the ability to vote in national elections — will not be ready in time for the May 10 election, said Rolando Gregorio, Philippines consul general in Honolulu.

Rules to implement the new law are not written yet, he said, so elections officials will abide by a requirement that voters live in the Philippines or sign a pledge to return within three years.

That requirement seems to be deterring immigrants; only about a half-dozen U.S. citizens have declared dual citizenship and registered to vote, Gregorio said.

A companion law allows Filipinos living abroad to vote; fewer than 100 Filipino nationals here have registered so far, Gregorio said.

Both groups can sign up from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through tomorrow. For information, call 595-6316.

Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.