MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday disclosed that more than 116,000 former Filipinos reacquired their Philippine citizenship under the so-called dual citizenship law.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said that a total of 116,059 individuals reacquired Philippine citizenship since the bureau started implementing the law in April 2004.

Under Republic Act 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, natural-born Filipinos who became naturalized citizens of other countries are deemed not to have lost their citizenship by taking the required oath of allegiance.

David said that of the total number of reacquired Philippine citizens, 36,851 filed their petitions at the BI main office in Manila while 79,208 applied at various Philippine consulates abroad.

David urged former Filipinos who wished to enjoy again their rights and privileges as Philippine citizens to avail of the benefits of the law.

Among these rights, he said, are the rights to vote, run for public office, own real properties here, secure a Philippine passport, and stay in the Philippines.

David, however, stressed that the same law allows the applicants to have dual citizenship if the laws of their foreign country allow it.

“They can also enter and exit the country anytime or stay here indefinitely without the need to apply for an extension of stay,” the BI chief added.

BI legal officer Maricel Salcedo Sulit, who heads the BI’s task force on RA 9225, said Americans topped the list of approved applicants, followed by Britons and Canadians.

Sulit said most of the dual citizens filed their petitions at Philippine consulates, particularly those in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu, Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto, and London.

To apply, the applicant pays only a fee of P3,000 and his papers are immediately processed if all documentary requirements are submitted.