Under the Bureau of Immigration’s Law Instruction No. RBR-99002, issued on 15 April 1999, any child born of a Filipino parent may be recognized as a Filipino citizen under existing laws.
The following documents are to be submitted to the Commissioner of Immigration in the Philippines :
The petition, in the form of a letter-request, made under oath by the Filipino parent or legally appointed guardian. A person who is 18 years old must apply in his/her own capacity.
In default of parents or a judicially appointed guardian, the following persons shall exercise substitute parental authority over the child in the order indicated:
(a) The surviving grandparent as provided in Article 214 of the Family Code;
(b) The oldest brother or sister over 21 years of age, unless unfit or disqualified; and
(c) The child’s actual custodian, over 21 years of age, unless unfit or disqualified.
In case the letter-request is made by a person on behalf of any of the parents, the legally appointed guardian, or persons exercising substitute parental authority, he or she must be duly authorized through a power of attorney to file such petition.
