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Filipino lawyers who became naturalized American citizen can again practice law in the country upon acquiring dual citizenship, according to the Supreme Court.
In an en banc resolution promulgated September 23, 2014, but released only this week, the Supreme Court granted the petition of Marcos Del Rosario to practice his legal profession in the country after losing his Philippine citizenship by reason of naturalization as US citizen.
“The Court resolved to allow petitioner Del Rosario to resume practice of law in the Philippines, subject to the conditions that he re-takes his lawyer’s oath on a date set by the Court,” the resolution stated.
The high court also required petition to pay “the appropriate fees, and (submit) the original or certified true copy of the proof of payment of the professional tax for 2013.”
The SC cited Article XII, Section 14 of the Constitution, which provides that “the practice of all professions in the Philippines shall be limited to Filipino citizens, save in cases prescribed by law.”
Before moving to the US, Del Rosario passed the Philippine Bar exams after finishing his law degree from the University of the Philippine in 1995.
He then obtained his Master of Laws in International Business from Fordham University in New York, NY, U.S.A in 2003 and was admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the US District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York after becoming a naturalized American citizen.
Del Rosario filed the petition in the SC, saying he wanted to continue practicing law in the country.
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