Philippines: Act No. 562 of 1950, Alien Registration Act

Section 1

Aliens residing in the Philippines shall, within thirty days after the approval of this Act, apply for registration, in the case of those residing in the City of Manila, at the Bureau of Immigration, and in the case of those residing in other localities, at the offices of the city or municipal treasurers, or at any other office designated by the President. The parent or legal guardian of an alien who is less than fourteen years of age, shall have the duty of registering such alien: Provided, that whenever any such alien attains his fourteenth birthday in the Philippines he shall, within fifteen days thereafter, apply in person for registration. No accredited official of a foreign government recognized by the Republic of the Philippines, or member of his official staff and family, shall be required to be registered.

Sec.2

The Commissioner of Immigration with the approval of the Department Head, is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act, including the registration of alien seamen, aliens confined in institutions in the Philippines, aliens under orders of deportation, and aliens of any other class not lawfully admitted into the Philippines for permanent residence, and from time to time, always with the approval of the Department Head, to amend such rules and regulations. All registration records of every alien shall be forwarded for file and record to the Bureau of Immigration.

Sec.4

Every alien to be registered, except those less than fourteen years of age, shall pay fifty pesos as registration fee. As evidence of such registration, a certificate shall be issued which shall contain the name, age, date and place of birth, civil status, local residence, occupation and photograph of the alien, and such other data with respect to him, as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Immigration. In case of loss or destruction of such certificate, a duplicate thereof shall be issued upon payment of ten pesos.

Sec.5

Any alien registered shall notify the corresponding official charged with his registration in writing of any change of residence and new address, twenty-four hours before such change. In the case of an alien for whom a parent or legal guardian is required to apply for registration, the notices required by this section shall be given by such parent or legal guardian.

Sec.6

Any alien required to apply for registration who fails or refuses to make such application, and any parent or legal guardian required to apply for the registration of any alien, who fails or refuses to file application for the registration of such alien shall, at the option of the Commissioner of Immigration, be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding two thousand pesos, or be prosecuted and upon conviction be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand pesos, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Any alien or any parent or legal guardian of any alien, who fails to give the written notice required by section five of this Act shall, at the option of the Commissioner of Immigration, be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding five thousand pesos, or be prosecuted and upon conviction be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand pesos or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Any alien, or any parent or legal guardian of any alien, who files an application for registration containing statements known by him to be false, or who procures or attempts to procure registration of himself or another person through fraud, or who utilizes a registration certificate other than his own, shall, at the option of the Commissioner of Immigration, be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding two thousand pesos, or be prosecuted and upon conviction be punished by fine not exceeding five thousand pesos or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both; and any alien so convicted within five years after entry into the Philippines shall be deported upon the warrant of the Commissioner of Immigration.

Sec.7

Every alien subject to the provisions of this Act shall, on demand of any immigration official, or a member of the Philippine Constabulary, police, or other peace officer, exhibit his certificate of registration. In the case of an alien for whom a parent or legal guardian has applied for the registration of such alien, the exhibition of the certificate herein required shall be made by such parent or legal guardian. Every alien, or parent or legal guardian of such alien, violating this section shall, at the option of the Commissioner of Immigration, be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding one hundred pesos, or be prosecuted and upon conviction be punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred pesos, or imprisonment for not more than thirty days or both.

Sec.10

Every alien subject to the provisions of this Act shall, within the first sixty days of every calendar year, report in person to the Bureau of Immigration, if residing in the City of Manila, or to the office of the respective city or municipal treasurer, if residing in another locality, or to the Chief Immigration Officer should there be an immigration office in such locality. The official in charge shall accept such annual report in the manner to be prescribed by rules and regulations. An annual report fee of ten pesos shall be paid by the alien. The parent or legal guardian of an alien who is less than fourteen years of age, shall have the duty of reporting for such alien: Provided, that whenever any such alien attains his fourteenth birthday in the Philippines, he shall thereafter report in person and pay the required annual report fee of ten pesos once a year within the period and at the place above designated. Failure to make the report herein required shall subject the alien, at the option of the Commissioner of Immigration, to an administrative fine not exceeding one hundred pesos, or to prosecution for violation of this section and upon conviction to be punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred pesos, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.