ECOND DIVISION

MARIA VIRGINIA V. REMO, G.R. No. 169202

Petitioner,
Present:

CARPIO, J., Chairperson,
-versus- BRION,
DEL CASTILLO,
ABAD, and
PERE, JJ.
!"E "ONORA#$E SECRE!AR%
O& &OREIGN A&&AIRS, Pro'()*ate+,
Respondent. Marc !, "#$#
%-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------%


D E C I S I O N

CARPIO, J.,

!he Case

Be&ore te Court 's a pet't'on &or rev'e(
$
)$* o& te "+ Ma, "##! Dec's'on
"
)"*
and " Au-ust "##! Reso.ut'on
/
)/* o& te Court o& Appea.s 'n CA-0.R. SP No.
1++$#. Te Court o& Appea.s a&&'r2ed te dec's'on o& te O&&'ce o& te Pres'dent,
('c 'n turn a&&'r2ed te dec's'on o& te Secretar, o& 3ore'-n A&&a'rs den,'n-
pet't'oner4s re5uest to revert to te use o& er 2a'den na2e 'n er rep.ace2ent
passport.


!he &a-ts

Pet't'oner Mar'a 6'r-'n'a 6. Re2o 's a 2arr'ed 3'.'p'no c't'7en (ose
P'.'pp'ne passport (as ten e%p'r'n- on "+ Octo8er "###. Pet't'oner 8e'n-
2arr'ed to 3ranc'sco R. Ra..on7a, te &o..o('n- entr'es appear 'n er passport:
9Ra..on7a: as er surna2e, 9Mar'a 6'r-'n'a: as er -'ven na2e, and 9Re2o: as
er 2'dd.e na2e. Pr'or to te e%p'r, o& te va.'d't, o& er passport, pet't'oner,
(ose 2arr'a-e st'.. su8s'sts, app.'ed &or te rene(a. o& er passport ('t te
1[1] Under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court.
2[2] Rollo, pp. 37-44. Penned by Asso!"te #ust!e Re$ed!os A. %"l"&"r-'ern"ndo (!th
Asso!"te #ust!es Ros$"r! ). C"r"nd"n* "nd +on!n" Are,"lo -en"ros" onurr!n*.
3[3] .d. "t 35.
Depart2ent o& 3ore'-n A&&a'rs ;D3A< o&&'ce 'n C'ca-o, I..'no's, =.S.A., ('t a
re5uest to revert to er 2a'den na2e and surna2e 'n te rep.ace2ent passport.

Pet't'oner4s re5uest av'n- 8een den'ed, Att,. Manue. >osep R. Bretana III,
represent'n- pet't'oner, (rote ten Secretar, o& 3ore'-n A&&a'rs Do2'n-o S'ason
e%press'n- a s'2'.ar re5uest.

On "1 Au-ust "###, te D3A, trou- Ass'stant Secretar, Be.en 3. Anota,
den'ed te re5uest, stat'n- tus:

T's as re&erence to ,our .etter dated $+ Au-ust "###
re-ard'n- one Ms. Mar'a 6'r-'n'a 6. Re2o (o 's app.,'n- &or
rene(a. o& er passport us'n- er 2a'den na2e.

T's O&&'ce 's co-n'7ant o& te prov's'on 'n te .a( tat 't 's not o8.'-ator, &or a 2arr'ed
(o2an to use er us8and4s na2e. .se o/ 'ai+en na'e is a))o0e+ in passport app)i-ation
on)1 i/ the 'arrie+ na'e has not 2een (se+ in pre3io(s app)i-ation. Te I2p.e2ent'n-
Ru.es and Re-u.at'ons &or P'.'pp'ne Passport Act o& $??@ c.ear., de&'nes te cond't'ons (en a
(o2an app.'cant 2a, revert to er 2a'den na2e, tat 's, on., 'n cases o& annu.2ent o& 2arr'a-e,
d'vorce and deat o& te us8and. Ms. Re2o4s case does not 2eet an, o& tese cond't'ons.
A
)A*
;E2pas's supp.'ed<


Pet't'oner4s 2ot'on &or recons'derat'on o& te a8ove-.etter reso.ut'on (as
den'ed 'n a .etter dated $/ Octo8er "###.
!
)!*
On $! Nove28er "###, pet't'oner &'.ed an appea. ('t te O&&'ce o& te
Pres'dent.

4[4] .d. "t 4/.
5[5] .d. "t 50.
On "+ >u., "##A, te O&&'ce o& te Pres'dent d's2'ssed te appea.
@
)@* and
ru.ed tat Sect'on !;d< o& Repu8.'c Act No. 1"/? ;RA 1"/?< or te Philippine
Passport Act of 1996 9o&&ers no .ee(a, &or an, oter 'nterpretat'on tan tat on.,
'n case o& d'vorce, annu.2ent, or dec.arat'on )o& nu..'t,* o& 2arr'a-e 2a, a 2arr'ed
(o2an revert to er 2a'den na2e &or passport purposes.: Te O&&'ce o& te
Pres'dent &urter e.d tat 'n case o& con&.'ct 8et(een a -enera. and spec'a. .a(, te
.atter ('.. contro. te &or2er re-ard.ess o& te respect've dates o& passa-e. S'nce
te C'v'. Code 's a -enera. .a(, 't sou.d ,'e.d to RA 1"/?.

On "1 Octo8er "##A, te O&&'ce o& te Pres'dent den'ed te 2ot'on &or
recons'derat'on.
+
)+*

Pet't'oner &'.ed ('t te Court o& Appea.s a pet't'on &or rev'e( under Ru.e
A/ o& te Ru.es o& C'v'. Procedure.

In 'ts Dec's'on o& "+ Ma, "##!, te Court o& Appea.s den'ed te pet't'on and
a&&'r2ed te ru.'n- o& te O&&'ce o& te Pres'dent. Te d'spos't've port'on o& te
Court o& Appea.s4 dec's'on reads:

BCERE3ORE, pre2'ses cons'dered, te pet't'on 's DENIED, and te
reso.ut'on dated >u., "+, "##A, and te order dated Octo8er "1, "##A
o& te O&&'ce o& te Pres'dent 'n O.P. Case No. ##$-A-?/AA are ere8,
A33IRMED.

SO ORDERED.
1
)1*


1[1] .d. "t 45-47.
7[7] .d. "t 42.
2[2] .d. "t 44.
Pet't'oner 2oved &or recons'derat'on ('c te Court o& Appea.s den'ed 'n
'ts Reso.ut'on dated " Au-ust "##!.

Cence, t's pet't'on.


!he Co(rt o/ Appea)s4 R()in*


Te Court o& Appea.s &ound no con&.'ct 8et(een Art'c.e /+# o& te C'v'.
Code
?
)?* and Sect'on !;d< o& RA 1"/?.
$#
)$#* Te Court o& Appea.s e.d tat &or
passport app.'cat'on and 'ssuance purposes, RA 1"/? .'2'ts te 'nstances (en a
2arr'ed (o2an app.'cant 2a, e%erc'se te opt'on to revert to te use o& er
2a'den na2e suc as 'n a case o& a d'vorce decree, annu.2ent or dec.arat'on o&
nu..'t, o& 2arr'a-e. S'nce tere (as no so('n- tat pet't'onerDs 2arr'a-e to
3ranc'sco Ra..on7a as 8een annu..ed, dec.ared vo'd or a d'vorce decree as 8een
-ranted to te2, pet't'oner cannot s'2p., revert to er 2a'den na2e 'n te
rep.ace2ent passport a&ter se ad adopted er us8and4s surna2e 'n er o.d
/[/] Art. 370. A $"rr!ed (o$"n $"y use3
415 6er $"!den 7rst n"$e "nd surn"$e "nd "dd her husb"nd8s surn"$e, or
425 6er $"!den 7rst n"$e "nd her husb"nd9s surn"$e or
435 6er husb"nd9s full n"$e, but pre7:!n* " (ord !nd!"t!n* th"t she !s h!s (!fe, suh "s
;+rs.<
10 [10]%et!on 54d5 for RA 223/ pro,!des3 .n "se of " (o$"n (ho !s $"rr!ed, sep"r"ted,
d!,ored or (!do(ed or (hose $"rr!"*e h"s been "nnulled or del"red by ourt "s
,o!d, " opy of the ert!7"te of $"rr!"*e, ourt deree of sep"r"t!on, d!,ore or
"nnul$ent or ert!7"te of de"th of the dee"sed spouse duly !ssued "nd
"uthent!"ted by the =>e of the C!,!l Re*!str"r ?ener"l3 Provided, @h"t !n "se of "
d!,ore deree, "nnul$ent or del"r"t!on of $"rr!"*e "s ,o!d, the (o$"n "ppl!"nt
$"y re,ert to the use of her $"!den n"$e3 Provided, further, @h"t suh d!,ore !s
reo*n!&ed under e:!st!n* l"(s of the Ph!l!pp!nesA
passport. Cence, accord'n- to te Court o& Appea.s, respondent (as Eust'&'ed 'n
re&us'n- te re5uest o& pet't'oner to revert to er 2a'den na2e 'n te rep.ace2ent
passport.

!he Iss(e


Te so.e 'ssue 'n t's case 's (eter pet't'oner, (o or'-'na.., used er
us8and4s surna2e 'n er e%p'red passport, can revert to te use o& er 2a'den
na2e 'n te rep.ace2ent passport, desp'te te su8s'stence o& er 2arr'a-e.

!he R()in* o/ the Co(rt

!he petition )a-5s 'erit.

!it)e 6III o/ the Ci3i) Co+e *o3erns the (se o/ s(rna'es. In the -ase o/
a 'arrie+ 0o'an, Arti-)e 780 o/ the Ci3i) Co+e pro3i+es,

ART. /+#. A 2arr'ed (o2an may use:

;$< CER MAIDEN 3IRST NAME AND S=RNAME AND ADD CER
C=SBAND4S S=RNAME, OR
;"< CER MAIDEN 3IRST NAME AND CER C=SBANDDS S=RNAME, OR
(3) CER C=SBAND4S 3=LL NAME, B=T PRE3IFIN0 A BORD
INDICATIN0 TCAT SCE IS CIS BI3E, S=CC AS 9MRS.:


Be a-ree ('t pet't'oner tat te use o& te (ord 92a,: 'n te a8ove
prov's'on 'nd'cates tat te use o& te us8and4s surna2e 8, te ('&e 's per2'ss've
rater tan o8.'-ator,. T's as 8een sett.ed 'n te case o& Yasin v. Honorable
Judge hari!a "istrict #ourt.
$$
)$$*

In Yasin$
$"
)$"* pet't'oner tere'n &'.ed ('t te Sar'4a D'str'ct Court a
9Pet't'on to resu2e te use o& 2a'den na2e: 'n v'e( o& te d'sso.ut'on o& er
2arr'a-e 8, d'vorce under te Code o& Mus.'2 Persona. La(s o& te P'.'pp'nes,
and a&ter 2arr'a-e o& er &or2er us8and to anoter (o2an. In ru.'n- 'n &avor o&
pet't'oner tere'n, te Court e%p.a'ned tat:

9hen a 0o'an 'arries a 'an, she nee+ not app)1 an+:or see5
;(+i-ia) a(thorit1 to (se her h(s2an+4s na'e 21 pre/i<in* the 0or+ =Mrs.>
2e/ore her h(s2an+4s /()) na'e or 21 a++in* her h(s2an+4s s(rna'e to her
'ai+en /irst na'e. !he )a0 *rants her s(-h ri*ht ?Art. 780, Ci3i) Co+e@.
Si'i)ar)1, 0hen the 'arria*e ties or vinculum no )on*er e<ists as in the -ase
o/ +eath o/ the h(s2an+ or +i3or-e as a(thoriAe+ 21 the M(s)i' Co+e, the
0i+o0 or +i3or-ee nee+ not see5 ;(+i-ia) -on/ir'ation o/ the -han*e in her
-i3i) stat(s in or+er to re3ert to her 'ai+en na'e as (se o/ her /or'er
h(s2an+4s is optiona) an+ not o2)i*ator1 /or her ?!o)entino, Ci3i) Co+e, p.
82B, 19C7 e+.D Art. 787, Ci3i) Co+e@. 9hen petitioner 'arrie+ her h(s2an+,
she +i+ not -han*e her 2(t on)1 her -i3i) stat(s. Neither 0as she reE(ire+ to
11[11] 311 Ph!l. 1/1, 707 41//55. %ee "lso B"r +"tter Co. 1125, .n re: Petition to Use
Maiden Name in Petition to Take the 2006 Bar Examinations, ose!hine P" U#$Timosa 4En
Ban% Resolut!on d"ted 12 #uly 20015.
12[12] %upr".
se-(re ;(+i-ia) a(thorit1 to (se the s(rna'e o/ her h(s2an+ a/ter the
'arria*e as no )a0 reE(ires it. ?E'phasis s(pp)ie+@



C.ear.,, a 2arr'ed (o2an as an opt'on, 8ut not a dut,, to use te surna2e
o& te us8and 'n an, o& te (a,s prov'ded 8, Art'c.e /+# o& te C'v'. Code.
$/
)$/*
Se 's tere&ore a..o(ed to use not on., an, o& te tree na2es prov'ded 'n Art'c.e
/+#, 8ut a.so er 2a'den na2e upon 2arr'a-e. Se 's not pro'8'ted &ro2
cont'nuous., us'n- er 2a'den na2e once se 's 2arr'ed 8ecause (en a (o2an
2arr'es, se does not can-e er na2e 8ut on., er c'v'. status. 3urter, t's
'nterpretat'on 's 'n consonance ('t te pr'nc'p.e tat surna2es 'nd'cate descent.
$A
)$A*

In te present case, pet't'oner, (ose 2arr'a-e 's st'.. su8s'st'n- and (o
opted to use er us8and4s surna2e 'n er o.d passport, re5uested to resu2e er
2a'den na2e 'n te rep.ace2ent passport ar-u'n- tat no .a( pro'8'ts er &ro2
us'n- er 2a'den na2e. Pet't'oner c'tes Yasin as te app.'ca8.e precedent.
Co(ever, Yasin 's not s5uare., 'n po'nt ('t t's case. =n.'Ge 'n Yasin, ('c
'nvo.ved a Mus.'2 d'vorcee (ose &or2er us8and 's a.read, 2arr'ed to anoter
(o2an, pet't'oner4s 2arr'a-e re2a'ns su8s'st'n-. Anoter po'nt, Yasin d'd not
'nvo.ve a re5uest to resu2e one4s 2a'den na2e 'n a rep.ace2ent passport, 8ut a
pet't'on to resu2e one4s 2a'den na2e 'n v'e( o& te d'sso.ut'on o& one4s 2arr'a-e.

Te .a( -overn'n- passport 'ssuance 's RA 1"/? and te app.'ca8.e
prov's'on 'n t's case 's Sect'on !;d<, ('c states:

13[13] @=DEC@.C=, C=++EC@AR.E% AC) #UR.%PRU)ECCE =C @6E C.F.D C=)E =' @6E
P6.D.PP.CE%, Fol. 1 41//0 ed!t!on5, p. 175.
14[14] .d.
Sec. !. %e&uire'ents for the (ssuance of Passport. H No passport sa.. 8e
'ssued to an app.'cant un.ess te Secretar, or 's du., autor'7ed representat've 's
sat's&'ed tat te app.'cant 's a 3'.'p'no c't'7en (o as co2p.'ed ('t te
&o..o('n- re5u're2ents: % % %

(") IN CASE O3 A BOMAN BCO IS MARRIED, SEPARATED,
DI6ORCED OR BIDOBED OR BCOSE MARRIA0E CAS BEEN
ANN=LLED OR DECLARED BI CO=RT AS 6OID, A COPI O3
TCE CERTI3ICATE O3 MARRIA0E, CO=RT DECREE O3
SEPARATION, DI6ORCE OR ANN=LMENT OR CERTI3ICATE
O3 DEATC O3 TCE DECEASED SPO=SE D=LI ISS=ED AND
A=TCENTICATED BI TCE O33ICE O3 TCE CI6IL RE0ISTRAR
0ENERAL: PRO6IDED, TCAT IN CASE O3 A DI6ORCE
DECREE, ANN=LMENT OR DECLARATION O3 MARRIA0E AS
6OID, TCE BOMAN APPLICANT MAI RE6ERT TO TCE =SE
O3 CER MAIDEN NAME: PRO6IDED, 3=RTCER, TCAT S=CC
DI6ORCE IS RECO0NIJED =NDER EFISTIN0 LABS O3 TCE
PCILIPPINESK F F F ;EMPCASIS S=PPLIED<


Te O&&'ce o& te So.'c'tor 0enera. ;OS0<, on 8ea.& o& te Secretar, o&
3ore'-n A&&a'rs, ar-ues tat te '-.'-ted prov'so 'n Sect'on !;d< o& RA 1"/?
9.'2'ts te 'nstances (en a 2arr'ed (o2an 2a, 8e a..o(ed to revert to te use o&
er 2a'den na2e 'n er passport.: Tese 'nstances are deat o& us8and, d'vorce
decree, annu.2ent or nu..'t, o& 2arr'a-e. S'-n'&'cant.,, Sect'on $, Art'c.e $" o& te
I2p.e2ent'n- Ru.es and Re-u.at'ons o& RA 1"/? prov'des:

Te passport can 8e a2ended on., 'n te &o..o('n- cases:

A< AMENDMENT O3 BOMAN4S NAME D=E TO MARRIA0EK
B< AMENDMENT O3 BOMAN4S NAME D=E TO DEATC O3 SPO=SE, ANN=LMENT O3
MARRIA0E OR DI6ORCE INITIATED BI A 3OREI0N SPO=SEK OR
C< CCAN0E O3 S=RNAME O3 A CCILD BCO IS LE0ITIMATED BI
6IRT=E O3 A S=BSEL=ENT MARRIA0E O3 CIS PARENTS.


S'nce pet't'oner4s 2arr'a-e to er us8and su8s'sts, p.ac'n- er case outs'de
o& te purv'e( o& Sect'on !;d< o& RA 1"/? ;as to te 'nstances (en a 2arr'ed
(o2an 2a, revert to te use o& er 2a'den na2e<, se 2a, not resu2e er 2a'den
na2e 'n te rep.ace2ent passport.
$!
)$!* T's pro'8't'on, accord'n- to pet't'oner,
con&.'cts ('t and, tus, operates as an '2p.'ed repea. o& Art'c.e /+# o& te C'v'.
Code.

PETITIONER IS MISTAMEN. TCE CON3LICT BETBEEN ARTICLE
/+# O3 TCE CI6IL CODE AND SECTION !;D< O3 RA 1"/? IS MORE
IMA0INED TCAN REAL. RA 1"/?, INCL=DIN0 ITS IMPLEMENTIN0
R=LES AND RE0=LATIONS, DOES NOT PROCIBIT A MARRIED BOMAN
3ROM =SIN0 CER MAIDEN NAME IN CER PASSPORT. IN 3ACT, IN
RECO0NITION O3 TCIS RI0CT, TCE D3A ALLOBS A MARRIED BOMAN
BCO APPLIES 3OR A PASSPORT 3OR TCE 3IRST TIME TO =SE CER
MAIDEN NAME. S=CC AN APPLICANT IS NOT REL=IRED TO ADOPT
CER C=SBANDDS S=RNAME.
$@
)$@*

In te case o& rene(a. o& passport, a 2arr'ed (o2an 2a, e'ter adopt er
us8and4s surna2e or cont'nuous., use er 2a'den na2e. I& se cooses to adopt
er us8and4s surna2e 'n er ne( passport, te D3A add't'ona.., re5u'res te
su82'ss'on o& an autent'cated cop, o& te 2arr'a-e cert'&'cate. Oter('se, '& se
pre&ers to cont'nue us'n- er 2a'den na2e, se 2a, st'.. do so. Te D3A ('.. not
pro'8't er &ro2 cont'nuous., us'n- er 2a'den na2e.
$+
)$+*

15[15] Rollo, pp. 214-215.
11[11] %ee http3GGdf".*o,.phG$"!nG!nde:.phpGonsul"r-ser,!esGp"ssport.
17[17] %ee http3GGdf".*o,.phG$"!nG!nde:.phpGrene("l-of-p"ssport.
COBE6ER, ONCE A MARRIED BOMAN OPTED TO ADOPT CER
C=SBAND4S S=RNAME IN CER PASSPORT, SCE MAI NOT RE6ERT TO
TCE =SE O3 CER MAIDEN NAME, EFCEPT IN TCE CASES
EN=MERATED IN SECTION !;D< O3 RA 1"/?. TCESE INSTANCES ARE: ;$<
DEATC O3 C=SBAND, ;"< DI6ORCE, ;/< ANN=LMENT, OR ;A< N=LLITI
O3 MARRIA0E. SINCE PETITIONER4S MARRIA0E TO CER C=SBAND
S=BSISTS, SCE MAI NOT RES=ME CER MAIDEN NAME IN TCE
REPLACEMENT PASSPORT. OTCERBISE STATED, A MARRIED BOMANDS
RE6ERSION TO TCE =SE O3 CER MAIDEN NAME M=ST BE BASED
ONLI ON TCE SE6ERANCE O3 TCE MARRIA0E.

E6EN ASS=MIN0 RA 1"/? CON3LICTS BITC TCE CI6IL CODE,
TCE PRO6ISIONS O3 RA 1"/? BCICC IS A SPECIAL LAB SPECI3ICALLI
DEALIN0 BITC PASSPORT ISS=ANCE M=ST PRE6AIL O6ER TCE
PRO6ISIONS O3 TITLE FIII O3 TCE CI6IL CODE BCICC IS TCE
0ENERAL LAB ON TCE =SE O3 S=RNAMES. A BASIC TENET IN
STAT=TORI CONSTR=CTION IS TCAT A SPECIAL LAB PRE6AILS O6ER
A 0ENERAL LAB,
$1
)$1* TC=S:

)I*t 's a &a2'.'ar ru.e o& statutor, construct'on tat to te e%tent o& an,
necessar, repu-nanc, 8et(een a -enera. and a spec'a. .a( or prov's'on, te
.atter ('.. contro. te &or2er ('tout re-ard to te respect've dates o&
passa-e.
$?
)$?*

12[12] &it%hon v" '(uino, /2 Ph!l. 452, 415 41/515A )axamana v" Balta*ar, /2 Ph!l. 32, 35
41/525A +e o#a v" )antin, 121 Ph!l. 221, 2/0 41/175A Ne!omu%eno v" R,-, 110 Ph!l. 42, 47
41/105.
1/[1/] )a.man v" -it# of Manila, 123 Ph!l. 143/, 1447 41/115 !t!n* -assion v" Ban%o
Na%ional ,ili!ino, 2/ Ph!l. 510, 511 41/515.

Moreover, pet't'oner4s teor, o& '2p.'ed repea. 2ust &a'.. Be..-entrenced 's
te ru.e tat an '2p.'ed repea. 's d's&avored. T e apparent., con&.'ct'n- prov's'ons
o& a .a( or t(o .a(s sou.d 8e ar2on'7ed as 2uc as poss'8.e, so tat eac sa..
8e e&&ect've.
"#
)"#* 3or a .a( to operate to repea. anoter .a(, te t(o .a(s 2ust
actua.., 8e 'ncons'stent. Te &or2er 2ust 8e so repu-nant as to 8e 'rreconc'.a8.e
('t te .atter act.
"$
)"$* T's pet't'oner &a'.ed to esta8.'s.

Te Court notes tat pet't'oner (ou.d not ave encountered an, pro8.e2s 'n
te rep.ace2ent passport ad se opted to cont'nuous., and cons'stent., use er
2a'den na2e &ro2 te 2o2ent se (as 2arr'ed and &ro2 te t'2e se &'rst app.'ed
&or a P'.'pp'ne passport. Co(ever, pet't'oner consc'ous., cose to use er
us8and4s surna2e 8e&ore, 'n er prev'ous passport app.'cat'on, and no( des'res to
resu2e er 2a'den na2e. I& (e a..o( pet't'oner4s present re5uest, de&'n'te.,
not'n- prevents er 'n te &uture &ro2 re5uest'n- to revert to te use o& er
us8and4s surna2e. Suc unEust'&'ed can-es 'n oneDs na2e and 'dent't, 'n a
passport, ('c 's cons'dered super'or to a.. oter o&&'c'a. docu2ents,
""
)""* cannot
8e countenanced. Oter('se, undue con&us'on and 'ncons'stenc, 'n te records o&
passport o.ders ('.. ar'se. Tus, &or passport 'ssuance purposes, a 2arr'ed (o2an,
suc as pet't'oner, (ose 2arr'a-e su8s'sts, 2a, not can-e er &a2'., na2e at
('...
20 [20]/alera v" Tuason, r", 20 Ph!l. 223, 227 41/425A Re!u0li% v" 'sun%ion, ?.R. Co.
102202, 11 +"rh 1//4, 231 %CRA 211, 231, !t!n* 1ordon v" /eridiano 22, Co. D-
55230, 2 Co,e$ber 1/22, 117 %CRA 51, 52-5/A Peo!le v" 'ntillon, 200 Ph!l. 144, 14/
41/225.
21[21] U"&" v" Pala%io, 33 Ph!l. 202 41/115.
22[22] %et!on 1/, RA 223/.

TCE ACL=ISITION O3 A PCILIPPINE PASSPORT IS A PRI6ILE0E.
TCE LAB RECO0NIJES TCE PASSPORT APPLICANT4S
CONSTIT=TIONAL RI0CT TO TRA6EL. COBE6ER, TCE STATE IS ALSO
MANDATED TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN TCE INTE0RITI AND
CREDIBILITI O3 TCE PASSPORT AND TRA6EL DOC=MENTS
PROCEEDIN0 3ROM IT
"/
)"/* AS A P"I$IPPINE PASSPOR! REMAINS A!
A$$ !IMES !"E PROPER!% O& !"E GOVERNMEN!. TCE COLDER IS
MERELI A POSSESSOR O3 TCE PASSPORT AS LON0 AS IT IS 6ALID AND
TCE SAME MAI NOT BE S=RRENDERED TO ANI PERSON OR ENTITI
OTCER TCAN TCE 0O6ERNMENT OR ITS REPRESENTATI6E.
"A
)"A*

As te OS0 correct., po'nted out:

)T*e 'ssuance o& passports 's '2pressed ('t pu8.'c 'nterest. A passport 's an
o&&'c'a. docu2ent o& 'dent't, and nat'ona.'t, 'ssued to a person 'ntend'n- to
trave. or soEourn 'n &ore'-n countr'es. It 's 'ssued 8, te P'.'pp'ne -overn2ent
to 'ts c't'7ens re5uest'n- oter -overn2ents to a..o( 'ts o.der to pass sa&e., and
&ree.,, and 'n case o& need, to -'ve '2Ner a'd and protect'on. % % %

6'e(ed 'n te .'-t o& te &ore-o'n-, 't 's ('t'n respondent4s co2petence to re-u.ate an,
a2end2ents 'ntended to 8e 2ade tere'n, 'nc.ud'n- te den'a. o& unreasona8.e and ('2s'ca.
re5uests &or a2end2ents suc as 'n te 'nstant case.
"!
)"!*


9"ERE&ORE, (e DEN% te pet't'on. Be A&&IRM te "+ Ma, "##!
Dec's'on and " Au-ust "##! Reso.ut'on o& te Court o& Appea.s 'n CA-0.R. SP
No. 1++$#.
23[23] %ee http3GGph!l!pp!ne-e$b"ssy.or*.s*G!nde:.f$H?P.)I/.
24[24] %et!on 11, RA 223/.
25[25] Rollo, p. 272.

SO ORDERED.

AN!ONIO !. CARPIO
Assoc'ate >ust'ce

9E CONC.R:





AR!.RO D. #RION
Assoc'ate >ust'ce






MARIANO C. DE$ CAS!I$$O RO#ER!O A. A#AD
Assoc'ate >ust'ce Assoc'ate >ust'ce




FOSE POR!.GA$ PERE
Assoc'ate >ust'ce

A!!ES!A!ION
I attest tat te conc.us'ons 'n te a8ove Dec's'on ad 8een reaced 'n
consu.tat'on 8e&ore te case (as ass'-ned to te (r'ter o& te op'n'on o& te Court4s
D'v's'on.



AN!ONIO !. CARPIO
Assoc'ate >ust'ce
CCAIRPERSON



CER!I&ICA!ION
P=RS=ANT TO SECTION $/, ARTICLE 6III O3 TCE CONSTIT=TION,
AND TCE DI6ISION CCAIRPERSON4S ATTESTATION, I CERTI3I TCAT
TCE CONCL=SIONS IN TCE ABO6E DECISION CAD BEEN REACCED IN
CONS=LTATION BE3ORE TCE CASE BAS ASSI0NED TO TCE BRITER O3
TCE OPINION O3 TCE CO=RT4S DI6ISION.



RE%NA!O S. P.NO
C'e& >ust'ce