SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF.

BATTAD
SINCO v LONGA
51 Phil 507
STREET; 1928
INA
FACTS
- Hacienda Rosario was owned ! Escolas"ico Sinco# who was
$arried "o Sa"%rnina &o'e() The! had * children# Ser+io# ,aria Pa(#
and -olo$a) -olo$a had * children o. her own# /icen"e# Pilar# and
0ese$'arados) -olo$a1s children are "he 'lain"i..s in "his case)
- 2hen Escolas"ico died# his es"a"e was inde"ed .or P134) In order
"o 'a! .or "his# Sa"%rnina and "heir children leased "he hacienda .or 7
!ears "o &on+a 5 his sis"er-in-law 6&on+a7) The lease a+ree$en" was
s%ch "ha" "he lessees wo%ld ass%$e "he inde"edness and "he
ren"als wo%ld e a''lied "o "he 'a!$en" o. "he es"a"e1s de"s) The
lease was e8"ended .or 2 !ears)
- -olo$a 'redeceased Sa"%rnina) 2hen Sa"%rnina died# she le." a
will ac4nowled+in+ "he enc%$rance o. "he hacienda) Ser+io and
,aria Pa( "ried "o 9%es"ion "he ri+h" o. -olo$a1s children 6'lain"i..s7
"o inheri"# %" "he o''osi"ion was aandoned 64asi $ed!o o:io%s
dia7)
- A."er Sa"%rnina1s dea"h# Ser+io was hard-'ressed .or $one! "o
s%s"ain his h%+e .a$il!# so he o..ered "o sell his 1;* %ndi:ided share
in "he hacienda "o &on+a) &on+a wan"ed "o %! "he whole 'ro'er"!
eca%se he was "r!in+ "o orrow $one! .ro$ "he Taacalera
-o$'an! "o 'a! "he '%rchase 'rice o. "he hacienda and "he
co$'an! wasn1" sec%re in ha:in+ a 1;* %ndi:ided share as sec%ri"!
.or "he loan) ,aria Pa( +o" on oard) The! sold "heir %ndi:ided
shares "o &on+a) So wha" was le." "o sell was "he share o. -olo$a1s
children# who a" "ha" "i$e were all $inors %nder "he +%ardianshi' o.
E$ilio Te:e(# which co%ldn1" e sold wi"ho%" co%r" a''ro:al)
- <e.ore "he a''ro:al o. "he co%r" "o sell# %ncle and a%n"ie e8ec%"ed a
doc%$en"# +%aran"eein+ "o &on+a "ha" 617 "he! will no" "a4e ac4 "heir
2;*# re+ardless o. "he decision o. "he co%r"; and 627 "he! will no"
o''ose "he sale o. "he children1s share# once a''ro:ed ! "he co%r")
- The co%r" a''ro:ed "he sale) And so "he children1s share was sold
"o &on+a) The children ro%+h" a case# 9%es"ionin+ "he re+%lari"! o.
"he sale o. "heir 'ro'er"!)
ISSUE
2=N "he sale o. "he 'ro'er"! o. "he $inors was a""ended wi"h .ra%d
6o. &on+a7)
HELD
N=)
- In 'assin+ %'on con"ro:ersies o. "his charac"er e8'erience "eaches
"he dan+er o. acce'"in+ li+h"l! char+es o. .ra%d $ade $an! !ears
a."er "he "ransac"ion in 9%es"ion was acco$'lished# when dea"h $a!
ha:e sealed "he li's o. "he 'rinci'al ac"ors and chan+es e..ec"ed !
"i$e $a! ha:e +i:en a "o"all! di..eren" color "o "he ca%se o.
con"ro:ers!) In "he case e.ore %s "he +%ardian# E$ilio Te:e(# is
dead) The sa$e is "r%e o. Trinidad 0ia+o# $o"her o. "he de.endan"
A+%eda &on+a; while A+a'i"o &on+a is now li:in+ in S'ain) I" will e
orne in $ind also "ha"# in so .ar as oral 'roo. is concerned# "he
char+e o. .ra%d res"s 'rinci'all! o. "he "es"i$on! o. a sin+le wi"ness
who# i. .ra%d was co$$i""ed# was a 'ar"ici'an" "herein and who
na"%rall! wo%ld now e an8io%s so .ar as 'rac"icale# "o '%" "he
la$e on o"hers) In "his connec"ion i" is well "o ear in $ind "he
.ollowin+ i$'ressi:e lan+%a+e o. ,r) >%s"ice S"or!?
888 <%" len+"h o. "i$e necessaril! osc%res all h%$an e:idence; and
as i" "h%s re$o:es .ro$ "he 'ar"ies all "he i$$edia"e $eans "o :eri.!
"he na"%re o. "he ori+inal "ransac"ions# i" o'era"es ! wa! o.
'res%$'"ion# in .a:or o. innocence# and a+ains" i$'%"a"ion o. .ra%d) I"
wo%ld e %nreasonale# a."er a +rea" len+"h o. "i$e# "o re9%ire e8ac"
'roo. o. all "he $in%"e circ%$s"ances o. an! "ransac"ion# or "o e8'ec"
a sa"is.ac"or! e8'lana"ion o. e:er! di..ic%l"!# real or a''aren"# wi"h
which i" $a! e inc%$ered) The $os" "ha" can .airl! e e8'ec"ed# in
s%ch cases# i. "he 'ar"ies are li:in+# .ro$ "he .rail"! o. $e$or!# and
h%$an in.ir$i"!# is "ha" "he $a"erial .ac"s can e +i:en wi"h cer"ain"!
"o a co$$on in"en"; and# i. "he 'ar"ies are dead# and "he cases res"
in con.idence# and in 'arol a+ree$en"s "he $os" "ha" we can ho'e is
"o arri:e a" 'roale con@ec"%res# and "o s%s"i"%"e +eneral
'res%$'"ions o. law# .or e8ac" 4nowled+e) Ara%d# or reach o. "r%s"#
o%+h" no" li+h"l! "o e i$'%"ed "o "he li:in+; .or# "he le+al 'res%$'"ion
is "he o"her wa!; and as "o "he dead# who are no" here "o answer .or
"he$sel:es# i" wo%ld e "he hei+h" o. in@%s"ice and cr%el"!# "o dis"%r
"heir ashes# and :iola"e "he sanc"i"! o. "he +ra:e# %nless "he e:idence
o. .ra%d e clear# e!ond a reasonale do%") 6Pre:os" vs) Bra"(# C
2hea") DE) S)F# 381# 398)7
- The a""orne!s .or "he a''ellees cri"ici(e "he order o. "he co%r" o.
No:e$er 1C# 1910# a%"hori(in+ "he sale o. "he share o. "he $inors in
"he hacienda as irre+%lar and e!ond "he @%risdic"ion o. "he co%r") 2e
are %nale "o conc%r in "his :iew) The 'e"i"ion 'resen"ed ! "he
+%ardian s"a"ed a case# we "hin4# .or a sale o. a 'or"ion o. "he
+%ardianshi' es"a"e .or rein:es"$en"# as con"e$'la"ed in sec"ion 5C9
o. "he -ode o. -i:il Proced%re) In "he 'e"i"ion i" was clearl! se" .or"h
"ha" "he inco$e o. "he childrenGs 'ro'er"! was ins%..icien" 'ro'er"! "o
$ain"ain and ed%ca"e "he$ and "ha" i" was .or "heir ene.i" "ha" "heir
share sho%ld e sold) I" was also "herein s"a"ed "ha" "he 'ro'er"! was
enc%$ered) Ad$i""in+ "ha" "hese s"a"e$en"s o. "he 'e"i"ion were
%n"r%e "he @%risdic"ion o. "he co%r" "o a%"hori(e "he sale was no"
"here! a..ec"ed# eca%se "he @%risdic"ion o. "he co%r" res"s on "he
a:er$en"s o. "he 'e"i"ion and no" %'on "he "r%"h o. "hose a:er$en"s)
The s%++es"ion "ha" "he order was irre+%lar and e!ond "he
@%risdic"ion o. "he co%r" eca%se '%lica"ion was no" $ade o:er "he
whole 'eriod re9%ired ! law losses i"s .orce in :iew o. "he .ac" "ha"
"he ne8" o. 4in o. "he $inors are s"a"ed in "he order "o ha:e
'ersonall! a''eared in co%r")
H The co%r" here said "ha" "he $inors here were reall! in a dan+ero%s
'osi"ion since no one in"er:ened in "he sale who was reall! loo4in+
o%" .or "he $inors1 in"eres"s) Encle and A%n"ie were 'ro"ec"in+ "heirs)
E:en "he +%ardian was a."er "he cash "ha" wo%ld e reali(ed .ro$ "he
sale "o a''l! "o his own %ses# ins"ead o. rein:es"in+ i") Es'eciall!
considerin+ "ha" "he $inors were no" in dire need o. "he 'roceeds as
was re.lec"ed in "he 'e"i"ion .or "he a%"hori(a"ion "o sell) The! had
s%..icien" 'ro'er"ies aside .ro$ "he 1;* share in "he hacienda "o
s%''or" "he$ 6as e:idenced ! "he .ac" "ha" "he! +o" ! wi"ho%" e:en
%sin+ "he 'roceeds 4asi n+a 4in%ha ni Te:e(7) Ts4 "s4 "s4)
MARGATE V RABACAL
7 S-RA 893
PARE0ES; A'ril *0# 19C*
APP&E
FACTS
-This is an a''lica"ion .or "he re+is"ra"ion o. a residen"ial land# wi"h a
ho%se# con"ainin+ an area o. 3C5 s9%are $e"ers# si"%a"ed in Iri+a#
-a$arines S%r# ! >ose ,ar+a"e# who clai$s "o ha:e '%rchased "he
'ro'er"! .ro$ >%lia Raacal .or P3#000)00)
-Raacal and her $inor children o''osed "he a''lica"ion# on "he
+ro%nd "ha" "he 'ro'er"! was %nder +%ardianshi' 'roceedin+s when
sold; "ha" "he sale was not authorized by the court; "ha" "he
'%rchase 'rice o. P3#000)00 was no" .%ll! 'aid# as "here was a
re$ainin+ alance o. P500)00 and "ha" "he $ar4e" 'rice o. "he lo" and
ho%se was P10#000)00)
-A."er d%e hearin+# "he re+is"ra"ion co%r" con.ir$ed "he "i"le o. "he
a''lican"# and ordered "ha" "he sa$e e re+is"ered in "he na$e o.
,ar+a"e
-=''osi"ors a''ealed "o "he -o%r" o. A''eals which cer"i.ied "he case
"o S- s"a"in+ "ha" "he iss%es in:ol:ed are '%rel! le+al in charac"er)
**(facts as found by trial court)
-"he 'arcel o. land and ho%se# was owned ! 0r) >%lio <erina# who
died on =c"oer 15# 1935# s%r:i:ed ! his widow# >%lia Raacal# and
his $inor children# "he o''osi"ors herein)
-Raacal was a''oin"ed +%ardian o. her $inor children and le""ers o.
+%ardianshi' was iss%ed in her .a:or) She .iled a 'e"i"ion alle+in+ "ha"
i" was necessar! "o sell 'arcel 3 o. "he in:en"or!# in order "o de.ra!
"he e8'enses in "he 'rosec%"ion o. -i:il -ase No) 919 and .or "he
s%''or" and ed%ca"ion o. "he wards) This 'e"i"ion was a''ro:ed !
"he co%r"# a%"hori(in+ "he +%ardian "o sell "he residen"ial lo" and i"s
i$'ro:e$en"s)
-Raacal o..ered "o sell "o ,ar+a"e "he residen"ial lo" in 9%es"ion# .or
P5#000)00) A."er ne+o"ia"ions# "he 'ar"ies a+reed on "he sellin+ 'rice
o. P3#000)00) A."er "he a+ree$en"# Raacal e+an +e""in+ $one!
.ro$ ,ar+a"e# s%ch "ha" when Raacal sec%red "he a%"hori"! "o sell
.ro$ "he co%r"# she had alread! o"ained .ro$ ,ar+a"e "he s%$ o.
P500)00# and a."er ha:in+ sec%red "he order o. a%"hori"! "o sell#
Raacal showed "o ,ar+a"e a co'! o. "he order) =n ,a! 27# 1938# a
deed o. sale was e8ec%"ed ! >%lia Raacal# ac4nowled+ed e.ore a
No"ar! P%lic# sellin+ "he land in 9%es"ion "o ,ar+a"e .or P3#000)00#
on which da"e ,ar+a"e 'aid "he alance o. P*#500)00 "o Raacal)
-Notwithstanding the fact that Rabacal had sold parcel 4 of the
inventory, and executed a deed of sale on May 27, 14!,
Rabacal, in the guardianship proceedings, asserted that despite
her efforts, she was unable to find a buyer for said parcel of
land, leading the court to cancel the granted authority to sell
ISSUE
2=N "he sale o. "he land "o ,ar+a"e was :alid
1
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
HELD
Ies)
-A''ellan"s ar+%e "ha" "he deed o. sale e8ec%"ed ! Raacal had no
indin+ e..ec" eca%se "he a%"hori"! "o sell was cancelled and "he
sale was no" a''ro:ed ! "he +%ardianshi' -o%r")
-"he cancella"ion o. "he a%"hori"! "o sell did no"# and co%ld no"# a..ec"#
"he ri+h"s o. "he %!er# eca%se a" "he "i$e "ha" "he order cancellin+
"he a%"hori"! "o sell was en"ered# "he +%ardian# >%lia Raacal# had
alread! ac"ed in accordance wi"h a%"hori"!# and sold "he land "o >ose
A) ,ar+a"e)
-The a%"hori"! o. "he -o%r" had alread! een e8ha%s"ed# a."er i" was
.%l.illed ! "he +%ardian# and "here was no"hin+ "o cancel)
-,oreo:er# "he cancella"ion o. "he order "o sell was en"ered ! "he
-o%r" d%e "o "he dece'"ion o. "he +%ardian) I. "he co%r" had een
in.or$ed o. "he sale# "he co%r" wo%ld cer"ainl! no" ha:e re:o4ed "he
a%"hori"!)
-,oreo:er# "he re:oca"ion was en"ered wi"ho%" no"ice "o "he
'%rchaser >ose A) ,ar+a"e
-2i"h res'ec" "o "he lac4 o. a''ro:al o. "he sale ! "he co%r"# "he law
$erel! re9%ires "ha" "he +%ardian sho%ld e a%"hori(ed# and "ha" "he
a%"hori"! "o sell did no" i$'ose "he condi"ion "ha" "he deed o. sale
e8ec%"ed ! "he +%ardian sho%ld e a''ro:ed ! "he -o%r") The
a''ro:al o. "he sale ! "he co%r"# %nder "he .ac"s and circ%$s"ances
o"ainin+ in "his case# wo%ld "hen e $erel! 'ro-.or$a# since "he
a''ellan"s were no" ale "o show an! reason wh! "he +%ardianshi'
wo%ld ha:e re.%sed "o a''ro:e "he sale which was alread! a .ai"
acco$'li and wi"hin "he a%"hori"! +i:en ! said co%r")
-<ein+ "he 'e"i"ioners-:endors# a''ellan"s canno" :alidl! a""ac4 "he
'roceedin+s had in "he sale# on cer"ain .or$al "echnicali"ies#
considerin+ "he .ac" "ha" "he! were "he :er! 'ersons who re9%es"ed#
oli+ed and 'ra!ed "he co%r" in "he +%ardianshi' 'roceedin+s "o
a''ro:e "he said sale# and "ha" "he! had deri:ed "he %"$os"
ad:an"a+e and ene.i" o%" o. "he 'roceeds "hereo.)
LICHAUCO VS TAN PHO
R=,EA&0EJ; No:e$er 21# 192*
ATHE
NATURE
A''eal .ro$ "he @%d+$en"s o. "he -AI o. ,anila
FACTS
- Balo &icha%co# Beroni$o >ose as +%ardian o. "he s'end"hri."
Jacarias &icha%co# and A$'aro N) >ose as +%ardian o. "he $inors
&%is and >%li"a &icha%co en"ered in"o a con"rac" o. lease o. land wi"h
Tan Pho in his ca'aci"! Kas +eneral a"orne!-in-.ac" o. Tan-E# widow o.
"he la"e -h%a Pien+co# and ad$inis"ra"or o. all o. "he 'ro'er"! o. "he
la""er1s heirs)L The con"rac" o. lease 'ro:ided .or "he erec"ion o. a
%ildin+ o. s"ron+ $a"erials .or "he 'eriod o. "wen"! !ears# .ro$ "he
da"e o. "he e8ec%"ion o. "he con"rac"# .or "he 'rice or ren" o. P1#5C0
$on"hl!) E'on "he "er$ina"ion o. "he 'eriod o. "he lease# all "he
i$'ro:e$en"s or %ildin+s cons"r%c"ed on "he leased land shall
eco$e "he 'ro'er"! o. "he owners o. "he land# wi"ho%" "he lessee
ein+ en"i"led "o 'a!$en" or co$'ensa"ion o. an! 4ind# ei"her !
reason o. said %ildin+ or ! "he i$'ro:e$en"s on "he land)
- A" "he "i$e "he con"rac" o. case was e8ec%"ed# "he owners o. "his
and were? Balo &icha%co# o. one-"hird pro indiviso; Jacarias
&icha%co# a" "ha" "i$e inca'aci"a"ed# o. ano"her one-"hird pro indiviso;
and &%is &icha%co "hen a $inor and >%li"a &icha%co also a" "ha" "i$e
and s"ill a $inor coowners o. "he re$ainin+ one-"hird 'ar" pro
indiviso)
- Aa%s"ino &icha%co# "he new +%ardian ad litem o"h o. "he $inors
&%is and >%li"a &icha%co# and o. "he inca'aci"a"ed Jacarias &icha%co#
.iled a case a+ains" "he lessee Tan Pho# his 'rinci'al Tan E 6alias Tan
=7# "he children o. "he la""er and a+ains" Balo &icha%co one o. "he
lessors) In said case# "he -o%r" o. Airs" Ins"ance o. ,anila rendered
@%d+$en" .indin+# a$on+ o"her "hin+s# "ha" said con"rac" o. lease is
:alid) Aro$ "his @%d+$en" 'lain"i.. a''ealed) Aa%s"ino assailed "he
con"rac" as :oid raisin+ "he .ollowin+ iss%es?
ISSUES
1) 2=N "he con"rac" o. lease is :alid
a) 2=N "he +%ardians o. "he inca'aci"a"ed 'erson and o. "he
$inors co%ld no" e8ec%"e i"
) 2=N "he con"rac" was no"# and co%ld no" ha:e een
a%"hori(ed ! "he co%r";
c) 2=N Tan Pho had no 'ower "o en"er in"o i")
2) 2=N "he re+is"ra"ion o. "he said lease in "he re+is"r! is .inal and
concl%si:e)
HELD
1) N=) Tha" "he con"rac" o. lease is :oid as re+ards "he 'lain"i..s# and
"he e..ec"s o. "his declara"ion o. 'ar"ial n%lli"! re"roac"s "o Se'"e$er
17# 1920# "he da"e on which "he co$'lain" .or n%lli"! was 'resen"ed)
a) IES) Ar"icle 1538 o. "he -i:il -ode 'ro:ides "ha" KNo lease .or a
"er$ o. $ore "han si8 !ears shall e $ade ! "he h%sand wi"h
res'ec"
"o "he 'ro'er"! o. his wi.e# ! "he .a"her wi"h res'ec" "o "ha" o. his
children# ! "he +%ardian wi"h res'ec" "o "ha" o. his ward# or ! a
$ana+er in de.a%l" o. s'ecial 'ower wi"h res'ec" "o "he 'ro'er"!
en"r%s"ed "o hi$ .or $ana+e$en")L
Reasoning:
- The lease was .or a 'eriod +rea"er "han si8 !ears and "he
res'ec"i:e +%ardians o. "he inca'aci"a"ed Jacarias &icha%co and "he
$inors &%is and >%li"a &icha%co lac4ed "he s'ecial 'ower re9%ired !
"his le+al 'ro:ision)
) Al"ho%+h "he lease in 9%es"ion co%ld e a''ro:ed ! "he co%r"#
ne:er"heless# s%ch a''ro:al was nei"her o"ained in d%e "i$e# nor
s%se9%en"l!)
Reasoning
- There was an alle+a"ion "ha" A$'aro Nale :erall! re9%es"ed "he
'residin+ >%d+e -ross.ield "o e8ec%"e said lease) >%d+e -ross.ield
also e8ec%"ed an a..ida:i" s"a"in+ "ha" he a''ro:ed o. "he lease# in
"he 'resence and wi"h "he co$'le"e a''ro:al o. all "he 'ar"ies
in"eres"ed and he ordered "ha" cler4 "o 're'are orders .or en"r! in "he
record) Howe:er# A) -anillas# "he de'%"! cler4 denied "ha" -ross.ield
ordered hi$ "o 're'are orders .or en"r! in "he record nor did "he
@%d+e +i:e hi$ an! orders or ins"r%c"ions wi"h re.erence "o "he
a''ro:al o. "he lease) Th%s# "he alle+ed a''ro:al si+ned ! >%d+e
-ross.ield was no" a""ached "o "he co%r" records o. "he case# nor did
e:er .or$ 'ar" "hereo.) -onse9%en"l!# "he a''roa"or! nunc pro tunc
1
order i$'liedl! en"ered in "he @%d+$en" a''ealed .ro$# is in:alid on
acco%n" o. ha:in+ een en"ered wi"ho%" a s%..icien" le+al asis
"here.or)
c) N=) I. Tan Pho was "he ad$inis"ra"or o. "he es"a"e o. -h%a
Pien+co# "hen he had "he 'ower "o $ana+e "o $ana+e "he 'ro'er"!
o. said es"a"e) The e$'lo!$en" o. .%nds o. "he la""er .or "he
cons"r%c"ion o. a %ildin+ on leased land# .or "he '%r'ose o. o"ainin+
ren"s .ro$ s%ch %ildin+ is an in:es"$en" o. ca'i"al which $a! e
considered as incl%ded in "he 'owers o. an ad$inis"ra"or o. a
deceden"Gs es"a"e) 2e canno" .orce o%rsel:es "o elie:e "ha"# in :iew
o. "he .ac"s o. "he case# Tan Pho "oo4 'ar" in "his lease as direc"
a""orne!-in-.ac" o. "he heirs o. "he deceased -h%a Pien+co) I. a" "he
"i$e# "he es"a"e had no" een 'ar"i"ioned# as i" a''ears in "he case#
s%ch heirs had as !e" no heredi"ar! 'ro'er"! "o dis'ose o.# nor "o
answer .or "heir ac"s# seein+ "ha" "he es"a"e was le+all! in "he hands
o. "he ad$inis"ra"or)
2) N=)
DISPOSITION: "he @%d+$en" a''ealed .ro$ is re:ersed and i" is
here! declared and ordered?
1) Tha" "he con"rac" o. lease here in 9%es"ion e8ec%"ed ! Balo
&icha%co and "he res'ec"i:e +%ardians o. Jacarias &icha%co and "he
1
The o..ice o. a @%d+$en" nunc pro tunc is "o record so$e ac" o. "he co%r"
done a" a .or$er "i$e which was no" "hen carried in"o "he record# and "he
'ower o. a co%r" "o $a4e s%ch en"ries is res"ric"ed "o 'lacin+ %'on "he record
e:idence o. @%dicial ac"ion which has een ac"%all! "a4en) I" $a! e %sed "o
$a4e "he record s'ea4 "he "r%"h# %" no" "o $a4e i" s'ea4 wha" i" did no" s'ea4
%" o%+h" "o ha:e s'o4en) I. "he co%r" has no" rendered a @%d+$en" "ha" i" $i+h"
or sho%ld ha:e rendered# or i. i" has rendered an i$'er.ec" or i$'ro'er
@%d+$en"# i" has no 'ower "o re$ed! "hese errors or o$issions ! orderin+ "he
en"r! nunc pro tunc o. a 'ro'er @%d+$en") Hence a co%r" in en"erin+ a @%d+$en"
n%nc "%nc has no 'ower "o cons"r%e wha" "he @%d+$en" $eans# %" onl! "o
en"er o. record s%ch @%d+$en" as had een .or$erl! rendered# %" which had
no" een en"ered o. record as rendered) In all cases "he e8ercise o. "he 'ower
"o en"er @%d+$en"s nunc pro tunc 'res%''oses "he ac"%al rendi"ion o. a
@%d+$en"# and a $ere ri+h" "o a @%d+$en" will no" .%rnish "he asis .or s%ch an
en"r!) 615 R) -) &)# '') C22-C2*)7
The 'hrase nunc pro tunc si+ni.ies Mnow .or "hen#M or "ha" a "hin+ is done
now "ha" shall ha:e "he sa$e le+al .orce and e..ec" as i. one a" "he "i$e i" o%+h"
"o ha:e een done) A co%r" $a! order an ac" done nunc pro tunc when i"# or
so$e one o. i"s i$$edia"e $inis"erial o..icers# has done so$e ac" which .or
so$e reason has no" een en"ered o. record or o"herwise no"ed a" "he "i$e "he
order or @%d+$en" was $ade or sho%ld ha:e een $ade "o a''ear on "he
'a'ers or 'roceedin+s ! "he $inis"erial o..icer) 6Seco% vs. &ero%8# 1 N) ,)#
*8*# *89)7
2
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
$inors &%is and >%li"a &icha%co on "he one side# and ! Tan Pho on
"he o"her# is :oid as re+ards "he 'lain"i..s# and "he e..ec"s o. "his
declara"ion o. 'ar"ial n%lli"! re"roac"s "o Se'"e$er 17# 1920# "he da"e
on which "he co$'lain" .or n%lli"! was 'resen"ed)
2) 2i"ho%" 're@%dice "o an! con"rac" or con"rac"s which "he in"eres"ed
'ar"ies herein $a! desire "o e8ec%"e in accordance wi"h "he law and
in har$on! wi"h "his o'inion# "he 'lain"i..s# .ro$ "he "i$e Tan Pho is
no"i.ied o. "his decision# shall e en"i"led "o a''ro'ria"e "wo-"hirds 'ar"
pro indiviso o. "he %ildin+s and i$'ro:e$en"s cons"r%c"ed ! "he
'ar"! re'resen"ed ! said Tan Pho on "he 'ro'er"! in 9%es"ion# %'on
'a!$en" o. "he 'ro'er inde$ni"!# accordin+ "o "he 'ro:isions o.
ar"icles *C1# 35*# and 353 o. "he -i:il -ode in .orce or said 'lain"i..s
shall ha:e "he ri+h" "o co$'el "he 'ar"! re'resen"ed ! "he de.endan"
Tan Pho "o 'a! "o "he 'lain"i..s "he :al%e o. "wo-"hirds pro indiviso o.
"he land)
*) The 'lain"i..s shall e en"i"led "o de$and and "o recei:e .ro$ "he
'ar"! re'resen"ed ! "he de.endan" Tan Pho a ren"al .or "he
occ%'a"ion o. "wo-"hirds 'ar" pro indiviso o. "he land# .ro$ Se'"e$er
17# 1920# %n"il said "wo-"hirds 'ar" pro indiviso o. "he %ildin+s and
i$'ro:e$en"s cons"r%c"ed ! said Tan Pho eco$es "he 'ro'er"! o.
"he 'lain"i..s# as a.oresaid# or %n"il "he "wo-"hirds 'ar" pro indiviso o.
"he land elon+in+ "o "he 'lain"i..s eco$es "he 'ro'er"! o. "he 'ar"!
re'resen"ed ! said Tan Pho in "he $anner s'eci.ied in "he
'recedin+ 'ara+ra'h) The a$o%n" o. "his ren"al $en"ioned in "his
'ara+ra'h shall e .i8ed ! "he in"eres"ed 'ar"ies# reser:in+ "he$ "he
ri+h" "o resor" "o "he co%r"s .or i"s de"er$ina"ion# in case "he! canno"
reach an a+ree$en"; 'ro:ide "ha" "he ren"s# which ! :ir"%e o. "he
lease in 9%es"ion "he 'lain"i..s $a! ha:e recei:ed or $a! recei:e
.ro$ Tan Pho .ro$ Se'"e$er 17# 1920# shall e a''lied %'on said
ren" "o e a+reed %'on ! "he in"eres"ed 'ar"ies or @%diciall! .i8ed)
3) The re+is"rar o. deeds o. ,anila is here! ordered "o a$end "he
cer"i.ica"e o. "i"le "o "he land in 9%es"ion iss%ed %nder decree No)
17729 in re+is"ra"ion 'roceedin+ No) 9CC7# as also "he corres'ondin+
oo4s o. re+is"r!# as well as "he co'ies o. said cer"i.ica"e o. "i"le# "o
"he e..ec" "ha" said lease "herein re+is"ered# as .ar as "he 'lain"i..s are
concerned# has een e8"in+%ished and rendered :oid and o. no
e..ec" ! :ir"%e o. "his decision)
IN RE GUARDIANSHIP OF INCHAUSTI, V MANUEL
SOLER
B)R) No) &-15119
STREET# >); >an%ar! 19# 1920
TERRI
FACTS
- =n >an%ar! 18# 1915# -AI ,anila ordered "he a''oin"$en" o. ,aria
-ons%elo Rico# $o"her o. Incha%s"i# as +%ardian o. "he 'erson and
'ro'er"! o. her son >ose R) de Incha%s"i# as he had eco$e
de$en"ed and inca'ale o. 'ro'erl! carin+ .or hi$sel. and es"a"e#
a."er which he was sen" "o <arcelona# S'ain# where he has con"in%ed
"o reside)
- =n A%+%s" *0# 1915# ,an%el Soler# Incha%s"i1s .riend# 'e"i"ioned "he
co%r" "o rehaili"a"e hi$ and end "he +%ardianshi')
- This was o''osed ! "he +%ardian# on "he +ro%nds 617 "ha" "he ward
had no" een +i:en s%..icien" no"ice o. "he hearin+ and 627 "ha" i" had
no" een sa"is.ac"oril! shown "ha" he is now ca'ale o. "a4in+ care o.
hi$sel. and 'ro'er"!)
- E'on hearin+ "he 'e"i"ion "he "rial @%d+e o:err%led o"h o. "hese
o@ec"ions and ad@%d+ed "he ward# >ose R) de Incha%s"i# "o e o.
so%nd $ind# no"wi"hs"andin+ an orderin+ "o "he +%ardian .or an
acco%n"in+ o. "he es"a"e o. Incha%s"i
ISSUES
1 2=N "he 'ro'er 'roced%re o. d%e no"ice "o ward was .ollowed
2 2=N "here was a s%..icien" showin+ "ha" Incha%s"i was alread!
ca'ale o. "a4in+ care o. hi$sel.
HELD
YES
- The cler4# ! order o. "he co%r"# sen" a cale+ra$ "o "he Eni"ed
S"a"es -ons%l" a" <arcelona# re9%es"in+ hi$ "o no"i.! >ose R) de
Incha%s"i "ha" "he 'e"i"ion .or his res"ora"ion "o ca'aci"! wo%ld e
heard in "he -o%r" o. Airs" Ins"ance o. ,anila on =c"oer 19# 1918)
DaF In re'l! "o "his# a cale+ra$ was recei:ed .ro$ <arcelona on
=c"oer 13# 1918# si+ned ! "he -ons%l Beneral o. "he Eni"ed S"a"es
in "ha" ci"!# ad:isin+ "ha" Incha%s"i had een d%l! no"i.ied accordin+ "o
ins"r%c"ions) DF The "rial @%d+e held "ha" no"ice "o "he ward had een
+i:en as re9%ired ! law# and he 'roceeded# on "he a''oin"ed da!# "o
dis'ose o. "he 'e"i"ion %'on i"s $eri"s in accordance wi"h "he 'roo.
"hen s%$i""ed)
- The no"i.ica"ion o. "he ward re9%ired in sec"ion 5C2 o. "he -ode o.
-i:il Proced%re is no" in"ended as a 'ersonal ser:ice o. 'rocess in
"he sense necessar! "o +i:e "he co%r" @%risdic"ion o:er "he ward) I" is#
"here.ore# o. no $o$en" "ha" "he 'erson "o e no"i.ied was li:in+ in a
.orei+n co%n"r! and "h%s e!ond "he "erri"orial @%risdic"ion o. "he
,anila co%r") Nor is "he $anner in which "he co%r" 'roc%red ser:ice
o. "he no"ice o. an! i$'or"ance) I" is s%..icien" "ha" "he no"ice was
+i:en)
- Rational o! noti!i"ation #$on $tition %& !'in(: No"i.ica"ion "o
"he ward where "he 'e"i"ion "o rehaili"a"e hi$ is 'resen"ed ! a
.riend is re9%ired $erel! as an ass%rance "ha" "he indi:id%al
chie.l! concerned shall ha:e co+ni(ance o. wha" is ein+ done) I" a"
leas" +i:es hi$ an o''or"%ni"! "o ad:ise "he co%r" in case ac"ion
"a4en ! "he $o:er o. "he 'e"i"ion was o..icio%s or %na%"hori(ed) Tha"
"he $essa+es were sen" and recei:ed ! cale# as ao:e s"a"ed#
a..ords s%..icien" e:idence# in "he asence o. an!"hin+ "o "he con"rar!#
"ha" no"i.ica"ion was d%l! e..ec"ed# as re'or"ed in "he re"%rn o. "he
-ons%l Beneral)
) YES
- The :iolen" access o. de$en"ia which $ani.es"ed i"sel. 'rior "o "he
ori+inal a''oin"$en" o. "he +%ardian 'assed o.. a."er Incha%s"i was
"a4en awa! .ro$ ,anila in 1915 and "he sa$e e8"re$e
$ani.es"a"ions o. deran+e$en" ha:e no" rea''eared) A%r"her$ore#
"he e:idence shows "ha" a" "he "i$e "he 'e"i"ion .or his rehaili"a"ion
was heard# "he ward was in nor$al $en"al s"a"e and had een in "his
condi"ion .or a 'eriod s%..icien"l! lon+ "o @%s"i.! "he elie. "ha" he is
'er$anen"l! res"ored
- The o''osi"ion "o "he "er$ina"ion o. "he +%ardianshi' see$s "o e
ased chie.l! on "he .ear# en"er"ained ! his $o"her# "ha" Incha%s"i# i.
'laced in con"rol o. "he lar+e 'ro'er"! "o which he is heir# will 'ro:e "o
e a s'end"hri.") E:en "ho%+h "his .ear sho%ld e well-.o%nded# i"
a..ords no reason .or $ain"ainin+ a +%ardianshi' which had i"s ori+in
in his $en"al inca'aci"!) An!wa!# 'ro'er 'roceedin+s can e
ins"i"%"ed "o 'ro"ec" hi$ .ro$ was"e.%l 'rocli:i"ies in "he e:en" "he
deran+e$en" reocc%rs) <%" 'resen" $en"al ca'aci"! ein+ 'ro:ed# he
is en"i"led "o e dischar+ed .ro$ "%"ela+e)
IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE
MINOR, ED*IN VILLA
LUIS + EDIPOLA SANTOS V REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES
BR &-2252*
ANBE&ES; Se'"e$er 29# 19C7
,AIA
NATURE
A''eal .ro$ decision o. >%:enile and 0o$es"ic Rela"ions -o%r"
dis$issin+ "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion o. Edwin /illa
FACTS
- San"os s'o%ses .iled "he 'e"i"ion on >an%ar! 8# 19C*# "o ado'"
$inor Edwin /illa ! ,endo(a# 3 !ears old# and ro"her o. 'e"i"ioner-
wi.e Edi'ola)
- "he s'o%ses are o"h *2 !ears old# Aili'inos# residin+ in ,anila)
The! were $arried in 1957 and ha:e $ain"ained a con@%+al ho$e o.
"heir own) The! do no" ha:e a child o. "heir own lood) Nei"her
s'o%se has an! le+i"i$a"e# le+i"i$a"ed# ille+i"i$a"e# ac4nowled+ed
na"%ral child# or na"%ral child ! le+al .ic"ion# nor has an! one o. "he$
een con:ic"ed o. a cri$e in:ol:in+ $oral "%r'i"%de)
- Edwin is a child o. Arancisco /illa and Alorencia ,endo(a 6Edwin is
"he !o%n+er ro"her o. Edi'ola7) &%is E) San"os# >r)# is a law!er# wi"h
:ario%s %siness in"eres"s) His inco$e is a''ro8i$a"el! PC00;$on"h)
His wi.e Edi'ola# is a n%rse# wi"h an a:era+e $on"hl! earnin+ o.
P*00
- Edwin was orn on ,a! 22# 1958 and was a sic4l! child since ir"h)
0%e "o "he childGs i$'airin+ heal"h his 'aren"s en"r%s"ed hi$ "o "he
'e"i"ioners who reared and ro%+h" hi$ %' .or "he !ears "herea."er#
and as a res%l"# "here de:elo'ed e"ween "he 'e"i"ioners and "he
3
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
child# a dee' and 'ro.o%nd lo:e .or each o"her) The na"%ral 'aren"s o.
"he $inor "es"i.ied "ha" "he! ha:e :ol%n"aril! +i:en "heir consen" "o "he
ado'"ion o. "heir son ! "he 'e"i"ioners# and s%$i""ed "heir wri""en
consen" and con.or$i"! "o "he ado'"ion# and "ha" "he! .%ll!
%nders"and "he le+al conse9%ences o. "he ado'"ion o. "heir child !
"he 'e"i"ioners)
- "rial co%r" dis$issed "he 'e"i"ion# sa!in+ "ha" K"he ado'"ion will res%l"
in an incon+r%o%s si"%a"ion where "he $inor Edwin /illa# a le+i"i$a"e
ro"her o. "he 'e"i"ioner-wi.e# will also e her son) In "he o'inion o.
"he co%r"# "ha" incon+r%i"! no" ne%"rali(ed ! o"her circ%$s"ances
asen" herein# sho%ld 're:en" "he ado'"ion)L
ISSUE
2=N an elder sis"er $a! ado'" a !o%n+er ro"her
HELD IES
Ratio There is no 'ro:ision in "he law "ha" rela"i:es# ! lood or !
a..ini"!# are 'rohii"ed .ro$ ado'"in+ one ano"her)
Reasoning The onl! o@ec"ion raised is "he alle+ed Kincon+r%i"!L "ha"
will res%l" in "he rela"ion o. "he ado'"er and "he ado'"ed# in "he
circ%$s"ance "ha" "he ado'"ed who is "he ro"her o. "he ado'"er# will
also e her son ! ado'"ion) The "heor! is# "here.ore# "ha" ado'"ion
a$on+ 'eo'le who are rela"ed ! na"%re sho%ld no" e allowed# in
order "ha" d%al rela"ionshi' sho%ld no" res%l"
- I" canno" e s"a"ed as a +eneral 'ro'osi"ion "ha" "he ado'"ion o. a
lood rela"i:e is con"rar! "o "he 'olic! o. "he law# .or in $an! s"a"es o.
"he ES# no res"ric"ion o. "ha" sor" is con"ained in "he s"a"%"es
a%"hori(in+ ado'"ion# al"ho%+h laws o. o"her @%risdic"ion e8'ressl!
'ro:ide "ha" ado'"ion $a! no" "a4e 'lace wi"hin 'ersons wi"hin a
cer"ain de+ree o. rela"ionshi' 61 A$) >%r) C28-C297) -o%r"s in so$e
s"a"es hold "ha" in "he asence o. e8'ress s"a"%"or! res"ric"ion# a
lood rela"ionshi' e"ween "he 'ar"ies is no" a le+al i$'edi$en" "o
"he ado'"ion o. one ! "he o"her# and "here $a! e a :alid ado'"ion
where "he rela"ion o. 'aren" and child alread! e8is"s ! na"%re 62 A$)
>%r) 2d 8C97) Princi'les :ar! accordin+ "o "he 'ar"ic%lar ado'"ion
s"a"%"e o. a s"a"e %nder which an! +i:en case is considered) I" wo%ld
see$ "ha" in "hose s"a"es ori+inall! in.l%enced ! "he ci:il law
co%n"ries where ado'"ion ori+ina"ed# "he r%les are lierall! cons"r%ed#
while in o"her s"a"es where co$$on law 'rinci'les 'redo$ina"e#
ado'"ion laws are $ore s"ric"l! a''lied eca%se "he! are re+arded "o
e in dero+a"ion o. "he co$$on law)
- Ar")**5# -- en%$era"es "hose 'ersons who $a! no" ado'"# and i"
has een shown "ha" ado'"ers herein are no" a$on+ "hose 'rohii"ed
.ro$ ado'"in+) Ar")**9 na$es "hose who canno" e ado'"ed# and "he
ado'"ee here is no" one o. "hose e8cl%ded ! "he law) Ar") **8# on "he
o"her hand# allows "he ado'"ion o. a na"%ral child ! "he na"%ral .a"her
or $o"her# o. o"her ille+i"i$a"e children ! "heir .a"her or $o"her# and
o. a s"e'child ! "he s"e'.a"her or s"e'$o"her) This las" ar"icle is# o.
co%rse# necessar! "o re$o:e all do%"s "ha" ado'"ion is no"
'rohii"ed e:en in "hese cases where "here alread! e8is" a
rela"ionshi' o. 'aren" and child e"ween "he$ ! na"%re) To sa! "ha"
ado'"ion sho%ld no" e allowed when "he ado'"er and "he ado'"ed
are rela"ed "o each o"her# e8ce'" in "hese cases en%$era"ed in Ar"icle
**8# is "o 'recl%de ado'"ion a$on+ rela"i:es no $a""er how .ar
re$o:ed or in wha"e:er de+ree "ha" rela"ionshi' $i+h" e# which in
o%r o'inion is no" "he 'olic! o. "he law) The interest and welfare of
the child to be adopted should be of paramount consideration)
Ado'"ion s"a"%"es# ein+ h%$ane and sal%"ar!# and desi+ned "o
'ro:ide ho$es# care and ed%ca"ion .or %n.or"%na"e children# sho%ld
e cons"r%ed so as "o enco%ra+e "he ado'"ion o. s%ch children !
'erson who can 'ro'erl! rear and ed%ca"e "he$
- wr" o@ec"ion "ha" "he ado'"ion here will res%l" in a d%al rela"ionshi'
e"ween "he 'ar"ies# "ha" "he ado'"ed ro"her will also e "he son o.
"he ado'"in+ elder sis"er# "ha" .ac" alone sho%ld no" 're:en" "he
ado'"ion) =ne is ! na"%re# while "he o"her is ! .ic"ion o. law) The
rela"ionshi' es"alished ! "he ado'"ion is li$i"ed "o "he ado'"in+
'aren"s and does no" e8"end "o "heir o"her rela"i:es# e8ce'" as
e8'ressl! 'ro:ided ! law) Th%s# "he ado'"ed child canno" e
considered as a rela"i:e o. "he ascendan"s and colla"erals o. "he
ado'"in+ 'aren"s# nor o. "he le+i"i$a"e children which "he! $a! ha:e
a."er "he ado'"ion e8ce'" "ha" "he law i$'oses cer"ain i$'edi$en"s
"o $arria+e ! reason o. ado'"ion) Nei"her are "he children o. "he
ado'"ed considered as descendan"s o. "he ado'"er) So e:en
considered in rela"ion "o "he r%les on s%ccession which are in pari
materia# "he ado'"ion %nder considera"ion wo%ld no" e o@ec"ionale
on "he +ro%nd alone o. "he res%l"in+ rela"ionshi' e"ween "he ado'"er
and "he ado'"ed) Si$ilar d%al rela"ionshi's also res%l" %nder o%r law
on $arria+e when 'ersons who are alread! rela"ed# ! lood or !
a..ini"!# $arr! each o"her) <%" as lon+ as "he rela"ionshi' is no" wi"hin
"he de+rees 'rohii"ed ! law# s%ch $arria+es are allowed
no"wi"hs"andin+ "he res%l"in+ d%al rela"ionshi') And as "here is no
'ro:ision in "he law "ha" e8'ressl! 'rohii"s ado'"ion a$on+
rela"i:es# "he! o%+h" no" "o e 're:en"ed)
"isposition 0ecision re:ersed) Ado'"ion +ran"ed
REPUBLIC VS HONORABLE RODOLFO
TOLEDANO + SPOUSES CLAVE
2** S-RA 9
P%no ; >%ne 8# 1993
,E&
NATURE
Pe"i"ion .or re:iew on certiorari o. "he decision o. RT- Ja$ales 6Ia7
in S'ecial Proceedin+ en"i"led# MIn "he ,a""er o. "he Ado'"ion o. "he
,inor na$ed Solo$on >ose'h AlcalaL
FACTS
- In a :eri.ied 'e"i"ion .iled e.ore "he RT- o. Ia# Ja$ales# 'ri:a"e
res'onden"s s'o%ses -lo%se so%+h" "o ado'" "he $inor# Solo$on
>ose'h Alcala# "he !o%n+er ro"her o. 'ri:a"e res'onden" E:el!n A)
-lo%se) The 'e"i"ion was se" .or hearin+)
- The 'rinci'al e:idence disclose "ha" 'ri:a"e res'onden" Al:in A)
-lo%se is a na"%ral orn ci"i(en o. "he Eni"ed S"a"es o. A$erica) He
$arried E:el!n# a Aili'ino on >%ne 3# 1981 a" =lon+a'o -i"!) =n
A%+%s" 19# 1988# E:el!n eca$e a na"%rali(ed ci"i(en o. "he Eni"ed
S"a"es o. A$erica in B%a$) The! are 'h!sicall!# $en"all!# $orall!#
and .inanciall! ca'ale o. ado'"in+ Solo$on# a "wel:e 6127 !ear old
$inor)
- Since 1981 "o 1983# "hen .ro$ No:e$er 2# 1989 %' "o "he 'resen"#
Solo$on >ose'h Alcala was and has een %nder "he care and
c%s"od! o. 'ri:a"e res'onden"s) Solo$on +a:e his consen" "o "he
ado'"ion) His $o"her# Ner! Alcala# a widow# li4ewise consen"ed "o "he
ado'"ion d%e "o 'o:er"! and inaili"! "o s%''or" and ed%ca"e her son)
- ,rs) Nila -ora(on Pronda# "he social wor4er assi+ned "o cond%c"
"he Ho$e and -hild S"%d!# .a:oral! reco$$ended "he +ran"in+ o.
"he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion)
- Aindin+ "ha" 'ri:a"e res'onden"s ha:e all "he 9%ali.ica"ions and
none o. "he dis9%ali.ica"ions 'ro:ided ! law and "ha" "he ado'"ion
will redo%nd "o "he es" in"eres" and wel.are o. "he $inor# res'onden"
@%d+e rendered a decision +ran"in+ "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion
- Pe"i"ioner# "hro%+h "he =..ice o. "he Solici"or Beneral a''ealed
ISSUE
2=N 'e"i"ioner1s ar+%$en" is correc" 6won Al:in and E:el!n are
9%ali.ied "o ado'" %nder Phil law7
HELD
IES
Ratio
Ar"icle 183# 'ara+ra'h 6*7 o. E8ec%"i:e =rder No) 209 e8'ressl!
en%$era"es "he 'ersons who are no" 9%ali.ied "o ado'"# viz)?
6*7 An alien# e8ce'"?
6a7 A .or$er Aili'ino ci"i(en who see4s "o ado'" a rela"i:e !
consan+%ini"!;67 =ne who see4s "o ado'" "he le+i"i$a"e child o. his
or her Aili'ino s'o%se; or6c7 =ne who is $arried "o a Aili'ino ci"i(en
and see4s "o ado'" @oin"l! wi"h his or her s'o%se a rela"i:e !
consan+%ini"! o. "he la""er)Aliens no" incl%ded in "he .ore+oin+
e8ce'"ions $a! ado'" Aili'ino children in accordance wi"h "he r%les
on in"er-co%n"r! ado'"ion as $a! e 'ro:ided ! law)
- There can e no 9%es"ion "ha" 'ri:a"e res'onden" Al:in A) -lo%se is
no" 9%ali.ied "o ado'" Solo$on >ose'h Alcala %nder an! o. "he
e8ce'"ional cases in "he a.ore9%o"ed 'ro:ision) In "he .irs" 'lace# he
is no" a .or$er Aili'ino ci"i(en %" a na"%ral orn ci"i(en o. "he Eni"ed
S"a"es o. A$erica) In "he second 'lace# Solo$on >ose'h Alcala is
nei"her his rela"i:e ! consan+%ini"! nor "he le+i"i$a"e child o. his
s'o%se) In "he "hird 'lace# when 'ri:a"e res'onden"s s'o%ses -lo%se
@oin"l! .iled "he 'e"i"ion "o ado'" Solo$on >ose'h Alcala on Aer%ar!
21# 1990# 'ri:a"e res'onden" E:el!n A) -lo%se was no lon+er a
Aili'ino ci"i(en) She los" her Aili'ino ci"i(enshi' when she was
na"%rali(ed as a ci"i(en o. "he Eni"ed S"a"es in 1988)
- Pri:a"e res'onden" E:el!n A) -lo%se# on "he o"her hand# $a!
a''ear "o 9%ali.! '%rs%an" "o 'ara+ra'h *6a7 o. Ar"icle 183 o. E)=)
209) She was a .or$er Aili'ino ci"i(en) She so%+h" "o ado'" her
!o%n+er ro"her) En.or"%na"el!# "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion canno" e
+ran"ed in her .a:or alone wi"ho%" :iola"in+ Ar"icle 185 which
$anda"es a @oin" ado'"ion ! "he h%sand and wi.e) I" reads?
Ar"icle 185) H%sand and wi.e $%s" @oin"l! ado'"# e8ce'" in "he
.ollowin+ cases?
617 2hen one s'o%se see4s "o ado'" his own ille+i"i$a"e child; or
627 2hen one s'o%se see4s "o ado'" "he le+i"i$a"e child o. "he o"her)
4
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
- Ar"icle 185 re9%ires a @oin" ado'"ion ! "he h%sand and wi.e# a
condi"ion "ha" $%s" e read alon+ "o+e"her wi"h Ar"icle 183)
,
- This was so cra."ed "o 'ro"ec" Aili'ino children who are '%" %' .or
ado'"ion) The Aa$il! -ode rei"era"ed "he r%le ! re9%irin+ "ha"
h%sand and wi.e M$%s"M @oin"l! ado'"# e8ce'" in "he cases $en"ioned
e.ore) Ender "he said new law# @oin" ado'"ion ! h%sand and wi.e is
$anda"or!)

This is in consonance wi"h "he conce'" o. @oin" 'aren"al
a%"hori"! o:er "he child# which is "he ideal si"%a"ion)

As "he child "o e
ado'"ed is ele:a"ed "o "he le:el o. a le+i"i$a"e child# i" is %" na"%ral
"o re9%ire "he s'o%ses "o ado'" @oin"l!) The r%le also ins%res har$on!
e"ween "he s'o%ses)

DISPOSITION: Pe"i"ion +ran"ed
REPUBLIC VS MILLER
B)R) No) 1259*2
PAR0=; A'ril 21# 1999
E/A
NATURE
-A cer"i.ied "he case "o "he S- eca%se "he 'e"i"ion raised onl!
9%es"ions o. law) S- "rea"ed "he a''eal as one :ia cer"iorari .ro$ a
decision o. "he RT-)
FACTS
- >%l! 29# 1988# "he s'o%ses -la%de A) ,iller and >%$r%s S) ,iller#
.iled wi"h "he RT- An+eles -i"! a :eri.ied 'e"i"ion "o ado'" "he $inor
,ichael ,a+no ,ada!a+)
- A" "he hearin+ s'o%ses ,iller add%ced e:idence showin+ "ha"?
1) -la%de A) ,iller# *8 !ears old and >%$r%s S) ,iller# 30 !ears o.
a+e# o"h A$erican ci"i(ens# are h%sand and wi.e# ha:in+ een
$arried on >%ne 21# 1982)
2) The! were childless and Mdo no" e8'ec" "o ha:e silin+ o%" o. "heir
%nion on acco%n" o. a $edical 'role$ o. "he wi.e)M
*) -la%de A) ,iller was a $e$er o. "he ES Air Aorce assi+ned a"
-lar4 Air <ase) The .a$il! $ain"ains "heir residence a" An+eles -i"!#
since 1985)
3) The $inor ,ichael has een in "he c%s"od! o. res'onden"s since
"he .irs" wee4 o. A%+%s" 1987) Po:er"! and dee' concern .or "he
.%"%re o. "heir son 'ro$'"ed "he na"%ral 'aren"s who ha:e no :isile
$eans o. li:elihood "o ha:e "heir child ado'"ed ! res'onden"s) The!
e8ec%"ed a..ida:i"s +i:in+ "heir irre:ocale consen" "o "he ado'"ion !
res'onden"s)
5) 0S20 reco$$ended a''ro:al o. "he 'e"i"ion)
- RT- rendered decision +ran"in+ "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion 'e"i"ioners)
- Solici"or Beneral in"er'osed an a''eal
ISSUE
2=N aliens $a! ado'" a Aili'ino child des'i"e "he 'rohii"ion %nder
"he Aa$il! -ode# e..ec"i:e on A%+%s" *# 1988 when "he 'e"i"ion .or
ado'"ion was .iled on >%l! 29# 1988# %nder "he 'ro:ision o. "he -hild
and Io%"h 2el.are -ode which allowed aliens "o ado'")
HELD
IES) The S- has r%led "ha" an alien 9%ali.ied "o ado'" %nder "he
-hild and Io%"h 2el.are -ode# which was in .orce a" "he "i$e o. "he
.ilin+ o. "he 'e"i"ion# ac9%ired a :es"ed ri+h" which co%ld no" e
a..ec"ed ! "he s%se9%en" enac"$en" o. a new law dis9%ali.!in+
hi$)
-onse9%en"l!# "he enac"$en" o. "he Aa$il! -ode# e..ec"i:e A%+%s" *#
1988# will no" i$'air "he ri+h" o. res'onden"s who are aliens "o ado'"
a Aili'ino child eca%se "he ri+h" has eco$e :es"ed a" "he "i$e o.
.ilin+ o. "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion and shall e +o:erned ! "he law
"hen in .orce)
- As lon+ as "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion was s%..icien" in .or$ and
s%s"ance in accordance wi"h "he law in +o:ernance a" "he "i$e i"
was .iled# "he co%r" ac9%ires @%risdic"ion and re"ains i" %n"il i" .%ll!
dis'oses o. "he case) The @%risdic"ion o. "he co%r" is de"er$ined !
"he s"a"%"e in .orce a" "he "i$e o. "he co$$ence$en" o. "he ac"ion)
S%ch @%risdic"ion o. a co%r"# whe"her in cri$inal or ci:il cases# once i"
a""aches canno" e o%s"ed ! a s%se9%en" ha''enin+s or e:en"s#
al"ho%+h o. a charac"er which wo%ld ha:e 're:en"ed @%risdic"ion .ro$
a""achin+ in "he .irs" ins"ance) There.ore# an alien who .iled a 'e"i"ion
.or ado'"ion e.ore "he e..ec"i:e o. "he Aa$il! -ode# al"ho%+h denied
"he ri+h" "o ado'" %nder Ar") 183 o. said -ode# $a! con"in%e wi"h his
'e"i"ion %nder "he law 're:ailin+ e.ore "he Aa$il! -ode)
- Ado'"ion s"a"%"es# ein+ h%$ane and sal%"ar!# hold "he in"eres"s
and wel.are o. "he child "o e o. 'ara$o%n" considera"ion) E:er!
reasonale in"end$en" sho%ld e s%s"ained "o 'ro$o"e and .%l.ill
"hese nole and co$'assiona"e o@ec"i:e o. "he law)
DISPOSITIVE A..ir$ed)
SANTOS VS- ARAN.ANSO
1C S-RA *35
<ENBJ=N; Aer%ar! 28# 19CC
>P
FACTS
- Ei+h" !ears a."er "he order o. ado'"ion o. "hen $inors Pa%lina and
A%rora San"os# one o. "heir ado'"i:e 'aren"s# >%liana Re!es# died
lea:in+ s%s"an"ial 'ro'er"ies)
- In "he se""le$en" o. her es"a"e# her co%sins# res'onden"s Bre+oria
Aran(anso and 0e$e"ria ,endo(a in"er:ened alle+in+ "he in:alidi"!
o. "he $arria+e o. >%liana Re!es "o Si$'licio San"os# and "he
ado'"ion decree o. "he "wo $inors)
ISSUES
1 2=N ado'"ion is :alid ado'"ion
2 2=N ado'"ion can e a""ac4ed colla"erall!
HELD
1 IES)
- A."er holdin+ "ha" i" $a""ers no" whe"her "he $arria+e was :alid or
in:alid# "he deceased can s"ill ado'"# "he -o%r" addressed "he
alle+a"ions o. "he res'onden"s %'holdin+ "he ado'"ion decree)
- Paren"al -onsen") K-onsen" o. 'aren"s no" an asol%"e re9%isi"e i.
child was aandoned) -onsen" ! "he 'aren"s "o "he ado'"ion is no"
an asol%"e re9%isi"e) I. "he na"%ral 'aren"s ha:e aandoned "heir
children# consen" ! "he +%ardian ad li"e$ s%..ices)L 6Si$'licio was
+%ardian ad li"e$7
- ,eanin+ o. aandon$en") In ado'"ion 'roceedin+s i$'or"s Kan!
cond%c" on "he 'ar" o. "he 'aren" which e:idences a se""led '%r'ose
"o .or+o all 'aren"al d%"ies and relin9%ish all 'aren"al clai$s "o "he
child)L I" $eans Kne+lec" or re.%sal "o 'er.or$ "he na"%ral and le+al
oli+a"ions o. care and s%''or" which 'aren"s owe "o "heir children)L
- The -o%r" .%r"her said "ha" ado'"ion 'roceedin+s ein+ 'roceedin+s
in re$# cons"r%c"i:e no"ice# s%ch as "he '%lica"ion d%l! $ade in a
news'a'er o. +eneral circ%la"ion# is eno%+h where "he residence o.
"he 'aren"s is %n4nown) No"ice is no" re9%ired in ado'"ion cases in
re+ard "o "he aandonin+ 'aren")
2 N=# ado'"ion canno" e a""ac4ed colla"erall!)
- =n "he ,R# "he -o%r" said "ha" "he ado'"ion canno" e a""ac4ed
colla"erall!# and "ha" "he ac"ion a''ealed wi"h "he -A was no" "he
ado'"ion decree %" "he se""le$en"# "he ado'"ion canno" e a""ac4ed
colla"erall! "here ein+ no e:idence "o e re-e8a$ined in "he 'resen"
ac"ion) The co%r" also declared "ha" lea:in+ children in "he c%s"od! o.
o"hers cons"i"%"es aandon$en" es'eciall! when 'er$anen"l! and
inde.ini"el!)
DS*D v- BELEN
275 S-RA C35 619977
0IANNA
FACTS
- Ad$inis"ra"i:e co$'lain" ini"ia"ed ! -ora(on ,) &a!%+# Social
2el.are =..icer I/ o. "he 0S2S Aield =..ice in &a Enion)
- Res'onden" >%d+e An"onio ,) <elen is char+ed wi"h renderin+ an
erroneo%s decree o. ado'"ion in :iola"ion o. Ar"icle ** o. Presiden"ial
0ecree No) C0* and "he corres'ondin+ S- -irc%lar No) 12)
- Res'onden" El$a P) /edaNa# Social 2el.are =..icer II# =..ice o. "he
-ler4 o. -o%r"# Re+ional Trial -o%r" o. &in+a!en# Pan+asinan is
char+ed wi"h disre+ardin+ "he 'ro:isions o. "he sa$e -irc%lar No) 12)
1) S'o%ses 0esiderio Soriano and A%rora <ernardo-Soriano# o"h
na"%rali(ed A$erican ci"i(ens# .iled a :eri.ied 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion o.
"heir niece# "he $inor Jhedell <ernardo Iea)
2) >%d+e <elen +ran"ed "he 'e"i"ion a."er .indin+ "ha" 'e"i"ioner
s'o%ses were hi+hl! 9%ali.ied "o ado'" "he child as "heir own)
*) <elen ased his decree 'ri$aril! on "he K.indin+s and
reco$$enda"ion o. "he 0S20 "ha" "he ado'"in+ 'aren"s on "he one
hand and "he ado'"ee on "he o"her hand ha:e alread! de:elo'ed
lo:e and e$o"ional a""ach$en" and 'aren"in+ r%les ha:e een
de$ons"ra"ed "o "he $inor)L
3) =n "hese considera"ions# res'onden" @%d+e decided and
'roceeded "o dis'ense wi"h "rial c%s"od!) >%d+e sa!s "he 0S20
.indin+s and reco$$enda"ions are con"ained in "he KAdo'"i:e Ho$e
5
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
S"%d! Re'or"L and K-hild S"%d! Re'or"L 're'ared ! "he local o..ice
o. "he 0S20 "hro%+h res'onden" /edaNa)
5) Howe:er# when "he $inor Jhedell <ernardo Iea so%+h" "o o"ain
"he re9%isi"e "ra:el clearance .ro$ "he 0S20 in order "o @oin her
ado'"i:e 'aren"s in "he Eni"ed S"a"es# i" "%rned o%" "ha" "he 0S20
did no" ha:e an! record in i"s .iles re+ardin+ "he ado'"ion and "ha"
"here was ne:er an! order .ro$ res'onden" @%d+e .or "he 0S20 "o
cond%c" a KHo$e and -hild S"%d! Re'or"L in "he case)
C) AERTHER# "here was no direc"i:e .ro$ res'onden" @%d+e .or "he
social wel.are o..icer o. "he lower co%r" "o coordina"e wi"h "he 0S20
on "he $a""er o. "he re9%ired re'or"s .or said $inor1s ado'"ion)
7) ARTICLE ,,, PD /0, s"a"es? Pe"i"ions .or ado'"ion shall e
+ran"ed onl! a."er "he 0S20 has cond%c"ed and s%$i""ed a case
s"%d! o. "he ado'"ee# "he na"%ral 'aren"s and "he ado'"i:e 'aren"s)
Ci'"#la' No- 1) direc"s Re+ional Trial -o%r"s hearin+ ado'"ion
cases? 617 "o N=TIAI "he ,inis"r! o. Social Ser:ices and
0e:elo'$en"# "hr% i"s local a+enc!# o. "he .ilin+ o. ado'"ion cases or
"he 'endenc! "hereo. wi"h res'ec" "o "hose cases alread! .iled; 627 "o
s"ric"l! -=,P&I wi"h "he re9%ire$en" in Ar"icle ** o. "he a.oresaid
decreeO The S"a.. Assis"an" / 6Social 2or4er7 o. "he Re+ional Trial
-o%r"s# i. an!# shall coordina"e wi"h "he ,inis"r! o. Social Ser:ices
and 0e:elo'$en" re'resen"a"i:es in "he 're'ara"ion and s%$i""al o.
s%ch case s"%d!)
8) I" was also alle+ed ! "he 0S20 "ha" res'onden" El$a P) /edaNa
had as4ed .or an %ndisclosed a$o%n" o. $one! .ro$ "he ado'"in+
'aren"s in order "o e8'edi"e "he ado'"ion case wi"h "he 0S20)
9) Res'onden" @%d+e# in co$'liance "herewi"h# clai$ed "ha" he
direc"ed res'onden" /edaNa "o cond%c" "he ho$e and case s"%d!#
and "herea."er s%$i" "he re9%ired re'or"s "hereon) <elen con"ends
"ha"# e8ce'" onl! .or direc" coordina"ion wi"h "he 0S20 in "he
're'ara"ion o. said re'or"s# no a''ro:al .ro$ "he 0S20 is necessar!
.or "he ho$e and case s"%d! re'or"s and i" need no" e .%rnished
"herewi"h)
10) The =-A reco$$ended "ha" res'onden" @%d+e e
ad$inis"ra"i:el! '%nished .or :iola"in+ -irc%lar No) 12 and Ar"icle **
o. P0 C0*)
11) /edaNa $eanwhile# 'oin"ed o%" "ha" "here ne:er was an!
direc"i:e .ro$ res'onden" @%d+e .or her "o coordina"e wi"h "he 0S20
concernin+ "he ado'"ion in 9%es"ion) She was onl! ordered "o
cond%c" "he case s"%d! and s%$i" her re'or" "hereon "o "he co%r" a"
leas" one wee4 e.ore "he ini"ial hearin+ o. "he case# as was also "he
'rac"ice in "he o"her RT-s)
ISSUE
2=N a''ro:al .ro$ "he 0S20 is necessar! .or "he ho$e and case
s"%d! re'or"s 6and whe"her a @%d+e $a! decide ased on s%ch
re'or"7)

HELD
N=)
- <elen de.ini"el! rendered "he ado'"ion decree in dero+a"ion o. "he
'ro:isions o. Ar"icle ** and -irc%lar No) 12 and /edaNa sho%ld ha:e
coordina"ed wi"h "he 0S20 in connec"ion wi"h "he 're'ara"ion o. "he
ho$e and case s"%d! re'or"s)
Ratio
1) P%rs%an" "o -irc%lar No) 12# "he 'ro'er co%rse "ha" res'onden"
@%d+e sho%ld ha:e "a4en was "o no"i.! "he 0S20 a" "he o%"se" ao%"
"he co$$ence$en" o. "he S'ecial Proceedin+ so "ha" "he
corres'ondin+ case s"%d! co%ld ha:e een accordin+l! cond%c"ed !
said de'ar"$en")
2) 0S20 has "he necessar! co$'e"ence# $ore "han "ha" 'ossessed
! "he co%r" social wel.are o..icer# "o $a4e "he 'ro'er
reco$$enda"ion)
*) <elen sho%ld ne:er ha:e $erel! 'res%$ed "ha" i" was ro%"inar! .or
"he social wel.are o..icer "o coordina"e wi"h "he 0S20 re+ardin+ "he
ado'"ion 'roceedin+s) I" was his d%"! "o e8ercise ca%"ion and "o see
"o i" "ha" s%ch coordina"ion was oser:ed in "he ado'"ion
'roceedin+s# "o+e"her wi"h all "he o"her re9%ire$en"s o. "he law)
3) <elen $a! well ha:e wi""in+l! or %nwi""in+l! 'laced in @eo'ard! "he
wel.are and .%"%re o. "he child whose ado'"ion was %nder
considera"ion) Ado'"ion# a."er all# is in a lar+e $eas%re a le+al
de:ice ! which a e""er .%"%re $a! e accorded an %n.or"%na"e
child)
5) As .or /edaNa# she has co$'ro$ised "he 'rescried 'rocess in
"he ad$inis"ra"ion o. @%s"ice in 'roceedin+s s%ch as "he one %nder
considera"ion)
C) <elen ac"ed in +ood .ai"h howe:er in 'res%$al! elie:in+ "ha" i"
was s"andard 'roced%re .or "he Social 2el.are =..icer II o. a
Re+ional Trial -o%r" "o do so in coordina"ion wi"h "he 0S20) Also#
"here is no e:idence wha"soe:er "ha" res'onden" /edaNa so%+h" "o
o"ain an! a$o%n" .ro$ "he ado'"in+ 'aren"s)
DUNCAN V CFI OF RI.AL
C9 S-RA 298
Aer%ar! 10# 197C; ESBEERRA# >)
&=RA
FACTS
- Pe"i"ioners Roin Arancis Radle! 0%ncan and ,aria &%c!
-hris"ensen are h%sand and wi.e# "he .or$er a <ri"ish na"ional
residin+ in "he Phili''ines .or "he las" 17 !ears and "he la""er an
A$erican -i"i(en orn in and a residen" o. "he Phili''ines)
- A child# onl! * da!s old was +i:en "o 'e"i"ioners .or "he$ "o ado'"#
! A""!) -ora(on de &eon /elas9%e() The child was la"er on a'"i(ed
as -olin <err! -hris"ensen 0%ncan wi"h "he a.ore$en"ioned s'o%ses
a''earin+ in "he records o. said a'"is$ as "he 'aren"s o. said child
- A""!) -ora(on de &eon /elas9%e( recei:ed "he in.an" .ro$ "he
childGs %nwed $o"her who "old "he .or$er ne:er "o re:eal her 6"he
$o"herGs7 iden"i"! eca%se she wan"ed "o +e" $arried and did no"
wan" "o des"ro! her .%"%re) The $o"her ins"r%c"ed A""!) -ora(on de
&eon /elas9%e( "o loo4 .or a s%i"ale co%'le who will ado'" "he child)
The $o"her did no" 'ro:ide .or "he $ain"enance and s%''or" o. her
child
- In "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion .iled ! 'e"i"ioners A""!) /elas9%e(# as
"he de .ac"o +%ardian or loco 'aren"is o. "he child s%@ec" o. "he
ado'"ion 'e"i"ion# +a:e "he wri""en consen" re9%ired ! law
- &earnin+ .ro$ "he "es"i$on! o. wi"ness A""!) /elas9%e( "ha" "he
na"%ral $o"her o. "he child so%+h" "o e ado'"ed was s"ill ali:e# "he
co%r" "hen 'ressed %'on "he wi"ness "o re:eal "he iden"i"! o. said
$o"her) The wi"ness re.%sed "o di:%l+e "he sa$e on "he +ro%nd "ha"
"here e8is"ed an a""orne! and clien" rela"ionshi' e"ween "he$) She
had een ins"r%c"ed ! her clien" no" "o re:eal "he la""erGs iden"i"!)
She co%ld no" now :iola"e s%ch 'ri:ile+ed co$$%nica"ion)
- The 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion was dis$issed) The 'rinci'al reason +i:en
.or "he dis$issal o. "he 'e"i"ion was "ha" M) ) ) "he consen" +i:en in "his
'e"i"ion E8hii" M>M is i$'ro'er and .alls shor" o. "he e8'ress
re9%ire$en" o. "he law)M
- -AI? The con"en"ion "ha" .or her 6A""!) -ora(on de &eon /elas9%e(#
"he wi"ness .or "he 'e"i"ioners who +a:e "he wri""en consen" "o "he
ado'"ion o. "he child in her ca'aci"! as loco 'aren"is "o said child7 "o
re:eal "he iden"i"! o. "he $o"her wo%ld e :iola"i:e o. "he clien"-
a""orne! rela"ionshi' e8is"in+ e"ween her and "he $o"her canno"
hold wa"er# eca%se in "he .irs" 'lace# "here was no s%ch rela"ionshi'
e8is"in+ e"ween "he$ in so .ar as "his case is concerned and
secondl!# i" is no" onl! a 9%es"ion o. re:ealin+ "he iden"i"! o. "he
$o"her %" ra"her# o. +i:in+ consen" "o "he ado'"ion ! "ha" alle+ed
%nwed $o"her)
ISSUE
2=N "he 'erson who +a:e "he consen" .or ado'"ion# which in "his
case is A""!) -ora(on de &eon /elas9%e(# is "he 'ro'er 'erson
re9%ired ! law "o +i:e s%ch consen")
HELD
IES)
- Ar") *30 o. "he -i:il -ode) The wri""en consen" o. "he .ollowin+ "o
ado'"ion shall e necessar!?
617 The 'erson "o e ado'"ed# i. .o%r"een !ears o. a+e or o:er;
627 The 'aren"s# +%ardian or 'erson in char+e o. "he 'erson "o e
ado'"ed)
- R%le 99# Sec) *)-onsen" "o ado'"ion) There shall e .iled wi"h "he
'e"i"ion a wri""en consen" "o "he ado'"ion si+ned ! "he child# i.
.o%r"een !ears o. a+e or o:er and no" inco$'e"en"# and ! "he childGs
s'o%se# i. an!# and ! each o. i"s 4nown li:in+ 'aren"s who is no" an
insane or ho'elessl! in"e$'era"e or has no" aandoned s%ch child#
or i. "here are no s%ch 'aren"s ! "he +eneral +%ardian# or +%ardian
ad li"e$ o. "he child# or i. "he child is in "he c%s"od! o. an or'han
as!l%$# childrenGs ho$e# or ene:olen" socie"! or 'erson# ! "he
'ro'er o..icer or o..icers o. s%ch as!l%$# ho$e or socie"!# or ! s%ch
'erson; %" i. "he child is ille+i"i$a"e and has no" een reco+ni(ed#
"he consen" o. i"s .a"her "o "he ado'"ion shall no" e re9%ired)
- Boin+ ! "he se" o. .ac"s in "his case# onl! one o. "wo 'ersons
'ar"ic%larl! descried ! law $a! e considered here as le+all!
ca'ale o. +i:in+ "he re9%ired wri""en consen") The! are?
1) Ender Ar") *30 o. "he -i:il -ode? 'aren"# +%ardian or 'erson in
char+e o. "he 'erson "o e ado'"ed
6
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
2) R%le 99)* o. "he R%les o. -o%r"? each o. "he 4nown li:in+ 'aren"s
who has no" aandoned s%ch child)
- The .a"herGs consen" here is o%" o. "he 9%es"ion as "he child is
ille+i"i$a"e and %nreco+ni(ed)
- The na"%ral and %nwedded $o"her# .ro$ "ha" da"e on "o "he "i$e o.
"he ado'"ion 'roceedin+s in co%r" which s"ar"ed in $id-!ear o. said
19C7# and %' "o "he 'resen"# has no" o"hered "o in9%ire in"o "he
condi"ion o. "he child# $%ch less "o con"ri%"e "o "he li:elihood#
$ain"enance and care o. "he sa$e)
- In shor"# "his 'aren" is "he an"i"hesis o. "ha" descried in "he law as
M4nown li:in+ 'aren" who is no" insane or ho'elessl! in"e$'era"e or
has no" aandoned s%ch child)M
- Said $o"her had co$'le"el! and asol%"el! aandoned her child)
bandonment imports any conduct on the part of the parent which
evinces a settled purpose to forego all parental claims to the child)
A''l!in+ "his le+al !ards"ic4# "he %niden"i.ied $o"her o. "he child in
"his case can e declared# as she is here! declared# as ha:in+
aandoned her child wi"h all le+al conse9%ences a""ached "here"o)
- Ha:in+ declared "ha" "he child was an aandoned one ! an
%n4nown 'aren"# "here a''ears "o e no $ore le+al need "o re9%ire
"he wri""en consen" "o s%ch 'aren" o. "he child "o "he ado'"ion)
- !antos vs. ranzanso? "he 'aren"al consen" re9%ired ! "he law in
ado'"ion 'roceedin+s re.ers "o 'aren"s who ha:e no" aandoned
"heir child)
- Since "here had een no showin+ "ha" "he iden"i"! o. "he na"%ral
$o"her was $ade 4nown "o "he "rial co%r" or "o "he herein 'e"i"ioners#
nor had said $o"her seen .i" "o 'resen" hersel. e.ore "he co%r"
des'i"e "he '%lic no"ice +i:en "o "he 'roceedin+s as re9%ired ! law#
"here clearl! a''ears onl! one 'erson who co%ld e considered as
"he +%ardian e8ercisin+ 'a"ria 'o"es"as o:er s%ch aandoned child)
Since "here was no +%ardian ad li"e$ a''oin"ed ! "he co%r" and "he
child no" ein+ in "he c%s"od! o. an or'han as!l%$# childrenGs ho$e
or an! ene:olen" socie"!# "here co%ld no" ha:e een an!one o"her
"han A""!) -ora(on de &eon /elas9%e( who co%ld# wi"h reason# e
called "he +%ardian o. said in.an")
- I" was she who had ac"%al 'h!sical c%s"od! o. "he in.an" and who#
o%" o. co$'assion and $o"herl! ins"inc"# e8"ended "he $an"le o.
'ro"ec"ion o:er "he ha'less and hel'less in.an" which o"herwise co%ld
ha:e s%..ered a "ra+ic .a"e# li4e ein+ "hrown in"o so$e +ara+e hea'
as had o."en ha''ened "o so$e %nwan"ed ille+i"i$a"e aies)
- -o%r" s"a"ed "ha" "he leas" "ha" i" co%ld do is "o reco+ni(e and
ac4nowled+e her +ood Sa$ari"an deed is "o e8"end# as i" here!
e8"ends# "o her "he reco+ni"ion "ha" she was a de .ac"o +%ardian
e8ercisin+ 'a"ria 'o"es"as o:er "he aandoned child)
- The "rial co%r" in i"s decision had so%+h" re.%+e in "he ancien"
Ro$an le+al $a8i$ M0%ra le8 sed le8M "o cleanse i"s hands o. "he
hard and harsh decision i" rendered) 2hile "his old ada+e +enerall!
.inds a'" a''lica"ion in $an! o"her le+al cases# in ado'"ion o.
children# howe:er# "his sho%ld e so."ened so as "o a''l! "he law wi"h
less se:eri"! and wi"h co$'assion and h%$ane %nders"andin+# .or
ado'"ion is $ore .or "he ene.i" o. %n.or"%na"e children# 'ar"ic%larl!
"hose orn o%" o. wedloc4# "han .or "hose orn wi"h a sil:er s'oon in
"heir $o%"hs)
- The herein 'e"i"ioners a''ear "o e 9%ali.ied "o ado'" "he child)
There is no showin+ "ha" "he! s%..er .ro$ an! o. "he dis9%ali.ica"ions
%nder "he law) Ao:e all# "he! ha:e "he $eans "o 'ro:ide "he child
wi"h "he 'ro'er s%''or"# care# ed%ca"ion and lo:e "ha" a +rowin+ child
needs# e:en i. "he! ha:e 're:io%sl! ado'"ed ano"her child as "heirs)
- The .ac" "ha" e:en e.ore "he! ha:e a''lied .or le+al c%s"od! and
ado'"ion o. "he in.an" "he! ha:e alread! showered i" wi"h lo:e and
care and had i" a'"i(ed# wi"h "he$ a''earin+ in "he records o. "he
a'"is$ as "he 'aren"s o. "he child# s'ea4s well o. "he +en%ine desire
o. 'e"i"ioners "o ha:e "he child as "heir :er! own) The child was orn
in ,a!# 19C7# and he will e a" "his "i$e# 197C# ao%" 9 !ears o. a+e)
In all "he !ears# .ro$ "he "i$e he was "%rned o:er "o "he herein
'e"i"ioners when he was onl! ao%" a wee4 old# 6"here is no showin+
"ha" "he said child was e:er 'laced a" an! "i$e in "he care and
c%s"od! o. so$e o"her 'ersons7 he had een cared .or and lo:ed !
"he s'o%ses Roin Arancis Radle! 0%ncan and ,aria &%c!
-hris"ensen) He $%s" ha:e 4nown no o"her 'aren"s "han "hese
'ersons)
- To s%s"ain "he decision o. "he co%r" elow# -o%r" will e doin+ a
+ra:er in@%s"ice "o all concerned 'ar"ic%larl! "o said s'o%ses# and
worse# i" will e i$'osin+ a cr%el sanc"ion on "his innocen" child and
on all o"her children who $i+h" e si$ilarl! si"%a"ed)
- -o%r" considered i" "o e @%s"i.iale and $ore h%$ane "o .or$ali(e a
.ac"%al rela"ion# "ha" o. 'aren"s and son# e8is"in+ e"ween "he
'e"i"ionin+ s'o%ses and "he $inor child a'"i(ed ! "he$ as -olin
<err! -hris"ensen 0%ncan# "han "o s%s"ain "he hard# harsh and cr%el
in"er're"a"ion o. "he law "ha" was done ! "he res'onden" co%r" and
>%d+e)
"isposition 0ecision ann%lled and "he $inor -olin <err!
-hris"ensen 0%ncan declared "he ado'"ed child and "he heir o.
'e"i"ioners Roin Arancis Radle! 0%ncan and ,aria &%c!
-hris"ensen)
CANG V- COURT OF APPEALS 2+ SPS- CLAVANO3
29C S-RA 128; R=,ER=; Se'" 25# 1998
,ARBE
FACTS:
-S'o%ses Herer" -an+ and Anna ,arie -la:ano e+o" * children?
Pei"h# -har$aine and >ose'h An"hon!) 0%rin+ "he earl! !ears o. "heir
$arria+e# "he -an+ co%'le1s rela"ionshi' was %ndis"%red) No" lon+
"herea."er# howe:er# Anna ,arie learned o. her h%sand1s alle+ed
e8"ra$ari"al a..air wi"h 2il$a Soco# a .a$il! .riend o. "he -la:anos)
-E'on learnin+ o. her h%sand1s alle+ed illici" liaison# Anna ,arie
.iled a 'e"i"ion .or le+al se'ara"ion wi"h ali$on! 'enden"e li"e wi"h "he
"hen >0R- o. -e% which rendered a decision a''ro:in+ "he @oin"
$ani.es"a"ion o. "he -an+ s'o%ses 'ro:idin+ "ha" "he! a+reed "o Kli:e
se'ara"el! and a'ar" or .ro$ ed and oard)L The! .%r"her a+reed
"ha" "heir children shall e en"i"led "o a $on"hl! s%''or" o. P1#000#
cons"i"%"in+ cons"i"%"e a .irs" lien on "he ne" 'roceeds o. "he ho%se
and lo" @oin"l! owned ! "he 'ar"ies)
-Herer" -an+ "hen .or Ne:ada# ESA where he so%+h" a di:orce .ro$
Anna ,arie) The di:orce decree was +ran"ed) Sole c%s"od! o. "he
"hree $inor children was +ran"ed "o Anna ,arie# reser:in+ ri+h"s o.
:isi"a"ion a" all reasonale "i$es and 'laces "o Herer")
-Therea."er# Herer" "oo4 an A$erican wi.e and "h%s eca$e a
na"%rali(ed A$erican ci"i(en) In 198C# he di:orced his A$erican wi.e
and ne:er re$arried) 2hile in ES# a 'or"ion o. his inco$e was
re$i""ed "o "he Phils .or his children1s e8'enses and;or de'osi"ed in
"he an4 in "he na$e o. his children)
-Se'" 25# 1987? S's) Ronald and ,aria -lara -la:ano Dro"her and
sis"er-in-law o. Anna ,arieF .iled S'ec Proc No) 1733--E< .or "he
ado'"ion o. "he "hree $inor -an+ children e.ore RT- -e%) The
'e"i"ion ears "he si+na"%re o. "hen 13-!r-old Pei"h si+ni.!in+ consen"
"o his ado'"ion) Anna ,arie li4ewise .iled an a..ida:i" o. consen"
alle+in+ "ha" her h%sand had Ke:aded his le+al oli+a"ion "o s%''or"L
his children; "ha" her ro"hers and sis"ers incl%din+ Ronald /)
-la:ano# had een hel'in+ her in "a4in+ care o. "he children; "ha"
eca%se she wo%ld e +oin+ "o "he ES "o a""end "o a .a$il! %siness#
Klea:in+ "he children wo%ld e a 'role$ and wo%ld na"%rall! ha$'er
6her7 @o-see4in+ :en"%re aroad;L and "ha" her h%sand had Klon+
.or.ei"ed his 'aren"al ri+h"sL o:er "he children)
-E'on learnin+ o. "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion# Herer" i$$edia"el!
re"%rned "o "he Phils and .iled an o''osi"ion "here"o# alle+in+ "ha"#
al"ho%+h "he S's -la:ano were .inanciall! ca'ale o. s%''or"in+ "he
children# he co%ld no" Kin conscience# allow an!od! "o s"ri' hi$ o.
his 'aren"al a%"hori"! o:er his elo:ed children)L
-Pendin+ resol%"ion o. "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion# Herer" $o:ed "o
reac9%ire c%s"od! o:er his children alle+in+ "ha" Anna ,arie had
"rans.erred "o "he ES "here! lea:in+ c%s"od! o. "heir children "o S's
-la:ano)
->an 11# 1988? RT- -e% -i"! <r) 19 iss%ed an order .indin+ "ha"
Anna ,arie had# in e..ec"# relin9%ished c%s"od! o:er "he children and#
"here.ore# s%ch c%s"od! sho%ld e "rans.erred "o "he .a"her) The co%r"
"hen direc"ed "he -la:anos "o deli:er c%s"od! o:er "he $inors "o
Herer")
-,arch 27# 1990? RT- -e% -i"! <r) 13 iss%ed "he decree o.
ado'"ion# ci"in+ as i$'ellin+ reasons "he ..?
617 "he -an+ children1s Kclose .ilial "ies wi"h "he -la:ano .a$il!;
627 "he childless -la:ano s'o%ses had s%s"an"ial asse"s and
inco$e;
6*7 "he na"%ral $o"her Anna ,arie a''ro:ed o. "he ado'"ion;
637 "he -la:anos co%ld 'ro:ide "he children $oral and s'iri"%al
direc"ion;
657 "he children $ani.es"ed "heir desire "o e ado'"ed ! "he
-la:anos)
-RT- .%r"her r%led "ha" Herer"1s o''osi"ion res"ed on Ka :er! sha4!
.o%nda"ionL eca%se o. i"s .indin+s "ha"?
617 Herer" is K$orall! %n.i" "o e "he .a"her o. his childrenL
627 A%"hen"ici"! o. @oin" de'osi" o. aro%nd Q10#000 co%ld no" e
:eri.ied
6*7 Possiili"! o. reconcilia"ion w; Anna ,arie was Kdi$ i. no" nilL
637 as ES ci"i(en# his a""ach$en" w; Aili'ino children is an o'en
9%es"ion
-RT- 9%o"ed wi"h a''ro:al "he e:al%a"ion;reco$$enda"ion o. "he
RT- Social 2or4er in her -hild S"%d! Re'or"# "ha" "he o''osi"or
7
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
Herer" -an+ has aandoned his children "here! dis'ensin+ wi"h
his consen" "o "he ado'"ion)
--A a..ir$ed "he decree o. ado'"ion# r%lin+ "ha"?
617 -onsen" o. "he 'aren" who has aandoned "he child is no"
necessar!) In ado'"ion cases# aandon$en" conno"es an! cond%c"
on "he 'ar" o. "he 'aren" "o .ore+o 'aren"al d%"ies and relin9%ish
'aren"al clai$s "o "he child# or "he ne+lec" or re.%sal "o 'er.or$ "he
na"%ral and le+al oli+a"ions which 'aren"s owe "heir children or "he
wi"hholdin+ o. "he 'aren"1s 'resence# his care and "he o''or"%ni"! "o
dis'la! :ol%n"ar! a..ec"ion)
627 =''osi"or1s ar+%$en" "ha" he has een sendin+ dollar
re$i""ances "o "he children is elied ! "he .ac" "ha" he was woe.%ll!
in arrears %nder "he "er$s o. "he di:orce decree) His clai$ "ha" he
has $ain"ained an4 acco%n"s in "he children1s na$e is ne+a"ed
when we consider "ha" s%ch an4 acco%n"s were Kwi"hdraw-ale !
hi$ alone)L
-Herer" .iled ,AR %" -A denied "he sa$e)
ISSUE:
2=N "he $inor children e le+all! ado'"ed wi"ho%" "he wri""en
consen" o. "heir na"%ral 'aren"
HELD: NO-
<o"h RT- and -A .ailed "o a''recia"e .ac"s and circ%$s"ances "ha"
sho%ld ha:e elici"ed a di..eren" concl%sion on "he iss%e o. 2=N
'e"i"ioner has so aandoned his children# "here! $a4in+ his consen"
"o "he ado'"ion %nnecessar!) <%" here# "here was no aandon$en")
"guys# sorry ang haba ng digest. ang dami $asing doctrines# eh.. %&%'
-2ri""en consen" o. na"%ral .a"her is re9%ired ! Ar")*1627 o. P0 No)
C0*# "he -hild and Io%"h 2el.are -ode
2
# and Ar")188627 o. "he Aa$il!
-ode
*
)
->%risdic"ion ein+ a $a""er o. s%s"an"i:e law# "he es"alished r%le is
"ha" "he s"a"%"e in .orce a" "he "i$e o. "he co$$ence$en" o. "he
ac"ion de"er$ines "he @%risdic"ion o. "he co%r") As s%ch# when
2
P0 C0*# -hild and Io%"h 2el.are -ode# as a$ended ! E= 91?
KAr") *1) 2hose -onsen" is Necessar!) - The wri""en consen" o. "he .ollowin+ "o
"he ado'"ion shall e necessar!?
617 The 'erson "o e ado'"ed# i. .o%r"een !ears o. a+e or o:er;
627 The na"%ral 'aren"s o. "he child or his le+al +%ardian a."er recei:in+
co%nsellin+ and a''ro'ria"e social ser:ices .ro$ "he ,inis"r! o. Social Ser:ices
and 0e:elo'$en" or .ro$ a d%l! licensed child-'lace$en" a+enc!;
6*7 The ,inis"r! o. Social Ser:ices and 0e:elo'$en" or an! d%l! licensed
child-'lace$en" a+enc! %nder whose care and le+al c%s"od! "he child $a! e;
637 The na"%ral children# .o%r"een !ears and ao:e# o. "he ado'"in+ 'aren"s)L
3
Aa$il! -ode) KAr") 188) The wri""en consen" o. "he .ollowin+ "o "he ado'"ion
shall e necessar!?
617 The 'erson "o e ado'"ed# i. "en !ears o. a+e or o:er;
627 The 'aren"s ! na"%re o. "he child# "he le+al +%ardian# or "he 'ro'er +o:"
ins"r%$en"ali"!;
6*7 The le+i"i$a"e and ado'"ed children# 10 !rs o. a+e or o:er# o. "he ado'"in+
'aren" or 'aren"s;
637 The ille+i"i$a"e children# 10!rs o. a+e or o:er# o. "he ado'"in+ 'aren"s# i.
li:in+ wi"h said 'aren" and "he la""er1s s'o%se# i. an!; and
657 The s'o%se# i. an!# o. "he 'erson ado'"in+ or "o e ado'"ed)L
-la:ano s'o%ses .iled "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion on Se'"e$er 25#
1987# "he a''licale law was "he P0 C0*# as a$ended ! E=91)
-0%rin+ "he 'endenc! o. "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion or on A%+ *# 1988#
"he Aa$il! -ode "oo4 e..ec") Ar"icle 25C o. "he Aa$il! -ode 'ro:ides
.or i"s re"roac"i:i"! Kinso.ar as i" does no" 're@%dice or i$'air :es"ed or
ac9%ired ri+h"s in accordance wi"h "he -i:il -ode or o"her laws)L
-No"wi"hs"andin+ "he a$end$en"s "o "he law# "he wri""en consen" o.
"he na"%ral 'aren" "o "he ado'"ion has re$ained a re9%isi"e .or i"s
:alidi"!) No"al!# s%ch re9%ire$en" is also e$odied in R%le 99)* o.
"he Ro-)
GnR#l: The wri""en consen" o. "he na"%ral 'aren" is indis'ensale
.or "he :alidi"! o. "he decree o. ado'"ion)
E4"$tion: i. "he 'aren" has aandoned "he child =R
i. s%ch 'aren" is Kinsane or ho'elessl! in"e$'era"eL
RIn "hese cases# "he co%r" $a! ac9%ire @%risdic"ion o:er "he case
e:en wi"ho%" "he wri""en consen" o. "he 'aren"s or one o. "he 'aren"s
'ro:ided "ha" "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion alle+es .ac"s s%..icien" "o
warran" e8e$'"ion .ro$ co$'liance "herewi"h) This is in consonance
wi"h "he lierali"! wi"h which "his -o%r" "rea"s "he 'roced%ral as'ec" o.
ado'"ion)
RIn "he ins"an" case# onl! "he a..ida:i" o. consen" o. "he na"%ral
$o"her was a""ached "o "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion) Herer"1s consen"#
as "he na"%ral .a"her is lac4in+) None"heless# "he 'e"i"ion s%..icien"l!
alle+ed "he .ac" o. aandon$en" o. "he $inors .or ado'"ion ! "he
na"%ral .a"her) This alle+a"ion :es"ed "he co%r" wi"h @%risdic"ion)
-Howe:er# in cases where "he .a"her o''oses "he ado'"ion 'ri$aril!
eca%se his consen" "here"o was no" so%+h"# "he $a""er o. whe"her
he had aandoned his child eco$es a 'ro'er iss%e .or
de"er$ina"ion) The iss%e o. aandon$en" ! "he o''osi"or na"%ral
'aren" is a 'reli$inar! iss%e "ha" an ado'"ion co%r" $%s" .irs"
con.ron") =nl! %'on .ail%re o. "he o''osi"or na"%ral .a"her "o 'ro:e "o
"he sa"is.ac"ion o. "he co%r" "ha" he did no" aandon his child $a! "he
'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion e considered on i"s $eri"s)
-In i"s ordinar! sense# "he word KaandonL $eans "o .orsa4e en"irel!#
"o .orsa4e or reno%nce %""erl!- 888 The dic"ionaries "race "his word "o
"he roo" idea o. K'%""in+ %nder a an)L The e$'hasis is on "he .inali"!
and '%lici"! wi"h which a "hin+ or od! is "h%s '%" in "he con"rol o.
ano"her# hence# "he $eanin+ o. 5ivin5 #$ a%6ol#tl&, 7it8 intnt
nv' to '6#9 o' "lai9 on:6 'i58t6 o' int'6t6) In re.erence "o
aandon$en" o. a child ! his 'aren"# "he ac" o. aandon$en"
i$'or"s Kan! cond%c" o. "he 'aren" which e:inces a se""led '%r'ose
"o .ore+o all 'aren"al d%"ies and relin9%ish all 'aren"al clai$s "o "he
child)L I" $eans Kne+lec" or re.%sal "o 'er.or$ "he na"%ral and le+al
oli+a"ions o. care and s%''or" which 'aren"s owe "heir children)L
P8&6i"al 6t'an59nt alon, 7it8o#t !inan"ial an( 9o'al
(6'tion, i6 not tanta9o#nt to a%an(on9nt-
-In "he case a" ar# while ad$i""edl!# Herer" was 'h!sicall! asen"
as he was "hen in "he ES# he was no" re$iss in his na"%ral and le+al
oli+a"ions o. lo:e# care and s%''or" .or his children) He $ain"ained
re+%lar co$$%nica"ion wi"h his wi.e and children "hro%+h le""ers and
"ele'hone) He %sed "o send 'ac4a+es ! $ail and ca"ered "o "heir
whi$s) Herer" also 'resen"ed cer"i.ica"ions o. an4s in "he ES
showin+ "ha" e:en 'rior "o "he .ilin+ o. "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion# he
had de'osi"ed a$o%n"s .or "he ene.i" o. his children) This is .%r"her
e:idenced ! co'ies o. chec4s sen" ! Herer" "o "he children .ro$
1985 "o 1989)
-The co%r"s elow a""ached a hi+h 're$i%$ "o "he 'ros'ec"i:e
ado'"ers1 .inancial s"a"%s %" "o"all! r%shed aside "he 'ossile
re'erc%ssion o. "he ado'"ion on "he e$o"ional and 's!cholo+ical
well-ein+ o. "he children) Tr%e# Pei"h had e8'ressed his desire "o e
ado'"ed ! his %ncle and a%n") Howe:er# his see$in+ s"ead.as"ness
on "he $a""er as shown ! his "es"i$on! is con"radic"ed ! his
.eelin+s "owards his .a"her as re:ealed in his le""ers "o hi$) I" is no" a"
all .ar.e"ched "o concl%de "ha" Pei"h1s "es"i$on! was ac"%all! "he
e..ec" o. "he .ilin+ o. "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion "ha" wo%ld cer"ainl! ha:e
en+endered con.%sion in his !o%n+ $ind as "o "he ca'aili"! o. his
.a"her "o s%s"ain "he li.es"!le he had een %sed "o)
-The co%r"s elow e$'hasi(ed res'onden"s1 e$o"ional a""ach$en" "o
"he children) This is hardl! s%r'risin+ .or# .ro$ "he :er! s"ar" o. "heir
!o%n+ li:es# "he children were %sed "o "heir 'resence) S%ch
a""ach$en" had 'ersis"ed and cer"ainl!# "he !o%n+ ones1 ac" o.
sn%++lin+ close "o Ronald was no" indica"i:e o. "heir e$o"ional
de"ach$en" .ro$ "heir .a"her) The -la:ano s'o%ses# ein+ "he %ncle
and a%n" o. "he children# co%ld no" %" co$e "o "heir s%ccor when
"he! needed hel' as when Pei"h +o" sic4 and Ronald s'en" .or his
hos'i"al ills)
-Paren"al a%"hori"! canno" e en"r%s"ed "o a 'erson si$'l! eca%se
he co%ld +i:e "he child a lar+er $eas%re o. $a"erial co$.or" "han his
na"%ral 'aren") I" is eno%+h "ha" "he na"%ral 'aren" is earnin+ a decen"
li:in+ and is ale "o s%''or" his children accordin+ "o his $eans) In
ascer"ainin+ "he wel.are and es" in"eres"s o. "he child# co%r"s are
$anda"ed ! "he Aa$il! -ode "o "a4e in"o acco%n" all rele:an"
considera"ions) The wel.are o. "he child is "he 'ara$o%n"
considera"ion)
-The record o. "he case ears o%" "he .ac" "ha" "he wel.are o. "he
children was no" e8ac"l! "he K'ara$o%n" considera"ionL "ha" i$'elled
Anna ,arie "o consen" "o "heir ado'"ion) The ado'"ion a''ears "o e
a $a""er o. con:enience .or her eca%se Anna ,arie hersel. is
.inanciall! ca'ale o. s%''or"in+ her children %" is o."en o%" o. "he
co%n"r! lea:in+ her children "o "he care o. her rela"i:es) 2hen "he
.a$il! .irs" disc%ssed "he ado'"ion o. "he children# "he! decided "ha"
"he 'ros'ec"i:e ado'"er sho%ld e Anna ,arie1s ro"her >ose)
Howe:er# eca%se he had children o. his own# "he .a$il! decided "o
de:ol:e "he "as4 %'on Ronald 6%siness$an7 and ,aria -lara
6in"erna"ional .li+h" s"ewardess7 who howe:er co%ld no" alwa!s e in
-e% "o care .or "he children)
-A close anal!sis o. "he "es"i$onies o. silin+s Ronald# Anna ,arie
and >ose 'oin"s "o "he inesca'ale concl%sion "ha" "he! @%s" wan"ed
"o 4ee' "he children awa! .ro$ "heir .a"her# alle+edl! a Kwo$ani(er)L
-Herer" descried hi$sel. as sin+le in s"a"%s and denied ein+ a
wo$ani(er and .a"her "o "he sons o. 2il$a Soco) As "o whe"her he
was "ellin+ "he "r%"h is eside "he 'oin") In an! case# "he ac"%ali"! "ha"
Herer" carried on an a..air wi"h a 'ara$o%r canno" e "a4en as
s%..icien" asis .or "he concl%sion "ha" he was necessaril! an %n.i"
.a"her) -on:en"ional wisdo$ and co$$on h%$an e8'erience show
"ha" a KadL h%sand does no" necessaril! $a4e a KadL .a"her) Tha"
a h%sand is no" e8ac"l! an %'ri+h" $an is no"# s"ric"l! s'ea4in+# a
8
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
s%..icien" +ro%nd "o de'ri:e hi$ as a .a"her o. his inheren" ri+h" "o
'aren"al a%"hori"! o:er "he children)
-S's -la:ano "he$sel:es e8'lained wh! Herer" .ailed "o aide !
"he a+ree$en" re? s%''or" o. "he children? he was an ille+al alien in
"he ES) As s%ch# he co%ld no" ha:e 'roc%red +ain.%l e$'lo!$en")
(ounsel for (lavanos argue that the authority given to nna )arie by
the legal separation decree to enter into contracts was *all
embracing+ and included giving her sole consent to the adoption.
S-? This concl%sion is anchored on "he wron+ 're$ise "ha" "he
a%"hori"! +i:en "o "he innocen" s'o%se "o en"er in"o con"rac"s "ha"
o:io%sl! re.er "o "heir con@%+al 'ro'er"ies# shall incl%de en"erin+ in"o
a+ree$en"s leadin+ "o "he ado'"ion o. "he children) The "rans.er o.
c%s"od! o:er "he children "o Anna ,arie ! :ir"%e o. "he decree o.
le+al se'ara"ion did no"# o. necessi"!# de'ri:e Herer" o. 'aren"al
a%"hori"! .or "he '%r'ose o. 'lacin+ "he children %' .or ado'"ion) The
law onl! con.ers on "he innocen" s'o%se "he Ke8erciseL o. 'aren"al
a%"hori"!)
-Paren"al a%"hori"! and res'onsiili"! are inalienale and $a! no" e
"rans.erred or reno%nced e8ce'" in cases a%"hori(ed ! law) The ri+h"
a""ached "o 'aren"al a%"hori"!# ein+ '%rel! 'ersonal# "he law allows a
wai:er o. 'aren"al a%"hori"! onl! in cases o. ado'"ion# +%ardianshi'
and s%rrender "o a children1s ho$e or an or'han ins"i"%"ion) 2hen a
'aren" en"r%s"s "he c%s"od! o. a $inor "o ano"her# s%ch as a .riend or
+od.a"her# e:en in a doc%$en"# wha" is +i:en is $erel! "e$'orar!
c%s"od! and i" does no" cons"i"%"e a ren%ncia"ion o. 'aren"al
a%"hori"!) E:en i. a de.ini"e ren%ncia"ion is $ani.es"# "he law s"ill
disallows "he sa$e)
-As s%ch# in ins"an" case# Herer" $a! no" e dee$ed as ha:in+
een co$'le"el! de'ri:ed o. 'aren"al a%"hori"!# no"wi"hs"andin+ "he
award o. c%s"od! "o Anna ,arie in "he le+al se'ara"ion case) To
rei"era"e# "ha" award was arri:ed a" ! "he lower co%r" on "he asis o.
"he a+ree$en" o. "he s'o%ses)
-2hile 'aren"al a%"hori"! $a! e wai:ed# as in law i" $a! e s%@ec"
"o a co$'ro$ise# "here was no .ac"%al .indin+ in "he le+al se'ara"ion
case "ha" 'e"i"ioner was s%ch an irres'onsile 'erson "ha" he sho%ld
e de'ri:ed o. c%s"od! o. his children or "ha" "here are +ro%nds %nder
"he law "ha" co%ld de'ri:e hi$ o. 'aren"al a%"hori"!) In .ac"# in "he
le+al se'ara"ion case# "he co%r" "herea."er ordered "he "rans.er o.
c%s"od! o:er "he children .ro$ Anna ,arie ac4 "o Herer") The
order was no" i$'le$en"ed eca%se o. Anna ,arie1s ,AR "hereon)
The -la:ano .a$il! also :ehe$en"l! o@ec"ed "o "he "rans.er o.
c%s"od! "o Herer"# s%ch "ha" "he la""er was .orced "o .ile a con"e$'"
char+e a+ains" "he$)
-The law is clear "ha" ei"her 'aren" $a! lose 'aren"al a%"hori"! o:er
"he child onl! .or a :alid reason) No s%ch reason was es"alished in
"he le+al se'ara"ion case) In "he ins"an" case .or ado'"ion# "he iss%e
is 2=N Herer" had aandoned his children as "o warran"
dis'ensa"ion o. his consen" "o "heir ado'"ion) 0e'ri:a"ion o. 'aren"al
a%"hori"! is one o. "he e..ec"s o. a decree o. ado'"ion) <%" t8'
"annot % a vali( ("' o! a(o$tion in t8i6 "a6 $'"i6l&
%"a#6 t8 !in(in5 o! t8 "o#'t6 %lo7 on t8 i66# o!
H'%'t:6 a%an(on9nt o! 8i6 !a9il& 7a6 %a6( on a
9i6a$$'"iation, tanta9o#nt to non-a$$'"iation, o! !a"t6 on
'"o'(- ",n other words# there was no abandonment %&%'
-As re+ards "he di:orce o"ained in "he ES# "his -o%r" has r%led "ha"
a di:orce o"ained ! Aili'ino ci"i(ens a."er "he e..ec"i:i"! o. "he -i:il
-ode is no" reco+ni(ed in "his @%risdic"ion as i" is con"rar! "o S"a"e
'olic!) 2hile Herer" is now an A$erican ci"i(en# as re+ards Anna
,arie who has a''aren"l! re$ained a Aili'ino ci"i(en# "he di:orce has
no le+al e..ec")
-Since "he incor'ora"ion o. "he law concernin+ ado'"ion in "he -i:il
-ode# "here has een a 'rono%nced "rend "o 'lace e$'hasis in
ado'"ion 'roceedin+s# no" so $%ch on "he need o. childless co%'les
.or a child# as on "he 'ara$o%n" in"eres" o. a child who needs "he
lo:e and care o. 'aren"s) A."er "he 'assa+e o. "he -hild and Io%"h
2el.are -ode and "he Aa$il! -ode# "he discernile "rend has
i$'elled "he enac"$en" o. Re'%lic Ac" No) 803* on In"erco%n"r!
Ado'"ion Da''ro:ed 7 >%ne 1995F and Re'%lic Ac" No) 8552
es"alishin+ "he r%les on "he do$es"ic ado'"ion o. Aili'ino children
Da''ro:ed 25 Aer%ar! 1998F)
-The case a" ar a''lies "he rele:an" 'ro:isions o. recen" laws
3
)
Inas$%ch as "he Phili''ines is a si+na"or! "o "he Eni"ed Na"ions
-on:en"ion on "he Ri+h"s o. "he -hild# "he +o:ern$en" and i"s
o..icials are also d%"! o%nd "o co$'l! wi"h i"s $anda"es
5
) Enderl!in+
"he 'olicies and 'rece'"s in in"erna"ional con:en"ions and "he
do$es"ic s"a"%"es wi"h res'ec" "o children is "he o:erridin+ 'rinci'le
"ha" all ac"%a"ions sho%ld e in "he es" in"eres"s o. "he child) This is
no"# howe:er# "o e i$'le$en"ed in dero+a"ion o. "he 'ri$ar! ri+h" o.
"he 'aren" or 'aren"s "o e8ercise 'aren"al a%"hori"! o:er hi$) The
ri+h"s o. 'aren"s :is-S-:is "ha" o. "heir children are no" an"i"he"ical "o
each o"her# as in .ac"# "he! $%s" e res'ec"ed and har$oni(ed "o "he
.%lles" e8"en" 'ossile)
-Pei"h# -har$aine and >ose'h An"hon! ha:e all +rown %') Pei"h and
-har$aine are now o. le+al a+e while >ose'h An"hon! is
a''roachin+ ei+h"een# "he a+e o. $a@ori"!) Aor s%re# "he! shall e
4
R)A) No) 8552) 0o$es"ic Ado'"ion Ac") Ar") 1# Sec) 2)
6a7 To ens%re "ha" e:er! child re$ains %nder "he care and c%s"od! o. his;her
'aren"6s7 and e 'ro:ided wi"h lo:e# care# %nders"andin+ and sec%ri"! "owards
"he .%ll and har$onio%s de:elo'$en" o. his;her 'ersonali"!)
67 In all $a""ers rela"in+ "o "he care# c%s"od! and ado'"ion o. a child# his;her
in"eres" shall e "he 'ara$o%n" considera"ion in accordance wi"h "he "ene"s se"
.or"h in "he Eni"ed Na"ions 6EN7 -on:en"ion on "he Ri+h"s o. "he -hild)
6c7 To 're:en" "he child .ro$ %nnecessar! se'ara"ion .ro$ his;her iolo+ical
'aren"6s7)
5
-on:en"ion on "he Ri+h"s o. "he -hild
Ar") 5) KS"a"es Par"ies shall res'ec" "he res'onsiili"ies# ri+h"s and d%"ies o.
'aren"s ) ) ) "o 'ro:ide# in a $anner consis"en" wi"h "he e:ol:in+ ca'aci"ies o.
"he child# a''ro'ria"e direc"ion and +%idance in "he e8ercise ! "he child o. "he
ri+h"s reco+ni(ed in "he 'resen" -on:en"ion)L
Ar") 9# 'ar) *) KS"a"es Par"ies shall res'ec" "he ri+h" o. "he child who is
se'ara"ed .ro$ one or o"h 'aren"s "o $ain"ain 'ersonal rela"ions and direc"
con"ac" wi"h o"h 'aren"s on a re+%lar asis# e8ce'" i. i" is con"rar! "o "he
child1s es" in"eres"s)L
Ar") 10# 'ar) 2) KA child whose 'aren"s reside in di..eren" S"a"es shall ha:e "he
ri+h" "o $ain"ain on a re+%lar asis# sa:e in e8ce'"ional circ%$s"ances
'ersonal rela"ions and direc" con"ac"s wi"h o"h 'aren"s) ) )L
Ar") 13# 'ar) 2) KS"a"es Par"ies shall res'ec" "he ri+h"s and d%"ies o. "he
'aren"s ) ) ) "o 'ro:ide direc"ion "o "he child in "he e8ercise o. his or her ri+h" in
a $anner consis"en" wi"h "he e:ol:in+ ca'aci"ies o. "he child)L
endowed wi"h "he discre"ion "o lead li:es inde'enden" o. "heir
'aren"s) This is no" "o s"a"e "ha" "his case has een rendered $oo"
and acade$ic# .or "heir wel.are and es" in"eres"s re+ardin+ "heir
ado'"ion# $%s" e de"er$ined as o. "he "i$e "ha" "he 'e"i"ion .or
ado'"ion was .iled) Said 'e"i"ion $%s" e denied as i" was .iled
wi"ho%" "he re9%ired consen" o. "heir .a"her who# ! law and %nder "he
.ac"s o. "he case a" ar# has no" aandoned "he$)
"isposition Pe"i"ion .or re:iew on cer"iorari +ran"ed) T%es"ioned -A
0ecision and Resol%"ion# as well as "he RT- -e% decision# se"
aside "here! den!in+ "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion)
TAMARGO V CA
209 S-RA 518
AE&I-IAN=; >%ne *# 1992
,=N-H
FACTS
- Adeler"o <%ndoc# "hen a $inor o. 10 !ears o. a+e# sho"
>enni.er Ta$ar+o wi"h an air ri.le ca%sin+ in@%ries which
res%l"ed in her dea"h)
-Pe"i"ioner ,acario Ta$ar+o# >enni.erGs ado'"in+ 'aren"# and
'e"i"ioner s'o%ses -elso and A%relia Ta$ar+o# >enni.erGs
na"%ral 'aren"s .iled a co$'lain" .or da$a+es a+ains"
res'onden" s'o%ses /ic"or and -lara <%ndoc# Adeler"oGs
na"%ral 'aren"s wi"h who$ he was li:in+ a" "he "i$e o. "he
"ra+ic inciden")
- A case .or Ho$icide "hro%+h Rec4less I$'r%dence was also
.iled a+ains" Adeler"o) I" was dis$issed on "he +ro%nd "ha"
he was e8e$'"ed .ro$ cri$inal liaili"! since he ac"ed wi"ho%"
discern$en")
- Prior "o "he inciden"# s'o%ses Saas and Aelisa Ra'is%ra
.iled a 'e"i"ion "o ado'" Adeler"o) The 'e"i"ion was +ran"ed
a."er "he inciden")
- S'o%ses <%ndoc clai$ "ha" "he Ra'is%ras are "he
indis'ensale 'ar"ies since 'aren"al a%"hori"! has alread!
shi."ed "o "he la""er %'on "he .ilin+ o. "he 'e"i"ion "o ado'")
Pe"i"ioner howe:er con"end "ha" "he <%ndocs are "he
indis'ensale 'ar"ies since Adeler"o s"ill li:ed wi"h "he$#
"h%s# 'aren"al a%"hori"! has no" !e" shi."ed)
ISSUE
2=N 'aren"al a%"hori"! has shi."ed .ro$ "he .ilin+ o. "he 'e"i"ion .or
ado'"ion
HELD
N=
Reasoning Res'onden" <%ndoc s'o%ses rel! on Ar"icle *C o. "he
-hild and Io%"h 2el.are -ode which reads as .ollows?
Ar") *C) -ecree of doption) I.# a."er considerin+ "he re'or" o. "he
0e'ar"$en" o. Social 2el.are or d%l! licensed child 'lace$en"
a+enc! and "he e:idence s%$i""ed e.ore i"# "he co%r" is sa"is.ied
"ha" "he 'e"i"ioner is 9%ali.ied "o $ain"ain# care .or# and ed%ca"e "he
9
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
child# "ha" "he "rial c%s"od! 'eriod has een co$'le"ed# and "ha" "he
es" in"eres"s o. "he child will e 'ro$o"ed ! "he ado'"ion# a decree
of adoption shall be entered# which shall be effective he date the
original petition was filed. The decree shall s"a"e "he na$e ! which
"he child is "hence.or"h "o e 4nown) 6E$'hasis s%''lied7
- The <%ndoc s'o%ses .%r"her ar+%e "ha" "he ao:e Ar"icle *C sho%ld
e read in rela"ion "o Ar"icle *9 o. "he sa$e -ode?
Ar") *9) .ffect of doption. The ado'"ion shall?
627 -issolve the authority vested in the natural parents# e8ce'" where
"he ado'"er is "he s'o%se o. "he s%r:i:in+ na"%ral 'aren"; 888
and %r+e "ha" "heir Paren"al a%"hori"! $%s" e dee$ed "o ha:e een
dissol:ed as o. "he "i$e "he Pe"i"ion .or ado'"ion was .iled)
- E"he -i:il -ode# "he asis o. 'aren"al liaili"! .or "he "or"s o. a $inor
child is "he rela"ionshi' e8is"in+ e"ween "he 'aren"s and "he $inor
child li:in+ wi"h "he$ and o:er who$# "he law 'res%$es# "he 'aren"s
e8ercise s%'er:ision and con"rol) Ar"icle 58 o. "he -hild and Io%"h
2el.are -ode# re-enac"ed "his r%le?
Ar"icle 58 Torts Paren"s and +%ardians are res'onsile .or "he
da$a+e ca%sed ! "he child %nder "heir 'aren"al a%"hori"! in
accordance with the civil (ode. 6E$'hasis s%''lied7
- Ar"icle 221 o. "he Aa$il! -ode o. "he Phili''ines has si$ilarl!
insis"ed %'on "he re9%isi"e "ha" "he child# doer o. "he "or"io%s ac"# shall
ha:e een in "he ac"%al c%s"od! o. "he 'aren"s so%+h" "o e held
liale .or "he ens%in+ da$a+e?
Ar") 221) Paren"s and o"her 'ersons e8ercisin+ 'aren"al a%"hori"!
shall e ci:ill! liale .or "he in@%ries and da$a+es ca%sed ! "he ac"s
or o$issions o. "heir %ne$anci'a"ed children living in their company
and %nder "heir 'aren"al a%"hori"! s%@ec" "o "he a''ro'ria"e de.enses
'ro:ided ! law) 6E$'hasis s%''lied7
- 2e do no" consider "ha" re"roac"i:e e..ec" $a! e +i:en "o "he
decree o. ado'"ion so as "o i$'ose a liaili"! %'on "he ado'"in+
'aren"s) To hold "ha" 'aren"al a%"hori"! had een re"roac"i:el! lod+ed
in "he Ra'is%ra s'o%ses so as "o %rden "he$ wi"h liaili"! .or a
"or"io%s ac" "ha" "he! co%ld no" ha:e .oreseen and which "he! co%ld
no" ha:e 're:en"ed 6since "he! were a" "he "i$e in "he Eni"ed S"a"es
and had no 'h!sical c%s"od! o:er "he child Adeler"o7 wo%ld e
%n.air and %nconscionale)
- Ar"icle *5 o. "he -hild and Io%"h 2el.are -ode .or"i.ies "he
concl%sion reached ao:e) Ar"icle *5 'ro:ides as .ollows?
Ar") *5) Trial (ustody) No 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion shall e .inall!
+ran"ed %nless and %n"il "he ado'"in+ 'aren"s are +i:en ! "he co%r"s
a supervised trial custody period o. a" leas" si8 $on"hs "o assess
"heir ad@%s"$en" and e$o"ional readiness .or "he le+al %nion) -uring
the period of trial custody# parental authority shall be vested in the
adopting parents. 6E$'hasis s%''lied7
- Ender "he ao:e Ar"icle *5# 'aren"al a%"hori"! is 'ro:isionall! :es"ed
in "he ado'"in+ 'aren"s d%rin+ "he 'eriod o. "rial c%s"od!# i.e)# e.ore
"he iss%ance o. a decree o. ado'"ion# precisely because the adopting
parents are given actual custody of the child during such trial period)
In "he ins"an" case# "he "rial c%s"od! 'eriod ei"her had no" !e" e+%n
or ad alread! een co$'le"ed a" "he "i$e o. "he air ri.le shoo"in+; in
an! case# ac"%al c%s"od! o. Adeler"o was "hen wi"h his na"%ral
'aren"s# no" "he ado'"in+ 'aren"s)
SAYSON V CA
-r%(; BR 89223
2* >an%ar! 1992
I-E
FACTS
A" iss%e in "his case is "he s"a"%s o. "he 'ri:a"e res'onden"s and "heir
ca'aci"! "o inheri" .ro$ "heir alle+ed 'aren"s and +rand'aren"s) The
'e"i"ioners den! "he$ "ha" ri+h"# asser"in+ i" .or "he$sel:es "o "he
e8cl%sion o. all o"hers)
Eleno and Ra.aela Sa!son e+o" .i:e children- ,a%ricio# Rosario#
<asilisa# Re$edios and Teodoro) Eleno and Ra.aela died) Teodoro#
who had $arried Isael <a%"is"a# died a."er "he$) His wi.e died 9 !rs)
la"er) Their 'ro'er"ies were le." in "he 'ossession o. 0elia# Ed$%ndo#
and 0oriel# all s%rna$ed Sa!son# who clai$ "o e "heir children)
,a%ricio# Rosario# <asilisa# and Re$edios# "o+e"her wi"h >%ana -)
<a%"is"a# IsaelGs $o"her# .iled a co$'lain" .or 'ar"i"ion and
acco%n"in+ o. "he in"es"a"e es"a"e o. Teodoro and Isael Sa!son) The
ac"ion was resis"ed ! 0elia# Ed$%ndo and 0oriel Sa!son# who
alle+ed s%ccessional ri+h"s "o "he dis'%"ed es"a"e as "he deceden"Gs
law.%l descendan"s)
A di..eren" ac"ion was .iled ! 0elia# Ed$%ndo and 0oriel .iled "heir
own co$'lain"# .or "he acco%n"in+ and 'ar"i"ion o. "he in"es"a"e es"a"e
o. Eleno and Ra.aela Sa!son# a+ains" "he co%'leGs .o%r s%r:i:in+
children) The co$'lainan"s asser"ed "he de.ense "he! raised in -i:il
-ase No) 10*0# "o wi"# "ha" 0elia and Ed$%ndo were "he ado'"ed
children and 0oriel was "he le+i"i$a"e da%+h"er o. Teodoro and
Isael) As s%ch# "he! were en"i"led "o inheri" TeodoroGs share in his
'aren"sG es"a"e ! ri+h" o. re'resen"a"ion)
ISSUE
2=N 0elia and Ed$%ndo were le+all! ado'"ed
2=N 0oriel is a le+i"i$a"e child %sin+ "he <ir"h -er" as onl! asis
HELD
1 IES) =n "wo +ro%nds ar+%$en"a"i:e inconsis"enc! and "i$eliness)
The! ar+%e "ha" 0elia and Ed$%ndo co%ld no" e ado'"ed eca%se
0oriel was orn alread! 'rior "o "he ado'"ion and s%ch dis9%ali.ies
"he co%'le .ro$ ado'"in+ while "he! also ar+%e "ha" 0oriel was orn
o. ano"her 'erso# Edi"a Aila)
I" is also %n"i$el! $ade) I" is "oo la"e now "o challen+e "he decree o.
ado'"ion# !ears a."er i" eca$e .inal and e8ec%"or!) Tha" was wa!
ac4 in 19C7) Ass%$in+ "ha" "he 'e"i"ioners were 'ro'er 'ar"ies#
wha" "he! sho%ld ha:e done was seasonal! a''eal "he decree o.
ado'"ion# 'oin"in+ "o "he ir"h o. 0oriel "ha" dis9%ali.ied Teodoro and
Isael .ro$ ado'"in+ 0elia and Ed$%ndo) The! did no") In .ac"# "he!
sho%ld ha:e done "his earlier# e.ore "he decree o. ado'"ion was
iss%ed) The! did no"# al"ho%+h ,a%ricio clai$ed he had 'ersonal
4nowled+e o. s%ch ir"h)
2hen 0oriel was orn on Aer%ar! 27# 19C7# or ao%" TEN 6107
da!s e.ore "he iss%ance o. "he =rder o. Ado'"ion# "he 'e"i"ioners
co%ld ha:e no"i.ied "he co%r" ao%" "he .ac" o. ir"h o. 0=RI<E& and
'erha's wi"hdrew "he 'e"i"ion or 'erha's 'e"i"ioners co%ld ha:e .iled
a 'e"i"ion .or "he re:oca"ion or rescission o. "he ado'"ion 6al"ho%+h
"he ir"h o. a child is no" one o. "hose 'ro:ided ! law .or "he
re:oca"ion or rescission o. an ado'"ion7) The co%r" is o. "he
considered o'inion "ha" "he ado'"ion o. "he 'lain"i..s 0E&IA and
E0,EN0= SAIS=N is :alid# o%"s"andin+ and indin+ "o "he
'resen"# "he sa$e no" ha:in+ een re:o4ed or rescinded)
No" ha:in+ an! in.or$a"ion o. 0orielGs ir"h "o Teodoro and Isael
Sa!son# "he "rial @%d+e canno" e .a%l"ed .or +ran"in+ "he 'e"i"ion .or
ado'"ion on "he .indin+ in"er alia "ha" "he ado'"in+ 'aren"s were no"
dis9%ali.ied)
A no less i$'or"an" ar+%$en" a+ains" "he 'e"i"ioners is "ha" "heir
challen+e "o "he :alidi"! o. "he ado'"ion canno" e $ade colla"erall!#
as in "heir ac"ion .or 'ar"i"ion %" in a direc" 'roceedin+ .ron"all!
addressin+ "he iss%e)
The se""led r%le is "ha" a .indin+ "ha" "he re9%isi"e @%risdic"ional .ac"s
e8is"s# whe"her erroneo%s or no"# canno" e 9%es"ioned in a colla"eral
'roceedin+# .or a 'res%$'"ion arises in s%ch cases where "he :alidi"!
o. "he @%d+$en" is "h%s a""ac4ed "ha" "he necessar! @%risdic"ional
.ac"s were 'ro:en)
An ado'"ion order i$'lies "he .indin+ o. "he necessar! .ac"s and "he
%rden o. 'roo. is on "he 'ar"! a""ac4in+ i"; i" canno" e considered
:oid $erel! eca%se "he .ac" needed "o show s"a"%"or! co$'liance is
osc%re) 2hile a @%dicial de"er$ina"ion o. so$e 'ar"ic%lar .ac"# s%ch
as "he aandon$en" o. his ne8" o. 4in "o "he ado'"ion# $a! e
essen"ial "o "he e8ercise o. @%risdic"ion "o en"er "he order o. ado'"ion#
"his does no" $a4e i" essen"ial "o "he @%risdic"ional :alidi"! o. "he
decree "ha" "he .ac" e de"er$ined %'on 'ro'er e:idence# or
necessaril! in accordance wi"h "he "r%"h; a $ere error canno" a..ec"
"he @%risdic"ion# and "he de"er$ina"ion $%s" s"and %n"il re:ersed on
a''eal# and hence canno" e colla"erall! a""ac4ed) I. "his were no" "he
r%le# "he s"a"%s o. ado'"ed children wo%ld alwa!s e %ncer"ain# since
"he e:idence $i+h" no" e "he sa$e a" all in:es"i+a"ions# and $i+h"
e re+arded wi"h di..eren" e..ec" ! di..eren" "ri%nals# and "he
ado'"ion $i+h" e held ! one co%r" "o ha:e een :alid# while
ano"her co%r" wo%ld hold i" "o ha:e een o. no a:ail)
2 IES# 0oriel is a le+i"i$a"e child) 0orielGs ir"h cer"i.ica"e is a
.or$idale 'iece o. e:idence) I" is one o. "he 'rescried $eans o.
reco+ni"ion %nder Ar"icle 2C5 o. "he -i:il -ode and Ar"icle 172 o. "he
Aa$il! -ode) I" is "r%e# as "he 'e"i"ioners s"ress# "ha" "he ir"h
cer"i.ica"e o..ers onl! 'ri$a .acie e:idence o. .ilia"ion and $a! e
re.%"ed ! con"rar! e:idence) Howe:er# s%ch e:idence is lac4in+ in
"he case a" ar) Ano"her reason wh! "he 'e"i"ionersG challen+e $%s"
.ail is "he i$'ro'rie"! o. "he 'resen" 'roceedin+s .or "ha" '%r'ose)
0orielGs le+i"i$ac! canno" e 9%es"ioned in a co$'lain" .or 'ar"i"ion
and acco%n"in+ %" in a direc" ac"ion seasonal! .iled ! "he 'ro'er
'ar"!)
The 'res%$'"ion o. le+i"i$ac! in "he -i:il -ode ) ) ) does no" ha:e
"his '%rel! e:iden"ial charac"er) I" ser:es a $ore .%nda$en"al
'%r'ose) I" ac"%all! .i8es a ci:il s"a"%s .or "he child orn in wedloc4#
10
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
and "ha" ci:il s"a"%s canno" e a""ac4ed colla"erall!) The le+i"i$ac! o.
"he child can e i$'%+ned onl! in a direc" ac"ion ro%+h" .or "ha"
'%r'ose# ! "he 'ro'er 'ar"ies# and wi"hin "he 'eriod li$i"ed ! law)
The le+i"i$ac! o. "he child canno" e con"es"ed ! wa! o. de.ense or
as a colla"eral iss%e in ano"her ac"ion .or a di..eren" '%r'ose ) ) )
;OHNSTON V REPUBLIC
205 S-RA 1030
&A<RA0=R; A'ril *0# 19C*
REAN
FACTS
- Pe"i"ioner Isael /aldes >ohns"on# .iled a 'e"i"ion .or "he ado'"ion o.
one Ana Isael Henrie""e An"onia -once'cion Beor+iana# 2 !rs and
10 $os) old# "hen %nder "he c%s"od! o. "he Hos'icio de San >ose# an
or'hana+e si"%a"ed in ,anila) The 'e"i"ion shows "ha" 'e"i"ioner is 38
!ears old# $arried "o Ra!$ond Ar"h%r >ohns"on# Aili'ino; "ha" "he
co%'le are childless; "ha" "he consen" o. "he $o"her S%'erior o. "he
or'hana+e and "he h%sand o. Isael was o"ained)
- A."er d%e no"ice and hearin+ 'e"i"ion was +ran"ed ! "he -AI o.
Ri(al) Pe"i"ioner .iled a $o"ion# 'ra!in+ "ha" "he s%rna$e +i:en "o "he
$inor e M/aldes >ohns"onM# ins"ead o. M/aldesM onl!# %" "his $o"ion
was denied ! "he lower co%r" in) Hence# "his a''eal)
- Pe"i"ioner ar+%es? DaF Since she is now %sin+ "he s%rna$e o. her
h%sand 6A*70# 'ar) 1 N--7# and ec) K/aldes >ohns"on K is "he
s%rna$e she %sed in .ilin+ "he 'e"i"ion in "he 'resen" case# %nder
which she is now 4nown "o all her rela"i:es# .riends and
ac9%ain"ances# she had ceased "o e 4nown ! her $aiden
s%rna$e# so -AI sho%ld ha:e decreed "ha" "he $inor she ado'"ed
sho%ld e allowed "o ear "he s%rna$e she is now %sin+) DF The %se
o. s%rna$e M/aldesM ! ado'"ed child will crea"e "he i$'ression "ha"
she is "he ille+i"i$a"e child o. 'e"i"ioner e+o""en e.ore her $arria+e#
a si"%a"ion h%$ilia"in+ "o o"h ado'"er and ado'"ed)
- SolBen? Al"ho%+h a $arried wo$an is 'er$i""ed "o add "o her
s%rna$e her h%sandGs s%rna$e# "he .ac" re$ains "ha" 'e"i"ioner1s
s%rna$e is /aldes and no" >ohns"on; "ha" a $arried wo$an has a
s%rna$e o. her own "o which $a! e added her h%sandGs s%rna$e
i. she so chooses; "ha" i. "he $inor e 'er$i""ed "o %se "he s%rna$e
/aldes >ohns"on# $%ch con.%sion wo%ld res%l" eca%se "he '%lic
wo%ld e $isled in"o elie:in+ "ha" she was ado'"ed ! Isael1s
h%sand also# which is no" "r%e in "his case)
ISSUE
2=N -AI erred a%"hori(in+ or 'rescriin+ "he %se o. "he s%rna$e
/aldes ! "he ado'"ed child
HELD
N=)
- Ar") *31# 'ar) 3# N-- which en"i"les "he ado'"ed $inor "o "he %se o.
"he ado'"erGs s%rna$e# re.ers "o "he ado'"erGs own s%rna$e and no"
"o her s%rna$e ac9%ired ! :ir"%e o. $arria+e) IsaelGs real s%rna$e
is /aldes and no" >ohns"on# and as she $ade "he ado'"ion sin+l! w;o
her h%sand1s conc%rrence# and no" as a $arried wo$an# her na$e
as ado'"er was her $aiden na$e) The ado'"ion crea"ed a 'ersonal
rela"ionshi' e"ween "he ado'"er and "he ado'"ed# and "he consen"
o. Ra!$ond >ohns"on# Isael /aldesG h%sand# "o "he ado'"ion !
her indi:id%all!# did no" ha:e "he e..ec" o. $a4in+ hi$ an ado'"in+
.a"her# so as "o en"i"le "he child "o "he %se o. >ohns"onGs own
s%rna$e)
- Since ado'"ion +i:es "he 'erson ado'"ed "he sa$e ri+h"s and
d%"ies as i. he were a le+i"i$a"e child o. "he ado'"er 6Ar") *31# 'ar) 1#
N--7# $%ch con.%sion wo%ld indeed res%l"# as correc"l! 'oin"ed o%"
! "he SolBen# i. "he $inor child were allowed "o %se "he s%rna$e o.
"he s'o%se who did no" @oin in "he ado'"ion)
- To allow "he $inor "o ado'" "he s%rna$e o. "he h%sand o. "he
ado'"er# wo%ld $islead "he '%lic in"o elie:in+ "ha" she had also
een ado'"ed ! "he h%sand# which is no" "he case) And when la"er#
9%es"ions o. s%ccessional ri+h"s arise# "he h%sandGs consen" "o "he
ado'"ion $i+h" e 'resen"ed "o 'ro:e "ha" he had ac"%all! @oined in
"he ado'"ion)
Di6$o6ition: -AI1s order 'rescriin+ "he %se o. "he s%rna$e M/aldesM
! "he ado'"ed $inor Ana Isael Henrie""e An"onia -once'cion
Beor+iana# is AAAIR,E0)
REPUBLIC V *ONG
209 S-RA 189
REBA&A0=; ,a! 21# 1992
<AEJ
FACTS
-Res'onden" ,a8i$o 2on+ is "he le+i"i$a"e son o. ,a8i$o Alcala#
Sr) and Se+%ndina I) Alcala) 2hen he was 2 U !rs old and "hen
4nown as ,a8i$o Alcala# >r)# and his sis"er ,ar+are"# was "hen 9 !rs
old# "he! were# wi"h "he consen" o. "heir na"%ral 'aren"s and ! order
o. "he co%r" in SP -ase 59* iss%ed on Se'" 9# 19C7# ado'"ed !
s'o%ses Hoon+ 2on+ and -once'cion T! 2on+# o"h na"%rali(ed
Aili'inos) Hoon+# now deceased# was an ins%rance a+en" while
-once'cion was a hi+h school "eacher) The! decided "o ado'" "he
children as "he! re$ained childless a."er 15 !rs o. $arria+e) The
co%'les showered "heir ado'"ed children wi"h 'aren"al lo:e and
reared "he$ as "heir own children)
-E'on reachin+ 22# ,a8i$o# ! "hen $arried and a @%nior
En+ineerin+ s"%den" a" No"re 0a$e Eni:ersi"!# -o"aa"o -i"!# .iled a
'e"i"ion "o chan+e his na$e "o ,a8i$o Alcala# >r) I" was a:erred "ha"
his %se o. "he s%rna$e 2on+ e$arrassed and isola"ed hi$ .ro$ his
rela"i:es and .riends# as "he sa$e s%++es"s a -hinese ances"r!
when in "r%"h and in .ac" he is a ,%sli$ Aili'ino residin+ in a ,%sli$
co$$%ni"!# and he wan"s "o erase an! i$'lica"ion wha"soe:er o.
alien na"ionali"!; "ha" he is ein+ ridic%led .or carr!in+ a -hinese
s%rna$e# "h%s ha$'erin+ his %siness and social li.e; and "ha" his
ado'"i:e $o"her does no" o''ose his desire "o re:er" "o his .or$er
s%rna$e)
-=n >%l! 2# 198C# "he $a""er was resol:ed in .a:or o. ,a8i$o# T-
decreein+ "ha"# "he @%risdic"ional re9%ire$en"s ha:in+ een .%ll!
co$'lied wi"h# 'e"i"ionerGs 'ra!er "o chan+e his na$e .ro$ ,a8i$o
2on+ "o ,a8i$o Alcala# >r) was +ran"ed) =n a''eal "o res'onden"
-A# and o:er "he o''osi"ion o. 'e"i"ioner Re'%lic "hro%+h "he
SolBen# T- decision was a..ir$ed in .%ll# hence# "his 'e"i"ion .or
re:iew on cer"iorari)
ISSUES
1) 2=N "he reasons +i:en ! 'ri:a"e res'onden" in his 'e"i"ion .or
chan+e o. na$e are :alid# s%..icien" and 'ro'er "o warran" "he
+ran"in+ o. said 'e"i"ion
HELD
1) IES)
Ratio The '%r'ose o. "he law in allowin+ o. chan+e o. na$e %nder
R%le 10* is "o +i:e a 'erson an o''or"%ni"! "o i$'ro:e his 'ersonali"!
and "o 'ro:ide his es" in"eres") In +ran"in+ or den!in+ "he 'e"i"ion .or
chan+e o. na$e# "he 9%es"ion o. 'ro'er and reasonale ca%se is le."
"o "he discre"ion o. "he co%r") The e:idence 'resen"ed need onl! e
sa"is.ac"or! "o "he co%r" and no" all "he es" e:idence a:ailale is
re9%ired)
Reasoning Ar" *C3 "o *80#-- 'ro:ides "he s%s"an"i:e r%les which
re+%la"e "he %se o. s%rna$es) rt /01 mandates that 2an adopted
child shall bear the surname of the adopter#2 in correlation with rt
/31 on the effects of adoption# among which is to 2entitle the adopted
person to use the adopter4s surname.2 This same entitlement of an
adopted child is maintained in rt /5(/)# 6- 07/# otherwise $nown as
the (hild and 8outh 9elfare (ode. The :amily (ode echoes the
same statutory right of an adopted child to use the surname of the
adopter. (learly# from the very wordings of the law# it may be inferred
that this use of the surname of the adopter by the adopted child is
both an obligation and a right.
Ender Ar" *7C# --# Mno 'erson can chan+e his na$e or s%rna$e
wi"ho%" @%dicial a%"hori"!)M The a''lica"ion .or chan+e o. na$e
"here%nder in:ol:es a s'ecial 'roceedin+ +o:erned ! and
cond%c"ed %nder "he s"ric"%res o. R%le 10* and one which in:ol:es
s%s"an"ial chan+es# wi"h "he declared o@ec"i:e o. s%ch @%dicial
'roceedin+s ein+ "he 're:en"ion o. .ra%d) I"s '%r'ose is si$'l! "o
ha:e# where:er 'ossile# a record o. "he chan+e
A chan+e o. na$e is a s'ecial 'roceedin+ "o es"alish "he s"a"%s o. a
'erson in:ol:in+ his his le+al 'osi"ion in# or wi"h re+ard "o# "he res" o.
"he co$$%ni"!) I" is a 'roceedin+ in re$# so s"ric" co$'liance wi"h all
@%risdic"ional re9%ire$en"s# 'ar"ic%larl! on '%lica"ion# is essen"ial in
order "o :es" "he co%r" wi"h @%risdic"ion "hereo:er) Aor "his '%r'ose#
"he onl! na$e "ha" $a! e chan+ed is "he "r%e or o..icial na$e
recorded in "he ci:il re+is"er)
The chan+e o. na$e %nder Ar" *7C and re+le$en"aril! i$'le$en"ed
! R%le 10* $%s" no" e con.%sed wi"h and canno" e e..ec"ed
"hro%+h "he s%$$ar! 'roceedin+ 'ro'osed in Ar" 312# as
'roced%rall! re+%la"ed ! R%le 108# which re.ers onl! "o correc"ion o.
clerical errors# s%ch as "hose which are :isile "o "he e!e or o:io%s
"o "he %nders"andin+# or an error $ade ! a cler4 or "ranscrier# or a
$is"a4e in co'!in+ or wri"in+# or so$e har$less or innoc%o%s
chan+e)
11
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
2e .ind %nacce'"ale "he asser"ion o. "he Solici"or Beneral "ha"
'ri:a"e res'onden"Gs alle+a"ion o. ridic%le and e$arrass$en" d%e "o
"he %se o. his 'resen" s%rna$e is %ns%s"an"ia"ed) The "es"i$on! o.
'ri:a"e res'onden" in "he lower co%r" ears o%" "he e8is"ence o. :alid
ca%se in his id .or chan+e o. na$e?
T Now# a."er !o% ado'"ed "he s%rna$e M2on+VM in !o%r s"%dies#
wha" did !o% oser:eV
A I oser:ed "ha" M2on+M as a s%rna$e e$arrassed $e "o $!
.riends and when I +o wi"h -hinese .riends I canno" "al4 -hinese) I
a$ li:in+ in -a$'o ,%sli$# a ,%sli$ co$$%ni"! %" no one can
elie:e "ha" I a$ ,%sli$) I ha:e a li""le %siness o. A%rni"%re %" I
ha:e li""le 6sic7 c%s"o$er eca%se no one elie:es $e "ha" I a$
,%sli$)
This was $a"eriall! corroora"ed ! "he "es"i$on! o. 'ri:a"e
res'onden"Gs ado'"i:e $o"her)
Aro$ "he "es"i$on! o. ,a8i$o and o. his ado'"er $o"her# i" can e
discerned "ha" he was 'ro$'"ed "o .ile "he 'e"i"ion .or chan+e o.
na$e eca%se o. "he e$arrass$en" and ridic%le his .a$il! na$e
rin+s in his dealin+s wi"h his rela"i:es and .riends) Ano"her ca%se is
his desire "o i$'ro:e his social and %siness li.e) I" has een held
"ha" in "he asence o. 're@%dice "o "he s"a"e or an! indi:id%al# a
sincere desire "o ado'" a Aili'ino na$e "o erase si+ns o. a .or$er
alien na"ionali"! which onl! ha$'ers social and %siness li.e# is a
'ro'er and reasonale ca%se .or chan+e o. na$e) >%s"ice dic"a"es
"ha" a 'erson sho%ld e allowed "o i$'ro:e his social s"andin+ as
lon+ as in doin+ so# he does no" ca%se 're@%dice or in@%r! "o "he
in"eres" o. "he S"a"e or o"her 'ersons) No"hin+ wha"soe:er is shown
in "he record o. "his case "ha" s%ch 're@%dice or in@%r! "o "he in"eres"
o. "he s"a"e or o. o"her 'ersons wo%ld res%l" in "he chan+e o.
'e"i"ionerGs na$e)
To @%s"i.! a re9%es" .or chan+e o. na$e# 'e"i"ioner $%s" show no"
onl! so$e 'ro'er or co$'ellin+ reason "here.or %" also "ha" he will
e 're@%diced ! "he %se o. his "r%e and o..icial na$e) A$on+ "he
+ro%nds .or chan+e o. na$e which ha:e een held :alid are? 6a7
2hen "he na$e is ridic%lo%s# dishonorale or e8"re$el! di..ic%l" "o
wri"e or 'rono%nce; 67 2hen "he chan+e res%l"s as a le+al
conse9%ence# as in le+i"i$a"ion; 6c7 2hen "he chan+e will a:oid
con.%sion; 6d7 Ha:in+ con"in%o%sl! %sed and een 4nown since
childhood ! a Aili'ino na$e# %naware o. her alien 'aren"a+e; 6e7 A
sincere desire "o ado'" a Aili'ino na$e "o erase si+ns o. .or$er
aliena+e# all in +ood .ai"h and wi"ho%" 're@%dicin+ an!od!; and 6.7
2hen "he s%rna$e ca%ses e$arrass$en" and "here is no showin+
"ha" "he desired chan+e o. na$e was .or a .ra%d%len" '%r'ose or "ha"
"he chan+e o. na$e wo%ld 're@%dice '%lic in"eres")
*8il it i6 t'# t8at t8 6tat#to'& !iat #n(' A't ,/< i6 to t8
!!"t t8at an a(o$t( "8il( 68all %a' t8 6#'na9 o! t8
a(o$t', it 9#6t nv't8l66 % %o'n in 9in( t8at t8 "8an5
o! t8 6#'na9 o! t8 a(o$t( "8il( i6 9o' an in"i(nt 'at8'
t8an t8 o%="t o! a(o$tion $'o"(in56- The ac" o. ado'"ion .i8es
a s"a"%s# "ha" o. 'aren" and child) ,ore "echnicall!# i" is an ac" !
which rela"ions o. 'a"erni"! and a..ilia"ion are reco+ni(ed as le+all!
e8is"in+ e"ween 'ersons no" so rela"ed ! na"%re) I" has een
de.ined as "he "a4in+ in"o oneGs .a$il! o. "he child o. ano"her as son
or da%+h"er and heir and con.errin+ on i" a "i"le "o "he ri+h"s and
'ri:ile+es o. s%ch)
It i6 t8 #6#al !!"t o! a ("' o! a(o$tion to t'an6!' !'o9 t8
nat#'al $a'nt6 to t8 a(o$tiv $a'nt6 t8 "#6to(& o! t8
"8il(>6 $'6on, t8 (#t& o! o%(in" o7in5 %& t8 "8il(, an( all
ot8' l5al "on6?#n"6 an( in"i(nt6 o! t8 nat#'al 'lation,
in t8 6a9 9ann' a6 i! t8 "8il( 8a( %n %o'n o! 6#"8
a(o$tiv $a'nt6 in la7!#l 7(lo"@, 6#%="t, 8o7v', to 6#"8
li9itation6 an( '6t'i"tion6 a6 9a& % %& 6tat#t i9$o6(-
The SolBen $ain"ains "ha" "o s%s"ain "he chan+e o. na$e wo%ld r%n
co%n"er "o Ar" *C5 and "he r%lin+ in ,an%el :s) Re'%lic "ha" Mone
sho%ld no" e allowed "o %se a s%rna$e which o"herwise he is no"
'er$i""ed "o e$'lo! %nder "he law#M and wo%ld se" a ad e8a$'le "o
o"her 'ersons who $i+h" also see4 a chan+e o. "heir s%rna$es on
la$e e8c%ses)
2e do no" elie:e "ha" ! re:er"in+ "o his old na$e# 'ri:a"e
res'onden" wo%ld "hen e %sin+ a na$e which he is 'rohii"ed !
law .ro$ %sin+) Tr%e# "he law 'rescries "he s%rna$e "ha" a 'erson
$a! e$'lo!; %" "he law does no" +o so .ar as "o %n9%ali.iedl!
'rohii" "he %se o. an! o"her s%rna$e# and onl! s%@ec"s s%ch
reco%rse "o "he o"en"ion o. "he re9%isi"e @%dicial sanc"ion) I. we were
"o .ollow "he ar+%$en" o. "he SolBen "o i"s concl%sion# "hen "here will
ne:er e an! 'ossiili"! or occasion .or an! 'erson# re+ardless o.
s"a"%s# "o chan+e his na$e# in :iew o. "he s%''osed s%se9%en"
:iola"ion o. "he le+al i$'era"i:e on "he %se o. s%rna$es in "he e:en"
"ha" "he 'e"i"ion is +ran"ed) R%le 10* wo%ld "hen e rendered in%"ile)
Sec 1 o. R%le 10* %ses "he +eneric "er$ M'ersonsM "o si+ni.! all
na"%ral 'ersons re+ardless o. s"a"%s) I. a le+i"i$a"e 'erson $a!#
%nder cer"ain @%diciall! acce'"ed e8ce'"ional circ%$s"ances# 'e"i"ion
"he co%r" .or a chan+e o. na$e# "here is no le+al asis or lo+ic in
discri$ina"in+ a+ains" "he a:ail$en" o. s%ch a re$ed! ! an ado'"ed
child)
Herein res'onden" is alread! o. a+e and as s%ch he can decide wha"
is es" .or hi$) His e8'erience wi"h re+ard "o his social and %siness
dealin+s is 'ersonal and i" is onl! he who can a""es" "o "he sa$e)
Aindin+ his 'redica$en"Gs 'ro'er re$ed! is solel! "hro%+h le+al
'rocess# herein res'onden" accordin+l! .iled a 'e"i"ion '%rs%an" "o
R%le 10* which was +ran"ed ! "heT-)
I" is no" .air "o cons"r%e "he desired re:ersion o. 'ri:a"e res'onden" "o
"he %se o. "he na$e o. his 'aren"s ! na"%re as crass in+ra"i"%de) To
+o ! "he SolBenGs s%++es"ion "ha" 'ri:a"e res'onden" sho%ld ha:e
his ado'"ion re:o4ed i. he wan"s "o %se "he s%rna$e o. his na"%ral
.a"her wo%ld e "o e8ac" "oo clear a "oll .or $a4in+ %se o. an
a''ro'ria"e and :alid re$ed! a:ailale %nder "he law)
Herein 'ri:a"e res'onden"# e.ore he .iled "he 'e"i"ion .or chan+e o.
na$e# as4ed .or his ado'"i:e $o"herGs 'er$ission "o do so) As 'roo.
o. her assen" "o "he .ilin+ o. said 'e"i"ion# -once'cion e8ec%"ed an
a..ida:i" in -o"aa"o -i"! on ,a! 27# 1985)
There co%ld e no o"her 'la%sile reason .or 'ri:a"e res'onden" "o
.irs" sec%re his ado'"i:e $o"herGs consen" e.ore resor"in+ "o "he
9%es"ioned le+al reco%rse o"her "han "he 'aren"al res'ec" and
re:erence which is owed ! and "o e e8'ec"ed o. a d%"i.%l child)
,oreo:er# wor"h! o. no"e is "he .ac" "ha" 'ri:a"e res'onden"Gs
ado'"i:e $o"her e$'hasi(ed "ha" she e8ec%"ed "he ao:e a..ida:i"
Mwi"ho%" a..ec"in+ "he le+al ado'"ion +ran"ed ! "he -o%r" on Se' 9#
19C7# $a4in+ hi$ as one o. $! le+al and co$'%lsor! heirs)M This is
incon"ro:er"ile 'roo. "ha" she ne:er en"er"ained an! $is+i:in+s or
reser:a"ions wi"h res'ec" "o her consen" "o his 'e"i"ion) This li4ewise
dis'els an! 'ossile con.%sion as "o 'ri:a"e res'onden"Gs le+al s"a"%s
or ado'"i:e 'a"erni"! and his s%ccessional ri+h"s) -oncordan"l!# a
chan+e o. na$e does no" de.ine or e..ec" a chan+e in oneGs e8is"in+
.a$il! rela"ions or in "he ri+h"s and d%"ies .lowin+ "here.ro$) I" does
no" al"er oneGs le+al ca'aci"!# ci:il s"a"%s or ci"i(enshi'; all "ha" is
al"ered is "he na$e)
"isposition 2HEREA=RE# "he 'e"i"ion is 0ENIE0 and "he decision
o. res'onden" -o%r" o. A''eals is here! AAAIR,E0 in toto)
REPUBLIC v- CA, CARANTO
255 S-RA 99
,EN0=JA; ,arch 15# 199C
RI-PI
FACTS
- S'o%ses >ai$e and Jenaida -aran"o .iled a 'e"i"ion .or "he
ado'"ion o. ,idael -) ,a(on# wi"h 'ra!er .or "he correc"ion o. "he
$inorGs .irs" na$e M,idaelM "o M,ichael)M ,idael# "hen 15 !ears old#
had een li:in+ wi"h >ai$e -aran"o since he was 7 !ears old) 2hen
res'onden"s were $arried in 198C# "he $inor s"a!ed wi"h "he$ %nder
"heir care and c%s"od!)
- The SolBen o''osed "he 'e"i"ion inso.ar as i" so%+h" "he correc"ion
o. "he na$e o. "he child .ro$ M,idaelM "o M,ichael)M He ar+%ed "ha"
al"ho%+h "he correc"ion so%+h" concerned onl! a clerical and
innoc%o%s error# i" co%ld no" e +ran"ed eca%se "he 'e"i"ion was
asicall! .or ado'"ion# no" "he correc"ion o. an en"r! in "he ci:il
re+is"r! %nder R%le 108 o. "he R=-)
- The RT- +ran"ed "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion and dis$issed "he
o''osi"ion o. "he SolBen on "he +ro%nd "ha" R%le 108 a''lies onl! "o
"he correc"ion o. en"ries concernin+ "he ci:il s"a"%s o. 'ersons) I" ci"ed
R%le 108# W 1# which 'ro:ides "ha" Man! 'erson in"eres"ed in an ac"#
e:en"# order or decree concernin+ "he ci:il s"a"%s o. "he 'ersons
which has een recorded in "he ci:il re+is"er# $a! .ile a :eri.ied
'e"i"ion .or "he cancella"ion or correc"ion o. an! en"r! rela"in+
"here"o)M I" held "ha" "he correc"ion o. na$es in "he ci:il re+is"r! is no"
one o. "he $a""ers en%$era"ed in R%le 108# W2 as Men"ries s%@ec" "o
cancella"ion or correc"ion)M Accordin+ "o "he "rial co%r"# "he error co%ld
e correc"ed in "he sa$e 'roceedin+ .or ado'"ion "o 're:en"
$%l"i'lici"! o. ac"ions# and incon:enience "o "he 'e"i"ioners) The -A
a..ir$ed)
ISSUES
1) 2=N "he RT- ac9%ired @%risdic"ion o:er "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion)
2) 2=N "he "rial co%r" erred in +ran"in+ res'onden"sG 'ra!er .or "he
correc"ion o. "he na$e o. "he child in "he ci:il re+is"r!)
HELD
1) IES)
12
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
Reasoning SolBenGs con"en"ion is "ha" "he "rial co%r" did no" ac9%ire
@%risdic"ion o:er "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion eca%se "he no"ice !
'%lica"ion did no" s"a"e "he "r%e na$e o. "he $inor child# in:o4in+
"he r%lin+ in -r%( :) Re'%lic) There "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion and "he
no"ice '%lished in "he news'a'er +a:e "he a'"is$al na$e o. "he
child 6MRosanna E) -r%(M7 ins"ead o. her na$e in "he record o. ir"h
6MRosanna E) <%co!M7) I" was held "ha" "his was a Ms%s"an"ial de.ec"
in "he 'e"i"ion and "he '%lished order o. hearin+)M Indeed "here was
a 9%es"ion o. iden"i"! in:ol:ed in "ha" case) Rosanna E) -r%( co%ld
:er! well e a di..eren" 'erson .ro$ Rosanna E) <%co!# as co$$on
e8'erience wo%ld indica"e)
- The 'resen" case is di..eren") I" in:ol:es an o:io%s clerical error in
"he na$e o. "he child) The correc"ion in:ol:es $erel! "he s%s"i"%"ion
o. "he le""ers MchM .or "he le""er Md#M so "ha" wha" a''ears as M,idaelM
as +i:en na$e wo%ld read M,ichael)M E:en "he SolBen ad$i"s "ha"
"he error is a 'lainl! clerical one) -han+in+ "he na$e o. "he child
.ro$ M,idael -) ,a(onM "o M,ichael -) ,a(onM canno" 'ossil! ca%se
an! con.%sion# eca%se o"h na$es Mcan e read and 'rono%nced
wi"h "he sa$e rh!$e 6"%+$a7 and "one 6"ono# "%no+# hi$i+7)M The
'%r'ose o. "he '%lica"ion re9%ire$en" is "o +i:e no"ice so "ha" "hose
who ha:e an! o@ec"ion "o "he ado'"ion can $a4e "heir o@ec"ion
4nown) Tha" '%r'ose has een ser:ed ! '%lica"ion o. no"ice in "his
case)
2) IES)
Reasoning The "rial co%r" was clearl! in error in holdin+ R%le 108 "o
e a''licale onl! "o "he correc"ion o. errors concernin+ "he ci:il
s"a"%s o. 'ersons) This case .alls %nder le""er M6o7M o. W2 re.errin+ "o
chan+es o. na$e) Indeed# i" has een "he %ni.or$ r%lin+ o. "his -o%r"
"ha" Ar") 312 o. "he -i:il -ode - "o i$'le$en" which R%le 108 was
inser"ed in "he r%les o. -o%r" in 19C3 - co:ers M"hose har$less and
innoc%o%s chan+es# s%ch as correc"ion o. a na$e "ha" is clearl!
$iss'elled)MG Th%s# in I% :s) Re'%licG i" was held "ha" M"o chan+e
GSincioG "o GSencioG which $erel! in:ol:es "he s%s"i"%"ion o. "he .irs"
:owel GiG in "he .irs" na$e in"o "he :owel GeG a$o%n"s $erel! "o "he
ri+h"in+ o. a clerical error)M In &aa!o-Rowe :) Re'%lic i" was held
"ha" M"he chan+e o. 'e"i"ionerGs na$e .ro$ <ea"ri( &aa!o;<ea"ri(
&aa!% "o E$'era"ri( &aa!o is a $ere innoc%o%s al"era"ion wherein
a s%$$ar! 'roceedin+ is a''ro'ria"e)M
- R%le 108 "h%s a''lies "o "he 'resen" 'roceedin+) Now W* o. "his
R%le 'ro:ides?
W *) Par"ies) - 2hen cancella"ion or correc"ion o. an en"r! in "he ci:il
re+is"er is so%+h"# "he ci:il re+is"rar and all 'ersons who ha:e or
clai$ an! in"eres" which wo%ld e a..ec"ed "here! shall e $ade
'ar"ies "o "he 'roceedin+)
- The local ci:il re+is"rar is "h%s re9%ired "o e $ade a 'ar"! "o "he
'roceedin+) He is an indis'ensale 'ar"!# wi"ho%" who$ no .inal
de"er$ina"ion o. "he case can e had) As he was no" i$'leaded in
"his case $%ch less +i:en no"ice o. "he 'roceedin+# "he decision o.
"he "rial co%r"# inso.ar as i" +ran"ed "he 'ra!er .or "he correc"ion o.
en"r!# is :oid)
- Nor was no"ice o. "he 'e"i"ion .or correc"ion o. en"r! '%lished as
re9%ired ! R%le 108# W 3) 2hile "here was no"ice +i:en !
'%lica"ion in "his case# i" was no"ice o. "he 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion
$ade in co$'liance wi"h R%le 99# W 3) In "ha" no"ice onl! "he 'ra!er
.or ado'"ion o. "he $inor was s"a"ed) No"hin+ was $en"ioned "ha" in
addi"ion "he correc"ion o. his na$e in "he ci:il re+is"r! was also ein+
so%+h") The local ci:il re+is"rar was "h%s de'ri:ed o. no"ice and#
conse9%en"l!# o. "he o''or"%ni"! "o e heard) The necessar!
conse9%ence was "o render "he 'roceedin+ o. "he "rial co%r"# so .ar
as "he correc"ion o. en"r! was concerned# n%ll and :oid .or lac4 o.
@%risdic"ion o"h as "o 'ar"! and as "o "he s%@ec" $a""er)
"isposition 0ecision o. "he -A ,=0IAIE0 ! dele"in+ .ro$ "he
decision o. "he RT- "he order "o "he local ci:il re+is"rar "o chan+e "he
na$e M,I0AE&M "o M,I-HAE&M in "he ir"h cer"i.ica"e o. "he child)
AAAIR,E0 wi"h res'ec" "o "he ado'"ion)
REPUBLIC v HERNANDE.
25* S-RA 509
REBA&A0=; Aer%ar! 9# 199C
>=EI
NATURE
A''eal ! cer"iorari o. "he decision o. RT- Pasi+
FACTS
- S'o%ses /an and Re+ina ,%nson .iled a 'e"i"ion "o ado'" "he $inor
Pe:in Earl <ar"olo$e ,oran) In "he :er! sa$e 'e"i"ion# "he! 'ra!ed
.or "he chan+e o. "he .irs" na$e o. said $inor ado'"ee "o Aaron
>ose'h# "he sa$e ein+ "he na$e wi"h which he was a'"i(ed in
4ee'in+ wi"h reli+io%s "radi"ion# and ! which he has een called !
his ado'"i:e .a$il!# rela"i:es and .riends since he arri:ed a" "heir
residence)
- The Re'%lic o''osed "he incl%sion o. "he relie. .or chan+e o. na$e
in "he sa$e 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion# ar+%in+ "ha" "hese 'e"i"ions sho%ld
e cond%c"ed and '%rs%ed as "wo se'ara"e 'roceedin+s)
- RT- +ran"ed "he ado'"ion and chan+e o. na$e)
ISSUES
1) 2=N T- erred in +ran"in+ "he chan+e o. "he re+is"ered 'ro'er or
+i:en na$e o. "he $inor ado'"ee e$odied in "he 'e"i"ion .or
ado'"ion
2) 2=N "here was law.%l +ro%nd .or "he chan+e o. na$e)
HELD
1) IES
Ratio The o..icial na$e o. a 'erson whose ir"h is re+is"ered in "he
ci:il re+is"er is "he na$e a''earin+ "herein) I. a chan+e in one1s
na$e is desired# "his can onl! e done ! .ilin+ and s"ric"l! co$'l!in+
wi"h "he s%s"an"i:e and 'roced%ral re9%ire$en"s .or a s'ecial
'roceedin+ .or chan+e o. na$e %nder R%le 10*# wherein "he
s%..icienc! o. "he reasons or +ro%nds "here.or can e "hreshed o%"
and accordin+l! de"er$ined)
Reasoning
- Ar") 189 o. "he A- en%$era"es "he le+al e..ec"s o. ado'"ion?
K617 Aor ci:il '%r'oses# "he ado'"ed shall e dee$ed "o e a
le+i"i$a"e child o. "he ado'"ers and o"h shall ac9%ire "he reci'rocal
ri+h"s and oli+a"ions arisin+ .ro$ "he rela"ionshi' o. 'aren" and
child# incl%din+ "he ri+h" o. "he ado'"ed "o %se "he s%rna$e o. "he
ado'"ers;
627 The 'aren"al a%"hori"! o. "he 'aren"s ! na"%re o:er "he ado'"ed
shall "er$ina"e and e :es"ed in "he ado'"ers# e8ce'" "ha" i. "he
ado'"er is "he s'o%se o. "he 'aren" ! na"%re o. "he ado'"ed#
'aren"al a%"hori"! o:er "he ado'"ed shall e e8ercised @oin"l! ! o"h
s'o%ses; and
6*7 The ado'"ed shall re$ain an in"es"a"e heir o. his 'aren"s and
o"her lood rela"i:es)L
- The law allows "he ado'"ee# as a $a""er o. ri+h" and oli+a"ion# "o
ear "he s%rna$e o. "he ado'"er# %'on iss%ance o. "he decree o.
ado'"ion) I" is "he chan+e o. "he ado'"ee1s surname "o .ollow "ha" o.
"he ado'"er which is "he na"%ral and necessar! conse9%ence o. a
+ran" o. ado'"ion and $%s" s'eci.icall! e con"ained in "he order o.
"he co%r"# in .ac"# e:en i. no" 'ra!ed .or ! 'e"i"ioner) Howe:er# "he
given or proper na$e# also 4nown as "he first or (hristian na$e# o.
"he ado'"ee $%s" re$ain as i" was ori+inall! re+is"ered in "he ci:il
re+is"er) The crea"ion o. an ado'"i:e rela"ionshi' does no" con.er
%'on "he ado'"er a license "o chan+e "he ado'"ee1s re+is"ered
-hris"ian or .irs" na$e) The a%"o$a"ic chan+e "hereo.# 're$ised
solel! %'on "he ado'"ion "h%s +ran"ed# is e!ond "he '%r:iew o. a
decree o. ado'"ion) Nei"her is i" a $ere inciden" in nor an ad@%nc" o.
an ado'"ion 'roceedin+# s%ch "ha" a 'ra!er "here.or .%r"i:el! inser"ed
in a 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion canno" 'ro'erl! e +ran"ed)
- The na$e o. "he ado'"ee as recorded in "he ci:il re+is"er sho%ld e
%sed in "he ado'"ion 'roceedin+s in order "o :es" "he co%r" wi"h
@%risdic"ion "o hear and de"er$ine "he sa$e# and shall con"in%e "o e
so %sed %n"il "he co%r" orders o"herwise) -han+in+ "he +i:en or
'ro'er na$e o. a 'erson as recorded in "he ci:il re+is"er is a
s%s"an"ial chan+e in one1s o..icial or le+al na$e and canno" e
a%"hori(ed wi"ho%" a @%dicial order) The '%r'ose o. "he s"a"%"or!
'roced%re a%"hori(in+ a chan+e o. na$e is si$'l! "o ha:e# where:er
'ossile# a record o. "he chan+e# and in 4ee'in+ wi"h "he o@ec" o.
"he s"a"%"e# a co%r" "o which "he a''lica"ion is $ade sho%ld nor$all!
$a4e i"s decree recordin+ s%ch chan+e)
- A 'e"i"ion .or chan+e o. na$e ein+ a 'roceedin+ in rem# s"ric"
co$'liance wi"h all "he re9%ire$en"s "here.or is indis'ensale in
order "o :es" "he co%r" wi"h @%risdic"ion .or i"s ad@%dica"ion) I" is an
inde'enden" and discre"e s'ecial 'roceedin+# in and ! i"sel.#
+o:erned ! i"s own se" o. r%les) A fortiori# i" canno" e +ran"ed !
$eans o. an! o"her 'roceedin+) To consider i" as a $ere inciden" or
an o..shoo" o. ano"her s'ecial 'roceedin+ wo%ld e "o deni+ra"e i"s
role and si+ni.icance as "he a''ro'ria"e re$ed! a:ailale %nder o%r
re$edial law s!s"e$)
- Nei"her can "he allowance o. "he s%@ec" 'e"i"ion e @%s"i.ied %nder
"he r%le allowin+ 'er$issi:e @oinder o. ca%ses o. ac"ion) 2hile
@oinder o. ca%ses o. ac"ion is lar+el! le." "o "he o'"ion o. a 'ar"!
li"i+an"# R%le 2)5 allows ca%ses o. ac"ion "o e @oined in one
co$'lain" condi"ioned %'on "he .ollowin+ re9%isi"es? 6a7 i" will no"
:iola"e "he r%les on @%risdic"ion# :en%e and @oinder o. 'ar"ies; and 67
"he ca%ses o. ac"ion arise o%" o. "he sa$e con"rac"# "ransac"ion or
13
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
rela"ion e"ween "he 'ar"ies# or are .or de$ands .or $one! or are o.
"he sa$e na"%re and charac"er)
- 2hile i" is "r%e "ha" "here is no e8'ress 'rohii"ion a+ains" "he
@oinder o. a 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion and .or chan+e o. na$e# we do no"
elie:e "ha" "here is an! rela"ion e"ween "hese "wo 'e"i"ions# nor are
"he! o. "he sa$e na"%re or charac"er# $%ch less do "he! 'resen" an!
co$$on 9%es"ion o. .ac" or law# which con@oin"l! wo%ld warran" "heir
@oinder)
- A 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion and a 'e"i"ion .or chan+e o. na$e are "wo
s'ecial 'roceedin+s which# in s%s"ance and '%r'ose# are di..eren"
.ro$ each o"her) Each ac"ion is indi:id%all! +o:erned ! 'ar"ic%lar
se"s o. laws and r%les) These "wo 'roceedin+s in:ol:e dis'ara"e
iss%es) In a 'e"i"ion .or ado'"ion# "he co%r" is called %'on "o e:al%a"e
"he 'ro'osed ado'"er1s .i"ness and 9%ali.ica"ions "o rin+ %' and
ed%ca"e "he ado'"ee 'ro'erl!. =n "he o"her hand# in a 'e"i"ion .or
chan+e o. na$e# no .a$il! rela"ions are crea"ed or a..ec"ed .or wha"
is loo4ed in"o is "he 'ro'rie"! and reasonaleness o. "he +ro%nds
s%''or"in+ "he 'ro'osed chan+e o. na$e)
- 2e do no" 'ercei:e an! in@%s"ice "ha" can 'ossil! e :isi"ed %'on
'ri:a"e res'onden"s ! .ollowin+ "he re+le$en"ar! 'roced%re .or "he
chan+e in "he 'ro'er or +i:en na$e "ha" "he! see4 .or "heir ado'"ed
child) 2e are hard '%" "o descr! "he indis'ensaili"! o. a chan+e o.
"he .irs" na$e o. "he ado'"ee "o his wel.are and ene.i") Nor is "he
said chan+e o. s%ch %r+enc! "ha" wo%ld @%s"i.! an e8e$'"ion .ro$ or
a rela8a"ion o. "he R%les)
2) N=
Ratio Bro%nds s%..icien" "o warran" a chan+e o. na$e? 6a7 when "he
na$e is ridic%lo%s# dishonorale or e8"re$el! di..ic%l" "o wri"e or
'rono%nce; 67 when "he chan+e res%l"s as a le+al conse9%ence o.
le+i"i$a"ion or ado'"ion; 6c7 when "he chan+e will a:oid con.%sion; 6d7
when one has con"in%o%sl! %sed and een 4nown since childhood !
a Aili'ino na$e and was %naware o. alien 'aren"a+e; 6e7 when "he
chan+e is ased on a sincere desire "o ado'" a Aili'ino na$e "o
erase si+ns o. .or$er aliena+e# all in +ood .ai"h and wi"ho%" 're@%dice
"o an!od!; and 6.7 when "he s%rna$e ca%ses e$arrass$en" and
"here is no showin+ "ha" "he desired chan+e o. na$e was .or a
.ra%d%len" '%r'ose or "ha" "he chan+e o. na$e wo%ld 're@%dice '%lic
in"eres")
Reasoning
- A 'erson1s na$e is a word or co$ina"ion o. words ! which he is
4nown and iden"i.ied# and dis"in+%ished .ro$ o"hers# .or "he
con:enience o. "he world a" lar+e in addressin+ hi$# or in s'ea4in+ o.
or dealin+ wi"h hi$) I" is o"h o. 'ersonal as well as '%lic in"eres"
"ha" e:er! 'erson $%s" ha:e a na$e) The na$e o. an indi:id%al has
"wo 'ar"s? "he +i:en or 'ro'er na$e and "he s%rna$e or .a$il!
na$e) The +i:en or 'ro'er na$e is "ha" which is +i:en "o "he
indi:id%al a" ir"h or a" a'"is$# "o dis"in+%ish hi$ .ro$ o"her
indi:id%als) The s%rna$e or .a$il! na$e is "ha" which iden"i.ies "he
.a$il! "o which he elon+s and is con"in%ed .ro$ 'aren" "o child) The
+i:en na$e $a! e .reel! selec"ed ! "he 'aren"s .or "he child# %"
"he s%rna$e "o which "he child is en"i"led is .i8ed ! law)
- <! Ar"icle 308 o. "he -i:il -ode# a 'erson1s ir"h $%s" e en"ered in
"he ci:il re+is"er) The o..icial na$e o. a 'erson is "ha" +i:en hi$ in
"he ci:il re+is"er) Tha" is his na$e in "he e!es o. "he law) And once
"he na$e o. a 'erson is o..iciall! en"ered in "he ci:il re+is"er# Ar"icle
*7C o. "he sa$e -ode seals "ha" iden"i"! wi"h i"s 'recise $anda"e? no
'erson can chan+e his na$e or s%rna$e wi"ho%" @%dicial
a%"hori"!) The onl! wa! "ha" "he na$e o. 'erson can e chan+ed
le+all! is "hro%+h a 'e"i"ion .or chan+e o. na$e %nder R%le 10*) Aor
'%r'oses o. an a''lica"ion .or chan+e o. na$e %nder Ar"icle *7C o.
"he -i:il -ode and correla"i:el! i$'le$en"ed ! R%le 10*# "he onl!
na$e "ha" $a! e chan+ed is "he "r%e or o..icial na$e recorded in
"he ci:il re+is"er)
- A chan+e o. na$e is a 'ri:ile+e# no" a $a""er o. ri+h"# addressed "o
"he so%nd discre"ion o. "he co%r" which has "he d%"! "o consider
care.%ll! "he conse9%ences o. a chan+e o. na$e and "o den! "he
sa$e %nless wei+h"! reasons are shown) <e.ore a 'erson can e
a%"hori(ed "o chan+e his na$e# he $%s" show 'ro'er and
reasonale ca%se or an! con:incin+ reason which $a! @%s"i.! s%ch
chan+e)
- A 'e"i"ion .or chan+e o. na$e +ro%nded on "he .ac" "ha" one was
a'"i(ed ! ano"her na$e# %nder which he has een 4nown and
which he %sed# has een denied inas$%ch as "he %se o. a'"is$al
na$es is no" sanc"ioned) <a'"is$ is no" a condi"ion sine ;ua non "o a
chan+e o. na$e) Nei"her does "he .ac" "ha" "he 'e"i"ioner has een
%sin+ a di..eren" na$e and has eco$e 4nown ! i" cons"i"%"e 'ro'er
and reasonale ca%se "o le+all! a%"hori(e a chan+e o. na$e) A na$e
+i:en "o a 'erson in "he ch%rch records or elsewhere or ! which he
is 4nown in "he co$$%ni"! - when a" :ariance wi"h "ha" en"ered in "he
ci:il re+is"er - is %no..icial and canno" e reco+ni(ed as his real
na$e)
- The onl! +ro%nds o..ered "o @%s"i.! "he chan+e o. na$e 'ra!ed .or
was "ha" "he ado'"ed child had een a'"i(ed as Aaron >ose'h in
4ee'in+ wi"h "he reli+io%s .ai"h o. 'ri:a"e res'onden"s and "ha" i" was
"he na$e ! which he had een called and 4nown ! his .a$il!#
rela"i:es and .riends .ro$ "he "i$e he ca$e "o li:e wi"h 'ri:a"e
res'onden"s)
- 2hile "he ri+h" o. a na"%ral 'aren" "o na$e "he child is reco+ni(ed#
+%aran"eed and 'ro"ec"ed %nder "he law# "he so-called ri+h" o. an
ado'"i:e 'aren" "o re-na$e an ado'"ed child ! :ir"%e or as a
conse9%ence o. ado'"ion# e:en .or "he $os" nole in"en"ions and
$o:in+ s%''lica"ions# is %nheard o. in law and conse9%en"l! canno"
e .a:oral! considered) To re'ea"# "he chan+e o. "he surname o.
"he ado'"ee as a res%l" o. "he ado'"ion and "o .ollow "ha" o. "he
ado'"er does no" law.%ll! e8"end "o or incl%de "he proper or given
name.
"ispositive Assailed order is ,=0IAIE0) The le+all! ado'"ed child
o. 'ri:a"e res'onden"s shall hence.or"h e o..iciall! 4nown as Pe:in
Earl ,%nson ! Andrade %nless a chan+e "hereo. is herea."er e..ec"ed
in accordance wi"h law)
GIL GO V- REPUBLIC
77 S-RA C5
ATEIN=; ,a! 25# 1977
-HRIS -APS
FACTS
- Bil B= was orn in Tacloan) His na$e in ci:il re+is"er is Bil -=)
- 2hen Bil Bo was a'"i(ed# he was alle+edl! +i:en "he na$e Bil
Iao En+ H%a) <a'"is$al cer"i.ica"e wasn1" 'resen"ed)
- Bo "es"i.ied "ha" since childhood# he was 4nown as Henr! Iao
a$on+ rela"i:es and .riends) In i( 5 +o:" "ransac"ions# he %sed "he
na$e Bil -=) No "hird 'erson corroora"ed his "es"i$on!)
- In his alien re+is"ra"ion cer"i.ica"e# his is re+is"ered as Bil B=)
- He wan"s "o %se "he na$e HENRI IA=)
- &ower co%r" +ran"ed) -i"! .iscal a''ealed)
ISSUE
2=N lower co%r" correc"l! +ran"ed Bo1s 'e"i"ion
HELD
N=)
1) &ac4 o. @%risdic"ion ! lower co%r"
- P'o"(in5 !o' a "8an5 o! na9 i6 a $'o"(in5 in '9-
;#'i6(i"tion i6 a"?#i'( a!t' $#%li"ation o! o'(', 6ttin5 it !o'
8a'in5, 7A" o'(' 68l( "ontain (ata in"l t8 na9 6o#58t to %
a(o$t(, a 9att' 7A" 68l( % in(i"at( in titl o! $tition-
- T8 'a6on !o' t8 '#l i6 t8at t8 o'(ina'& 'a(' onl& 5lan"6
!ltin5l& at t8 "a$tion o! t8 o'(' o' titl o! $tition- Onl& i!
t8 "a$tion o' titl 6t'i@6 8i9 (o6 8 $'o"( to 'a( t8
"ontnt6- P'o%a%ilit& i6 5'at t8at 8 (o6n:t at all noti" t8
ot8' na96 o' alia66 o! a$$li"ant i! t86 a' 9ntion( onl&
in %o(& o! o'(' A $tition- Nonin"l#6ion o! na96 o' alia66 o!
a$$li"ant in "a$tion A titl (!at6 t8 $#'$o6 o! $#%li"ation-
- I" was no" indica"ed in "he "i"le ; ca'"ion "ha" Bil Bo desired "o
chan+e his na$e "o Henr! Iao) Nor was i" indica"ed "ha" his
re+is"ered na$e is Bil -o) In his 'e"i"ion# he %sed Bil Bo)
2) Ins%..icien" reason "o chan+e na$e
- C8an5 o! na9 i6 a 9att' o! $#%li" int'6t- It:6 a $'ivil5,
not a 'i58t- Co#'t 68l( 7i58 "on6?#n"6 o! "8an5 o! na9
an( (n& #nl66 7i58t& 'a6on6 a' 68o7n- Stat 8a6 int'6t
in na96 %o'n %& in(ivi(#al6 an( ntiti6 !o' $#'$o66 o!
i(nti!i"ation-
YU CHI HAN v- REPUBLIC
15 S-RA 353
<AETISTA ANBE&=; 19C5
INA
FACTS
- I% -hi Han so%+h" "o chan+e his na$e .ro$ I% -hi Han "o
Aleh@andro Bo I% on "he +ro%nds "ha" his +i:en na$e is I-H# %"
"ha" since ir"h# he had alwa!s een called ABI# "ha" he was
a'"i(ed accordin+ "o -a"holic ri"es# and +i:en "he na$e)
- The co%r" .o%nd no co$'ellin+ reason "o +ran" "he re9%es" .or
chan+e o. na$e)
ISSUE
14
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
2=N "he 'e"i"ion .or chan+e o. na$e sho%ld e denied
HELD
IES
- This -o%r" has alread! had "he occasion "o e8'ress "he :iew "ha"
"he S"a"e has an in"eres" in "he na$es orne ! indi:id%als and
en"i"ies .or '%r'oses o. iden"i.ica"ion and "ha" a chan+e o. na$e is a
'ri:ile+e and no" a $a""er o. ri+h"# so "ha" e.ore a 'erson can e
a%"hori(ed "o chan+e his na$e +i:en hi$ ei"her in his cer"i.ica"e o.
ir"h or ci:il re+is"r! he $%s" show 'ro'er or reasonale ca%se# or
an! co$'ellin+ reason which $a! @%s"i.! s%ch chan+e) ="herwise#
"he re9%es" sho%ld e denied) The .ollowin+ $a! e considered#
a$on+ o"hers# as 'ro'er and reasonale ca%ses "ha" $a! warran"
"he +ran" o. a 'e"i"ion .or chan+e o. na$e? 617 when "he na$e is
ridic%lo%s# "ain"ed wi"h dishonor# or is e8"re$el! di..ic%l" "o wri"e or
'rono%nce; 627 when "he re9%es" .or chan+e is a conse9%ence o. a
chan+e o. s"a"%s# s%ch as when a na"%ral child is ac4nowled+ed or
le+i"i$a"ed; and 6*7 when "he chan+e is necessar! "o a:oid con.%sion
- This si"%a"ion# can easil! e re$edied ! $erel! as4in+ his .riends
and %siness associa"es "o call hi$ si$'l! I% -hi Han ins"ead o.
as4in+ .or a @%dicial a%"hori"! "o chan+e his na$e) His ins"an" 'e"i"ion
does no" co$e %nder an! o. "he cases which $a! warran" "he +ran"
o. a 'e"i"ion .or chan+e o. na$e as ao:e ad:er"ed "o)
SILVERIO V REPUBLIC
5*7 S-RA *7*
-=R=NA; =c"oer 22# 2007
APP&E
FACTS
-=n No:e$er 2C# 2002# 'e"i"ioner Ro$$el >acin"o 0an"es Sil:erio
.iled a 'e"i"ion .or "he chan+e o. his .irs" na$e and se8 in his ir"h
cer"i.ica"e in "he RT- o. ,anila
-Pe"i"ioner alle+ed in his 'e"i"ion "ha" he was orn in "he -i"! o.
,anila "o "he s'o%ses ,elecio Pe"ines Sil:erio and Ani"a A9%ino
0an"es on A'ril 3# 19C2) His na$e was re+is"ered as MRo$$el
>acin"o 0an"es Sil:erioM in his cer"i.ica"e o. li:e ir"h 6ir"h cer"i.ica"e7)
His se8 was re+is"ered as M$ale)M
-He .%r"her alle+ed "ha" he is a $ale "ransse8%al# and "ha" he
%nderwen" 's!cholo+ical e8a$ina"ion# hor$one "rea"$en"# reas"
a%+$en"a"ion# and la"er on# se8 reassi+n$en" s%r+er! in <an+4o4#
Thailand# and "ha" .ro$ "hen on# he li:ed as a .e$ale and was in .ac"
en+a+ed "o e $arried)
-He "hen so%+h" "o ha:e his na$e in his ir"h cer"i.ica"e chan+ed
.ro$ MRo$$el >acin"oM "o M,el!#M and his se8 .ro$ M$aleM "o
M.e$ale)M
-The RT- rendered a decision in .a:or o. 'e"i"ioner# sa!in+ "ha"? 1)
"he 'e"i"ion wo%ld e $ore in consonance wi"h "he 'rinci'les o.
@%s"ice and e9%i"!; 2) no har$# in@%r! DorF 're@%dice will e ca%sed "o
an!od! or "he co$$%ni"! in +ran"in+ "he 'e"i"ion; *) no e:idence
was 'resen"ed "o show an! ca%se or +ro%nd "o den! "he 'resen"
'e"i"ion des'i"e d%e no"ice and '%lica"ion "hereo.) E:en "he S"a"e#
"hro%+h "he D=SBF has no" seen .i" "o in"er'ose an! DoF''osi"ion)
-=n A%+%s" 18# 200*# "he Re'%lic o. "he Phili''ines 6Re'%lic7# "hr%
"he =SB# .iled a 'e"i"ion .or cer"iorari in "he -o%r" o. A''eals) I"
alle+ed "ha" "here is no law allowin+ "he chan+e o. en"ries in "he ir"h
cer"i.ica"e ! reason o. se8 al"era"ion)
-=n Aer%ar! 2*# 200C# "he -o%r" o. A''eals rendered a decision in
.a:or o. "he Re'%lic) I" r%led "ha" "he "rial co%r"s decision lac4ed
le+al asis) There is no law allowin+ "he chan+e o. ei"her na$e or
se8 in "he cer"i.ica"e o. ir"h on "he +ro%nd o. se8 reassi+n$en"
"hro%+h s%r+er!)
-Pe"i"ioner $o:ed .or reconsidera"ion %" i" was denied# hence# "his
'e"i"ion)
ISSUE
2=N "he chan+e o. 'e"i"ionerGs na$e and se8 in his ir"h cer"i.ica"e
is allowed %nder "he law
HELD
No)
1) A 'ersonGs .irs" na$e canno" e chan+ed on "he +ro%nd o. se8
reassi+n$en"
-The S"a"e has an in"eres" in "he na$es orne ! indi:id%als and
en"i"ies .or '%r'oses o. iden"i.ica"ion) A chan+e o. na$e is a 'ri:ile+e#
no" a ri+h") Pe"i"ions .or chan+e o. na$e are con"rolled ! s"a"%"es) In
"his connec"ion# Ar"icle *7C o. "he -i:il -ode 'ro:ides?
ART) *7C) No 'erson can chan+e his na$e or s%rna$e wi"ho%"
@%dicial a%"hori"!)
This -i:il -ode 'ro:ision was a$ended ! RA 9038 6-lerical Error
&aw7) In 'ar"ic%lar# Sec"ion 1 o. RA 9038 'ro:ides?
SE-TI=N 1) A%"hori"! "o -orrec" -lerical or T!'o+ra'hical Error and
-han+e o. Airs" Na$e or Nic4na$e) No en"r! in a ci:il re+is"er shall
e chan+ed or correc"ed wi"ho%" a @%dicial order# e8ce'" .or clerical or
"!'o+ra'hical errors and chan+e o. .irs" na$e or nic4na$e which can
e correc"ed or chan+ed ! "he concerned ci"! or $%nici'al ci:il
re+is"rar or cons%l +eneral in accordance wi"h "he 'ro:isions o. "his
Ac" and i"s i$'le$en"in+ r%les and re+%la"ions)
-RA 9038 now +o:erns "he chan+e o. .irs" na$e) I" :es"s "he 'ower
and a%"hori"! "o en"er"ain 'e"i"ions .or chan+e o. .irs" na$e "o "he ci"!
or $%nici'al ci:il re+is"rar or cons%l +eneral concerned) Ender "he
law# "here.ore# @%risdic"ion o:er a''lica"ions .or chan+e o. .irs" na$e
is now 'ri$aril! lod+ed wi"h "he a.ore$en"ioned ad$inis"ra"i:e
o..icers) The in"en" and e..ec" o. "he law is "o e8cl%de "he chan+e o.
.irs" na$e .ro$ "he co:era+e o. R%les 10* 6-han+e o. Na$e7 and
108 6-ancella"ion or -orrec"ion o. En"ries in "he -i:il Re+is"r!7 o. "he
R%les o. -o%r"# %n"il and %nless an ad$inis"ra"i:e 'e"i"ion .or chan+e
o. na$e is .irs" .iled and s%se9%en"l! denied) In s%$# "he re$ed!
and "he 'roceedin+s re+%la"in+ chan+e o. .irs" na$e are 'ri$aril!
ad$inis"ra"i:e in na"%re# no" @%dicial)
-RA 9038 li4ewise 'ro:ides "he +ro%nds
C
.or which chan+e o. .irs"
na$e $a! e allowed
2) No law allows "he chan+e o. en"r! in "he ir"h cer"i.ica"e as "o se8
on "he +ro%nd o. se8 reassi+n$en"
-The de"er$ina"ion o. a 'ersons se8 a''earin+ in his ir"h cer"i.ica"e
is a le+al iss%e and "he co%r" $%s" loo4 "o "he s"a"%"es
-In "his connec"ion# Ar"icle 312 o. "he -i:il -ode 'ro:ides?
ART) 312) No en"r! in "he ci:il re+is"er shall e chan+ed or correc"ed
wi"ho%" a @%dicial order)
-To+e"her wi"h Ar"icle *7C o. "he -i:il -ode# "his 'ro:ision was
a$ended ! RA 9038 in so .ar as clerical or "!'o+ra'hical errors are
in:ol:ed) The correc"ion or chan+e o. s%ch $a""ers can now e $ade
"hro%+h ad$inis"ra"i:e 'roceedin+s and wi"ho%" "he need .or a
@%dicial order) In e..ec"# RA 9038 re$o:ed .ro$ "he a$i" o. R%le 108
o. "he R%les o. -o%r" "he correc"ion o. s%ch errors) R%le 108 now
a''lies onl! "o s%s"an"ial chan+es and correc"ions in en"ries in "he
ci:il re+is"er)
-Ender RA 9038# a correc"ion in "he ci:il re+is"r! in:ol:in+ "he chan+e
o. se8 is no" a $ere clerical or "!'o+ra'hical error) I" is a s%s"an"ial
chan+e .or which "he a''licale 'roced%re is R%le 108 o. "he R%les
o. -o%r")
-A$on+ "he en"ries en:isa+ed in Ar"icle 312 o. "he -i:il -ode and
correc"ale %nder R%le 108 o. "he R%les o. -o%r" are "hose 'ro:ided
in Ar"icles 307
7
and 308
8
o. "he -i:il -ode
6
SE-TI=N 3) Bro%nds .or -han+e o. Airs" Na$e or Nic4na$e) The 'e"i"ion
.or chan+e o. .irs" na$e or nic4na$e $a! e allowed in an! o. "he .ollowin+
cases?
617 The 'e"i"ioner .inds "he .irs" na$e or nic4na$e "o e ridic%lo%s# "ain"ed wi"h
dishonor or e8"re$el! di..ic%l" "o wri"e or 'rono%nce;
627 The new .irs" na$e or nic4na$e has een hai"%all! and con"in%o%sl! %sed
! "he 'e"i"ioner and he has een '%licl! 4nown ! "ha" .irs" na$e or
nic4na$e in "he co$$%ni"!; or
6*7 The chan+e will a:oid con.%sion)
-A chan+e o. na$e does no" al"er ones le+al ca'aci"! or ci:il s"a"%s)
-RA 9038 does no" sanc"ion a chan+e o. .irs" na$e on "he +ro%nd o. se8
reassi+n$en") Ra"her "han a:oidin+ con.%sion# chan+in+ 'e"i"ioners .irs" na$e
.or his declared '%r'ose $a! onl! crea"e +ra:e co$'lica"ions in "he ci:il
re+is"r! and "he '%lic in"eres")
-<e.ore a 'erson can le+all! chan+e his +i:en na$e# he $%s" 'resen" 'ro'er or
reasonale ca%se or an! co$'ellin+ reason @%s"i.!in+ s%ch chan+e) In addi"ion#
he $%s" show "ha" he will e 're@%diced ! "he %se o. his "r%e and o..icial
na$e) In "his case# he .ailed "o show# or e:en alle+e# an! 're@%dice "ha" he
$i+h" s%..er as a res%l" o. %sin+ his "r%e and o..icial na$e)
7
ART) 307) Ac"s# e:en"s and @%dicial decrees concernin+ "he ci:il s"a"%s o.
'ersons shall e recorded in "he ci:il re+is"er)
8
ART) 308) The .ollowin+ shall e en"ered in "he ci:il re+is"er?
617 <ir"hs; 627 $arria+es; 6*7 dea"hs; 637 le+al se'ara"ions; 657 ann%l$en"s o.
$arria+e; 6C7 @%d+$en"s declarin+ $arria+es :oid .ro$ "he e+innin+; 677
le+i"i$a"ions; 687 ado'"ions; 697 ac4nowled+$en"s o. na"%ral children; 6107
na"%rali(a"ion; 6117 loss# or 6127 reco:er! o. ci"i(enshi'; 61*7 ci:il in"erdic"ion;
6137 @%dicial de"er$ina"ion o. .ilia"ion; 6157 :ol%n"ar! e$anci'a"ion o. a $inor;
and 61C7 chan+es o. na$e)
15
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
-To correc" si$'l! $eans M"o $a4e or se" ari+h"; "o re$o:e "he .a%l"s
or error .ro$M while "o chan+e $eans M"o re'lace so$e"hin+ wi"h
so$e"hin+ else o. "he sa$e 4ind or wi"h so$e"hin+ "ha" ser:es as a
s%s"i"%"e)M The ir"h cer"i.ica"e o. 'e"i"ioner con"ained no error) All
en"ries "herein# incl%din+ "hose corres'ondin+ "o his .irs" na$e and
se8# were all correc") No correc"ion is necessar!)
-A 'erson1s se8 is an essen"ial .ac"or in $arria+e and .a$il! rela"ions)
I" is a 'ar" o. a 'erson1s le+al ca'aci"! and ci:il s"a"%s) In "his
connec"ion# Ar"icle 31* o. "he -i:il -ode 'ro:ides?
-ART) 31*) All o"her $a""ers 'er"ainin+ "o "he re+is"ra"ion o. ci:il
s"a"%s shall e +o:erned ! s'ecial laws)
-<%" "here is no s%ch s'ecial law in "he Phili''ines +o:ernin+ se8
reassi+n$en" and i"s e..ec"s) This is .a"al "o 'e"i"ioners ca%se)
-Ender "he -i:il Re+is"er &aw# a ir"h cer"i.ica"e is a his"orical record
o. "he .ac"s as "he! e8is"ed a" "he "i$e o. ir"h) Th%s# "he se8 o. a
'erson is de"er$ined a" ir"h# :is%all! done ! "he ir"h a""endan" 6"he
'h!sician or $idwi.e7 ! e8a$inin+ "he +eni"als o. "he in.an")
-onsiderin+ "ha" "here is no law le+all! reco+ni(in+ se8
reassi+n$en"# "he de"er$ina"ion o. a 'ersons se8 $ade a" "he "i$e
o. his or her ir"h# i. no" a""ended ! error# is i$$%"ale)
-2hile 'e"i"ioner $a! ha:e s%cceeded in al"erin+ his od! and
a''earance "hro%+h "he in"er:en"ion o. $odern s%r+er!# no law
a%"hori(es "he chan+e o. en"r! as "o se8 in "he ci:il re+is"r! .or "ha"
reason) Th%s# "here is no le+al asis .or his 'e"i"ion .or "he correc"ion
or chan+e o. "he en"ries in his ir"h cer"i.ica"e)
-Nei"her $a! en"ries in "he ir"h cer"i.ica"e as "o .irs" na$e or se8 e
chan+ed on "he +ro%nd o. e9%i"!
-The chan+es so%+h" ! 'e"i"ioner will ha:e serio%s and wide-ran+in+
le+al and '%lic 'olic! conse9%ences)
-The s"a"%"es de.ine who $a! .ile 'e"i"ions .or chan+e o. .irs" na$e
and .or correc"ion or chan+e o. en"ries in "he ci:il re+is"r!# where "he!
$a! e .iled# wha" +ro%nds $a! e in:o4ed# wha" 'roo. $%s" e
'resen"ed and wha" 'roced%res shall e oser:ed) I. "he le+isla"%re
in"ends "o con.er on a 'erson who has %nder+one se8 reassi+n$en"
"he 'ri:ile+e "o chan+e his na$e and se8 "o con.or$ wi"h his
reassi+ned se8# i" has "o enac" le+isla"ion la!in+ down "he +%idelines
in "%rn +o:ernin+ "he con.er$en" o. "ha" 'ri:ile+e)
REPUBLIC v VALENCIA
B)R) No) &-*2181
BETIERREJ >R); ,arch 5# 198C
>=>=
FACTS
- &eonor /alencia# .or and in ehal. o. her $inor children# <ernardo
Bo and >essica Bo .iled wi"h "he -e% -AI a 'e"i"ion .or "he
cancella"ion and;or correc"ion o. en"ries o. ir"h o. <ernardo and
>essica in "he -i:il Re+is"r! o. "he -e% -i"!# see4in+ "o chan+e "he
na"ionali"! or ci"i(enshi' o. "he "wo $inors .ro$ M-hineseM "o MAili'inoM
and "heir s"a"%s .ro$ M&e+i"i$a"eM "o Ille+i"i$a"eM# and chan+in+ also
"he s"a"%s o. "he $o"her .ro$ M$arriedM "o Msin+leM and her na"ionali"!
.ro$ M-hineseM "o MAili'inoM)
- SolBen .iled an o''osi"ion "o "he 'e"i"ion alle+in+ "ha" "he 'e"i"ion
.or correc"ion o. en"r! in "he -i:il Re+is"r! '%rs%an" "o Ar"icle 312 o.
"he New -i:il -ode o. "he Phili''ines in rela"ion "o R%le 108 o. "he
Re:ised R%les o. -o%r"# con"e$'la"es a s%$$ar! 'roceedin+ and
correc"ion o. $ere clerical errors# "hose har$less and innoc%o%s
chan+es s%ch as "he correc"ion o. a na$e "ha" is $erel! $is'elled#
occ%'a"ion o. 'aren"s# e"c)
- The "rial co%r" iss%ed an order direc"in+ "he '%lica"ion o. "he
'e"i"ion and "he da"e o. hearin+ "hereo. in "he -e% Ad:oca"e# a
news'a'er o. +eneral circ%la"ion in "he ci"! and 'ro:ince o. -e%#
once a wee4 .or "hree 6*7 consec%"i:e wee4s# and no"ice "hereo.#
d%l! ser:ed on "he Solici"or Beneral# "he &ocal -i:il Re+is"rar o.
-e% -i"! and Bo En+)
- &eonor /alencia re'lied# alle+in+ "ha" s%s"an"ial chan+es in "he
ci:il re+is"r! records in:ol:in+ "he ci:il s"a"%s o. 'aren"s# "heir
na"ionali"! or ci"i(enshi' $a! e allowed i. ---- 617 "he 'ro'er s%i" is
.iled# and 627 e:idence is s%$i""ed# ei"her "o s%''or" "he alle+a"ions
o. "he 'e"i"ion or "o dis'ro:e "he sa$e; "ha" res'onden"s ha:e
co$'lied wi"h "hese re9%ire$en"s ! .ilin+ "he 'resen" s'ecial
'roceedin+ .or cancella"ion or correc"ion o. en"ries in "he ci:il re+is"r!
'%rs%an" "o R%le 108 o. "he Ro- and "ha" "he! ha:e ca%sed
reasonale no"ice "o e +i:en "o "he 'ersons na$ed in "he 'e"i"ion
and ha:e also ca%sed "he order .or "he hearin+s o. "heir 'e"i"ion "o e
'%lished .or "hree 6*7 consec%"i:e wee4s in a news'a'er o. +eneral
circ%la"ion in "he 'ro:ince)
- &ocal -i:il Re+is"rar o. -e% -i"! .iled an ,T0 on "he +ro%nd "ha"
"he correc"ions so%+h" are no" $erel! clerical %" s%s"an"ial#
in:ol:in+ as "he! do "he ci"i(enshi' and s"a"%s o. "he 'e"i"ionin+
$inors and "he s"a"%s o. "heir $o"her)
- The lower co%r" denied "he ,T0) A."er "rial# "he lower co%r" +ran"ed
"he 'e"i"ion)
Hence "his a''eal ! "he Re'%lic)
ISSUE
2=N "he lower co%r" erred in +ran"in+ "he 'e"i"ion o. &eonor /alencia
HELD
N=)
- I" is %ndo%"edl! "r%e "ha" i. "he s%@ec" $a""er o. a 'e"i"ion is no" .or
"he correc"ion o. clerical errors o. a har$less and innoc%o%s na"%re#
%" one in:ol:in+ na"ionali"! or ci"i(enshi'# which is indis'%"al!
s%s"an"ial as well as con"ro:er"ed# a..ir$a"i:e relie. canno" e
+ran"ed in a 'roceedin+ s%$$ar! in na"%re) Howe:er# i" is also "r%e
"ha" a ri+h" in law $a! e en.orced and a wron+ $a! e re$edied as
lon+ as "he a''ro'ria"e re$ed! is %sed) This -o%r" adheres "o "he
'rinci'le "ha" e:en s%s"an"ial errors in a ci:il re+is"r! $a! e
correc"ed and "he "r%e .ac"s es"alished 'ro:ided "he 'ar"ies
a++rie:ed ! "he error a:ail "he$sel:es o. "he a''ro'ria"e ad:ersar!
'roceedin+) As a $a""er o. .ac"# "he o''osi"ion o. "he SolBen ad$i"s
"ha" M"he en"ries so%+h" "o e correc"ed sho%ld e "hreshed o%" in an
a''ro'ria"e 'roceedin+)M
A$$'o$'iat a(v'6a'& $'o"(in5 - =ne ha:in+ o''osin+ 'ar"ies;
con"es"ed# as dis"in+%ished .ro$ an e8 'ar"e a''lica"ion# one o.
which "he 'ar"! see4in+ relie. has +i:en le+al warnin+ "o "he o"her
'ar"!# and a..orded "he la""er an o''or"%ni"! "o con"es" i") E8cl%des an
ado'"ion 'roceedin+)M
The 'ri:a"e res'onden" dis"in+%ishes e"ween s%$$ar! 'roceedin+s
con"e$'la"ed %nder Ar"icle 312 o. "he -i:il -ode and .%lllown
ad:ersar! 'roceedin+s which are cond%c"ed %nder R%le 108 o. "he
R%les o. -o%r")
- The co%r"Gs role in hearin+ "he 'e"i"ion "o correc" cer"ain en"ries in
"he ci:il re+is"r! is "o ascer"ain "he "r%"h ao%" "he .ac"s recorded
"herein) Ender o%r s!s"e$ o. ad$inis"erin+ @%s"ice# "r%"h is es"
ascer"ained or a''ro8i$a"ed ! "rial cond%c"ed %nder "he ad:ersar!
s!s"e$)
- E8cer'"s .ro$ "he Re'or" on Pro.essional Res'onsiili"! iss%ed
@oin"l! ! "he Associa"ion o. A$erican &aw Schools and "he A$erican
<ar Associa"ion e8'lain wh!?
MAn ad:ersar! 'resen"a"ion see$s "he onl! e..ec"i:e $eans .or
co$a""in+ "his na"%ral h%$an "endenc! "o @%d+e "oo swi."l! in "er$s
o. "he .a$iliar "ha" which is no" !e" .%ll! 4nown) The ar+%$en"s o.
co%nsel hold "he case# as i" were# in s%s'ension e"ween "wo
o''osin+ in"er're"a"ions o. i") 2hile "he 'ro'er classi.ica"ion o. "he
case is "h%s 4e'" %nresol:ed# "here is "i$e "o e8'lore all o. i"s
'ec%liari"ies and n%ances)
MThese are "he con"ri%"ions $ade ! 'ar"isan ad:ocac! d%rin+ "he
'%lic hearin+ o. "he ca%se) 2hen we "a4e in"o acco%n" "he
're'ara"ion "ha" $%s" 'recede "he hearin+# "he essen"ial 9%ali"! o.
"he ad:oca"eGs con"ri%"ion eco$es e:en $ore a''aren") Precedin+
"he hearin+ in9%iries $%s" e ins"i"%"ed "o de"er$ine wha" .ac"s can
e 'ro:ed or see$ s%..icien"l! es"alished "o warran" a .or$al "es" o.
"heir "r%"h d%rin+ "he hearin+) There $%s" also e a 'reli$inar!
anal!sis o. "he iss%es# so "ha" "he hearin+ $a! ha:e .or$ and
direc"ion) These 're'ara"or! $eas%res are indis'ensale whe"her or
no" "he 'ar"ies in:ol:ed in "he con"ro:ers! are re'resen"ed !
ad:oca"es)L
M2here "ha" re'resen"a"ion is 'resen" "here is an o:io%s ad:an"a+e
in "he .ac" "ha" "he area o. dis'%"e $a! e +rea"l! red%ced ! an
e8chan+e o. wri""en 'leadin+s or ! s"i'%la"ions o. co%nsel) 2i"ho%"
"he 'ar"ici'a"ion o. so$eone who can ac" res'onsil! .or each o. "he
'ar"ies# "his essen"ial narrowin+ o. "he iss%es eco$es i$'ossile)
<%" here a+ain "he "r%e si+ni.icance o. 'ar"isan ad:ocac! lies dee'er#
"o%chin+ once $ore "he in"e+ri"! o. "he ad@%dica"i:e 'rocess i"sel.) I"
is onl! "hro%+h "he ad:oca"eGs 'ar"ici'a"ion "ha" "he hearin+ $a!
re$ain in .ac" wha" i" '%r'or"s "o e in "heor!; a '%lic "rial o. "he
.ac"s and iss%es) Each ad:oca"e co$es "o "he hearin+ 're'ared "o
'resen" his 'roo.s and ar+%$en"s# 4nowin+ a" "he sa$e "i$e "ha" his
ar+%$en"s $a! .ail "o 'ers%ade and "ha" his 'roo.s $a! e re@ec"ed
as inade9%a"e) I" is a 'ar" o. his role "o asor "hese 'ossile
disa''oin"$en"s) The decidin+ "ri%nal# on "he o"her hand# co$es "o
"he hearin+ %nco$$i""ed) I" has no" re'resen"ed "o "he '%lic "ha"
an! .ac" can e 'ro:ed# "ha" an! ar+%$en" is so%nd# or "ha" an!
'ar"ic%lar wa! o. s"a"in+ a li"i+an"Gs case is "he $os" e..ec"i:e
e8'ression o. i"s $eri"s)M
- Pro:ided "he "rial co%r" has cond%c"ed 'roceedin+s where all
rele:an" .ac"s ha:e een .%ll! and 'ro'erl! de:elo'ed# where
o''osin+ co%nsel ha:e een +i:en o''or"%ni"! "o de$olish "he
16
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
o''osi"e 'ar"!Gs case# and where "he e:idence has een "horo%+hl!
wei+hed and considered# "he s%i" or 'roceedin+ is Ma''ro'ria"e)M
- Ender 'er"inen" sec"ions o. R%le 108# "he 'ersons who $%s" e
$ade 'ar"ies "o a 'roceedin+ concernin+ "he cancella"ion or
correc"ion o. an en"r! in "he ci:il re+is"er are ---- 617 "he ci:il re+is"rar#
and 627 all 'ersons who ha:e or clai$ an! in"eres" which wo%ld e
a..ec"ed "here!) E'on "he .ilin+ o. "he 'e"i"ion# i" eco$es "he d%"! o.
"he co%r" "o ---- 617 iss%e an order .i8in+ "he "i$e and 'lace .or "he
hearin+ o. "he 'e"i"ion# and 627 ca%se "he order .or hearin+ "o e
'%lished once a wee4 .or "hree 6*7 consec%"i:e wee4s in a
news'a'er o. +eneral circ%la"ion in "he 'ro:ince) The .ollowin+ are
li4ewise en"i"led "o o''ose "he 'e"i"ion? ---- 617 "he ci:il re+is"rar# and
627 an! 'erson ha:in+ or clai$in+ an! in"eres" %nder "he en"r! whose
cancella"ion or correc"ion is so%+h")
- I. all "hese 'roced%ral re9%ire$en"s ha:e een .ollowed# a 'e"i"ion
.or correc"ion and;or cancella"ion o. en"ries in "he record o. ir"h e:en
i. .iled and cond%c"ed %nder R%le 108 o. "he Re:ised R%les o. -o%r"
can no lon+er e descried as Ms%$$ar!M) There can e no do%"
"ha" when an o''osi"ion "o "he 'e"i"ion is .iled ei"her ! "he -i:il
Re+is"rar or an! 'erson ha:in+ or clai$in+ an! in"eres" in "he en"ries
so%+h" "o e cancelled and;or correc"ed and "he o''osi"ion is ac"i:el!
'rosec%"ed# "he 'roceedin+s "hereon eco$e ad:ersar!
'roceedin+s)
- In "he ins"an" case# a 'e"i"ion .or cancella"ion and;or correc"ion o.
en"ries o. ir"h o. <ernardo Bo and >essica Bo in "he -i:il Re+is"r! o.
"he -i"! o. -e% was .iled ! res'onden" &eonor /alencia on >an%ar!
27# 1970# and '%rs%an" "o "he order o. "he "rial co%r" da"ed Aer%ar!
3# 1970# "he said 'e"i"ion was '%lished once a wee4 .or "hree 6*7
consec%"i:e wee4s in "he -e% Ad:oca"e# a news'a'er o. +eneral
circ%la"ion in "he -i"! o. -e%) No"ice "hereo. was d%l! ser:ed on "he
Solici"or Beneral# "he &ocal -i:il Re+is"rar and Bo En+) The order
li4ewise se" "he case .or hearin+ and direc"ed "he local ci:il re+is"rar
and "he o"her res'onden"s or an! 'erson clai$in+ an! in"eres" %nder
"he en"ries whose correc"ions were so%+h"# "o .ile "heir o''osi"ion "o
"he said 'e"i"ion) An o''osi"ion "o "he 'e"i"ion was conse9%en"l! .iled
! "he Re'%lic on Aer%ar! 2C# 1970) Therea."er a .%ll lown "rial
.ollowed wi"h res'onden" &eonor /alencia "es"i.!in+ and 'resen"in+
her doc%$en"ar! e:idence in s%''or" o. her 'e"i"ion) The Re'%lic on
"he o"her hand cross-e8a$ined res'onden" &eonor /alencia)
- The 'e"i"ion .iled ! "he res'onden" in "he lower co%r" ! wa! o. a
s'ecial 'roceedin+ .or cancella"ion and;or correc"ion o. en"ries in "he
ci:il re+is"er wi"h "he re9%isi"e no"ice and '%lica"ion and "he
recorded 'roceedin+s "ha" ac"%all! "oo4 'lace "herea."er co%ld :er!
well e re+arded as "ha" 'ro'er s%i" or a''ro'ria"e ac"ion)
- To .ollow "he 'e"i"ionerGs ar+%$en" "ha" R%le 108 is no" an
a''ro'ria"e 'roceedin+ wi"ho%" in an! wa! in"i$a"in+ wha" is "he
correc" 'roceedin+ or i. s%ch a 'roceedin+ e8is"s a" all# wo%ld res%l"
in $ani.es" in@%s"ice)
- A'ar" .ro$ <ernardo Bo and >essica Bo# "here are 3 o"her sis"ers
and 1 o"her ro"her orn o. "he sa$e .a"her and $o"her) No" onl! are
all .i:e re+is"ered as Aili'ino ci"i(ens %" "he! ha:e '%rs%ed careers
which re9%ire Phili''ine ci"i(enshi' as a $anda"or! 're-re9%isi"e) To
e$'hasi(e "he s"ric" 'olic! o. "he +o:ern$en" re+ardin+ 'ro.essional
e8a$ina"ions# i" was "he law %n"il recen"l! "ha" "o "a4e "he oard
e8a$s .or 'har$acis"# "he a''lican" sho%ld 'ossess na"%ral orn
ci"i(enshi')
The sis"ers and ro"her are? 1) Sall! Bo - licensed Phar$acis"; 2)
Aann! Bo - Re+is"ered N%rse; *) -ora(on Bo - .o%r"h !ear $edical
s"%den"# 9%ali.ied "o "a4e "he +o:ern$en" oard e8a$ina"ions a."er
s%ccess.%ll! co$'le"in+ "he re9%ire$en"s .or a career in $edicine#
and 'res%$al! is a licensed 'h!sician now; 3) An"onio Bo -
en+ineerin+ s"%den" d%rin+ "he 1970 "rial o. "he case and 9%ali.ied !
ci"i(enshi' "o "a4e +o:ern$en" oard e8a$ina"ions; 5) Re$edios
Bo - licensed ='"o$e"ris")
- The ao:e .ac"s were de:elo'ed and 'ro:ed d%rin+ "rial) The
'e"i"ioner .ailed "o re.%"e "he ci"i(enshi' o. "he $inors <ernardo and
>essica Bo)
- In "his 'e"i"ion# i" li$i"s i"sel. "o a 'roced%ral reason "o o:erco$e
s%s"an"i:e .indin+s ! ar+%in+ "ha" "he 'ro'er 'roced%re was no"
.ollowed)
- There are o"her .ac"s on "he record) &eonor /alencia is a re+is"ered
:o"er and had alwa!s e8ercised her ri+h" o. s%..ra+e .ro$ "he "i$e
she reached :o"in+ a+e %n"il "he na"ional elec"ions i$$edia"el!
'recedin+ "he .ilin+ o. her 'e"i"ion) The .i:e o"her sis"ers and ro"her
are also re+is"ered :o"ers and li4ewise e8ercised "he ri+h" o.
s%..ra+e)
- An %ncle o. "he $o"herGs side had held 'osi"ions in "he +o:ern$en"
ha:in+ een elec"ed "wice as co%ncilor and "wice as :ice-$a!or o.
/ic"orias# Ne+ros =cciden"al) Res'onden" &eonor /alencia has
'%rchased and re+is"ered "wo 627 'arcels o. land) These alle+a"ions
are well doc%$en"ed and were ne:er con"radic"ed ! "he Re'%lic)
As correc"l! oser:ed ! "he lower co%r")
- MThe ri+h" o. s%..ra+e is one o. "he i$'or"an" ri+h"s o. a ci"i(en) This
is also "r%e wi"h res'ec" "o "he ac9%isi"ion o. a real 'ro'er"!) The
e:idence .%r"her shows "ha" her children had een allowed "o "a4e
"he <oard E8a$ina"ions +i:en ! "he Bo:ern$en" .or Aili'ino ci"i(ens
onl!)M
- I" wo%ld e a denial o. s%s"an"i:e @%s"ice i. "wo children 'ro:ed !
"he .ac"s "o e Phili''ine ci"i(ens# and whose .i:e sis"ers and ro"her
orn o. "he sa$e $o"her and .a"her en@o! all "he ri+h"s o. ci"i(ens#
are denied "he sa$e ri+h"s on "he si$'le ar+%$en" "ha" "he Mcorrec"
'roced%reM no" s'eci.ied or e:en in"i$a"ed has no" een .ollowed)
LIM v6 .OSA
-REJ; 0ece$er 29# 198C
ATHE
NATURE
A''eal ! cer"iorari .ro$ "wo =rders o. "he res'onden" @%d+e
dis$issin+ a 'e"i"ion .or "he correc"ion o. an alle+edl! wron+ en"r! in
"he ir"h records o. Pi$ >ose'h descriin+ hi$ as a -hinese na"ional
ins"ead o. a Aili'ino ci"i(en)
FACTS
- The 'e"i"ioner .iled a 'e"i"ion .or "he correc"ion o. an alle+edl! wron+
en"r! in "he ir"h records o. Pi$ >ose'h descriin+ hi$ as a -hinese
na"ional ins"ead o. a Aili'ino ci"i(en)
- The 'e"i"ioner had o..ered "o 'ro:e "he error "hro%+h se:eral 'ieces
o. e:idence# a$on+ "he$ an earlier ir"h cer"i.ica"e o. Pi$ >ose'h
descriin+ hi$ as a Aili'ino ci"i(en# "he ir"h cer"i.ica"es o. his se:en
ro"hers and sis"ers all descriin+ "he$ as Aili'inos# and a decision
o. "he -o%r" o. A''eals reco+ni(in+ "heir +rand.a"her as a Aili'ino
ci"i(en)
- =n o''osi"ion ! "he local ci:il re+is"rar o. -e%# howe:er# "he
res'onden" @%d+e dis$issed "he 'e"i"ion and s%s"ained "he con"en"ion
"ha" onl! clerical errors were allowed "o e correc"ed in "he s%$$ar!
'roceedin+s a%"hori(ed %nder Ar"icle 312 o. "he -i:il -ode and R%le
108 o. "he R%les o. -o%r") S%s"an"ial iss%es li4e ci"i(enshi' were no"
co:ered as held in se:eral cases) In e..ec"# i" was held "he 'e"i"ion
was .or a @%dicial declara"ion o. ci"i(enshi'# which was no" allowed
%nder e8is"in+ r%les)
ISSUE
2=N chan+e in "he ir"h en"r! re+ardin+ a 'erson1s ci"i(enshi' is
now allowed
HELD
IES) Ar"icle 312 o. "he -i:il -ode si$'l! 'ro:ides? MNo en"r! in "he
ci:il re+is"r! shall e chan+ed or correc"ed wi"ho%" a @%dicial order)M
-han+es in "he ir"h en"r! re+ardin+ a 'ersonGs ci"i(enshi' is allowed
as lon+ as ad:ersar! 'roceedin+s are held) 2here s%ch a chan+e is
ordered# "he -o%r" will no" e es"alishin+ a s%s"an"i:e ri+h" %" onl!
correc"in+ or rec"i.!in+ an erroneo%s en"r! in "he ci:il re+is"r! as
a%"hori(ed ! law) In shor"# R%le 108 o. "he R%les o. -o%r" 'ro:ides
onl! "he 'roced%re or $echanis$ .or "he 'ro'er en.orce$en" o. "he
s%s"an"i:e law e$odied in Ar"icle 312 o. "he -i:il -ode and so
does no" :iola"e "he -ons"i"%"ion 6/alencia r%lin+7)
2e no"e "ha" in "he case a" ar "he 'e"i"ion was dis$issed o%"ri+h"
wi"ho%" a "rial ein+ held# on "he @%s"i.ica"ion "ha" i" was no" 'er$i""ed)
In "he li+h" o. "he /alencia r%lin+# "he =rders o. "he res'onden" @%d+e
$%s" now e re:ersed# "o +i:e wa! "o "he a''ro'ria"e 'roceedin+s
necessar! "o "he resol%"ion o. "he s%s"an"ial iss%e raised ! "he
'e"i"ioner) The records show "ha" "he '%lica"ion re9%ire$en" has
alread! een co$'lied wi"h)
1,
The ne8" s"e'# "here.ore# is .or "he
'e"i"ioner and all ad:erse and in"eres"ed 'ar"ies "o e +i:en "heir da!
in co%r" in a re+%lar "rial on "he $eri"s)
DISPOSITION
The challen+ed =rders are here! se" aside# and S'ecial Proceedin+
No) *59C-R o. "he Re+ional Trial -o%r" o. -e%# <ranch /# is
reins"a"ed .or "rial on "he $eri"s wi"ho%" dela!) No 'rono%nce$en" as
"o cos"s)
REPUBLIC v- BAUTISTA
B)R) No) &-*5*1C
AERNAN; =c"oer 2C# 1987
B&AISA
NATURE
17
SPECPRO DIGESTS RDS 5-6 A2010 PROF. BATTAD
Pe"i"ion .or re:iew on cer"iorari "o ann%l "he @%d+$en" o. "he "hen -AI
o. Ri(al
FACTS
- Pe"i"ioner I$elda ,an+aa" Sorensen "es"i.ied "ha" she is $arried
"o <o H%a+e Sorensen# a 0anish ci"i(en and e+o" "wo children#
na$el!? &a%nn! and Ra!$%nd) In "he ir"h cer"i.ica"e o. her second
son Ra!$%nd# her h%sandGs na"ionali"! was erroneo%sl! s"a"ed as
GA$erican)1
- <o H%a+e Sorensen "es"i.ied "ha" he was orn o. a 0anish .a"her in
0en$ar4# and 'resen"ed a cer"i.ica"ion iss%ed ! "he Ro!al 0anish
-ons%la"e o. ,anila) He is s"ill considered "o%ris" and li:in+ wi"h his
wi.e and "wo sons in Pasa!)
- The Re'%lic o''osed "he 'e"i"ion and $o:ed .or "he dis$issal on
"he +ro%nd "ha" a correc"ion o. en"r! in "he -i:il Re+is"r! is allowed
onl! when "he sa$e re.ers "o $ere clerical errors or $is"a4es# %" no"
"o s%s"an"ial chan+es a..ec"in+ "he ci:il s"a"%s# na"ionali"! or
ci"i(enshi' o. "he 'erson concerned)
- -AI ordered "he &ocal -i:il Re+is"rar o. Pasa! -i"! as 'ra!ed .or "o
$a4e "he necessar! correc"ions in "he en"r! o. ir"h o. $inor
Ra!$%nd ,an+aa" Sorensen)
ISSUE
2=N "he challen+ed decision which in:ol:es "he 9%es"ion o.
ci"i(enshi' is a $a""er which can le+all! e "rea"ed %nder "he
'ro:ision o. Ar"icle 312 o. "he -i:il -ode# in con@%nc"ion wi"h R%le 108
o. "he R%les o. -o%r") *
HELD
IES) I. "he correc"ion so%+h" "o e $ade in "he ci:il re+is"er is
clerical# "hen "he 'roced%re "o e ado'"ed is s%$$ar!) I. "he
rec"i.ica"ion a..ec"s "he ci:il s"a"%s# ci"i(enshi' or na"ionali"! o. a 'ar"!#
i" is dee$ed s%s"an"ial# and "he 'roced%re "o e ado'"ed is
ad:ersar!)
- I. "he 'roced%ral re9%ire$en"s 'ro:ided in Sec"ions *# 3 and 5 o.
"he R%les o. -o%r" are .ollowed# "he 'roced%re ceases "o e
s%$$ar! and eco$es li"i+io%s) Proceedin+s .ollowin+ "he
a.ore$en"ioned sec"ions $a! "hen e a''ro'ria"e .or "he correc"ion
o. s%s"an"ial $a""ers in "he ci:il re+is"r!)
- The consis"en" r%le laid down was "ha" "he re:ision o. an! en"r!
'%rs%an" "o Ar"icle 312# as i$'le$en"ed ! r%le 108# re.erred "o "hose
chan+es "ha" are har$less and innoc%o%s) In "hose cases# howe:er#
i" was in"i$a"ed "ha" rec"i.ica"ions re+ardin+ na"ionali"! or ci"i(enshi'
in "he ci:il re+is"er $a! e %nder"a4en as lon+ as "he a''ro'ria"e
re$ed! is %sed)
- The a''ro'ria"e re$ed! $a! well e a 'e"i"ion .iled ! wa! o.
s'ecial 'roceedin+ .or "he cancella"ion and;or correc"ion o.
s%s"an"ial en"ries in "he ci:il re+is"er wi"h "he re9%isi"e 'ar"ies#
no"ices# '%lica"ions and "he 'roceedin+s "o e "a4en "herea."er
'%rs%an" "o Sec"ions *# 3 and 5 o. R%le 108 eca%se "hen "he
'roceedin+s will e ad:ersar! in charac"er)
- In "he 'resen" case# "he records show "ha" "he Pasa! -i"! &ocal
-i:il Re+is"rar and "he Solici"or Beneral were $ade 'ar"ies "o "he
'e"i"ion .or correc"ion o. en"r! in "he ci:il re+is"r! .iled in "he -AI) The
'ro'er no"ice was '%lished once a wee4 .or "hree consec%"i:e
wee4s in "he Ri(al 2ee4l! <%lle"in# a news'a'er o. +eneral
circ%la"ion) The Re'%lic a''eared "hro%+h a "rial a""orne! o. "he
=SB who was 'resen" and did no" o@ec" "o "he 'resen"a"ion o.
e:idence# al"ho%+h a."er "he hearin+# "he said "rial a""orne! .iled an
o''osi"ion and or $o"ion "o dis$iss on "he +ro%nd "ha" "he correc"ion
ein+ so%+h" did no" re.er "o a $ere clerical $is"a4e %" "o a
s%s"an"ial chan+e in:ol:in+ "he na"ionali"! o. a 'erson)
- In "he li+h" o. "he .ore+oin+ which show co$'liance wi"h Sec"ions 2#
3 and 5 o. R%le 108# "he 'roceedin+s %nder"a4en in "he lower co%r"
were %n$is"a4al! ad:ersar!# "h%s re$o:in+ "he ini"ial a''rehension
o. "he S"a"e "ha" Mi. "he en"ries in "he ci:il re+is"rar co%ld e
correc"ed ) ) ) "hro%+h a $ere s%$$ar! 'roceedin+ and no" "hro%+h
an a''ro'ria"e ac"ion wherein all "he 'ar"ies who $a! e a..ec"ed !
"he en"ries are no"i.ied or re'resen"ed# we wo%ld se" wide o'en "he
door "o .ra%d or o"her $ischie.# "he conse9%ence o. which $i+h" e
de"ri$en"al and .ar-reachin+)M
-isposition 2HEREA=RE# "he ins"an" 'e"i"ion .or re:iew on cer"iorari
is here! denied .or lac4 o. $eri" and "he decision o. "he co%r" a 9%o
is a..ir$ed)
18