TAK NG v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.

G.R. No. L-13017

December 23, 1959

Petitioner: Tak Ng
Respondent: The Republic of the Philippines
Ponente: Barrera, J.

FACTS:
(a) The petitioner Tak Ng, born in Manila on January 9, 1922, resided in the Philippines since
birth and has never gone abroad.
(b) During his residence and prior to his petition for admission in Philippine citizenship, he was
convicted by the Court of First Instance of Manila, of profiteering and was sentenced to pay
a fine of P50.00.
(c) Also, he cohabited with Leonarda Cabacungan with whom he had 3 children.
(d) On June 15, 1956, petitioner Tak Ng filed his petition for naturalization at the Court of First
Instance of Manila which in his declaration of intention and in his petition for naturalization,
the petitioner stated that he was single and that he did not have any child
(e) He married her on May 15, 1957.

ISSUE:
Whether or not petitioner Tak Ng is eligible for naturalization.

HELD:
No. The act of petitioner in profiteering, an offense that raises price above that authorized by
law, involves moral turpitude and causes a great hardship to the polity which indicates lack of
good moral character. More so, he falsely stated in his declaration of intention that he had no
children where in fact he had 3; and, the fact that petitioner cohabitated with Leonarda
Cabacungan without the benefit of marriage indicates his bad character. Where, the enacted
Naturalization Law has expressively mandated a show of good moral character of the applicant
for acquisition of Philippine citizenship be admissible.