Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 1970 > July 1970 Decisions > G.R. No. L-26820 July 31, 1970 - FRANCISCO YAP v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES:




PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

[G.R. No. L-26820. July 31, 1970.]

PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION OF FRANCISCO YAP @ FRANCISCO YAP Y UYSECO, FRANCISCO YAP @ FRANCISCO YAP Y UYSECO, Petitioner-Appellee, v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Oppositor-Appellant.

Solicitor General Antonio P. Barredo, Assistant Solicitor General Antonio G. Ibarra and Solicitor Ceferino Gaddi for Oppositor-Appellant.

Jose L. Uy & Associates for Petitioner-Appellee.


D E C I S I O N


MAKALINTAL, J.:


Appeal by the Republic of the Philippines from the order of the Court of First Instance of Manila allowing petitioner Francisco Yap alias Francisco Yap y Uyseco, to take this oath of allegiance as a Filipino citizen.

Petitioner’s evidence is to the effect that he was born in Candelaria, Quezon, on March 24, 1930; that since birth he had resided in the Philippines and in the City of Manila for a period of more than one year immediately preceding the filing of the petition for naturalization; that at the time of the hearing his residence was at No. 491 Madrid Street, San Nicolas, Manila, while his former address was No. 247 Madrid Street, San Nicolas, Manila; that he was married to Paulina Lim, by whom he has six (6) children; that three of his children were of school age and enrolled at the Crusader’s Academy; that he is a Chinese citizen and registered as such in the Bureau of Immigration and in the Embassy of the Republic of China; that he can speak and write English and Tagalog; that at the time of the filing of the petition he had an average annual income of P6,000.00, more or less, arrived from his employment as a factory supervisor at the Pag-asa Industrial Corporation. Two witnesses, both residents of Manila, vouched for his good moral character.

On October 17, 1961, after considering the evidence for both parties, the lower court rendered a decision granting the petition. No appeal was taken therefrom by the Government.

On November 19, 1963 the petitioner filed a petition to take his oath of citizenship. The Solicitor General filed a written opposition on two grounds, to wit: (1) that the petitioner had been using several aliases without judicial authority; and (2) that he was not a person of good moral character and irreproachable conduct. In an order dated July 8, 1964, the lower court overruled the opposition of the Solicitor General and granted the petition for oath-taking. In due time, the Solicitor General interposed the instant appeal.

The grounds relied upon by the Solicitor General in this appeal are: (1) that the petitioner had been using various aliases without judicial authority, and did not mention them in the published notice of hearing of his petition; (2) that petitioner has no lucrative income; and (3) that he is not a person of good moral character and irreproachable conduct.

Petitioner admits the first ground. He was baptized "Francisco Yap Uyseco" (Exhibit D-6). In several official documents he used the name "Francisco Yap" only (Exhibits D to D-5, E-1 to E-6, F, G-2 to G-4 and Exhibit L-8). In the "Certificate of Live Birth" of his daughter Joselie Lim Yap he is referred to as "Francisco Sia Yap" (Exhibit K-1), and in his certificate of membership in the Lions Club and in the Philippine Motors Association his name appears to be "Francisco Y. Uyseco" (Exhibits M and N). There being no showing that the use of these various names had been judicially authorized, the same was therefore a violation of the Anti-Alias Law. Consequently, petitioner has not conducted himself in a proper and irreproachable manner, as required by the Naturalization Law. 1 With reference to the name "Francisco Sia Yap," it was omitted in the petition and hence was not published together with the notice of hearing. Such omission is fatal to the petition. 2

In connection with the issue of lucrative income it is a settled rule that this qualification is determined as of the date of the filing of the petition, and increases in the earnings thereafter cannot be taken into consideration. 3 Here, the petitioner’s income in 1960, the year when the petition was filed, was P6,000.00 per annum. In a previous decision we held that an income of P6,300.00, where applicant was supporting a wife and a child, fell short of the requirement of the law. 4 Petitioner here is in an even less favorable position, since he has a wife and six children dependent upon him.

Appellee contends that the grounds relied upon by the Solicitor General in this appeal should have been raised before the rendition of the judgment and not in the hearing of the petition to take his oath. The contention is without merit. A petition for naturalization involves public interest, of the entire record of the case is open for scrutiny in case of appeal from the main decision or in the proceeding relative to the petition to be allowed to take the oath of citizenship. 5

WHEREFORE, the order appealed from is hereby reversed, the petition for naturalization is dismissed, and the oath of allegiance taken by appellee is declared without force and effect. No pronouncement as to costs.

Concepcion, C.J., Reyes, J.B.L., Dizon, Zaldivar, Castro, Fernando, Teehankee, Barredo, and Villamor, JJ., concur.

Endnotes:



1. Yap v. Republic, L-20992, May 14, 1966; Chang v. Republic, L-20715, April 29, 1966. Sogluo v. Republic, L-20318, May 19, 1966; Dy v. Republic, L-20814. Nov. 29, 1966; Chua Tek v. Republic, L-22872, March 31, 1967; Wong Chui v. Republic, L-23855, 19 SCRA 805; Tan Chua v. Republic, L-22310, April 24, 1967; O Ku Phuan v. Republic, L-23406, Aug. 31, 1967; Tan Sen v. Republic, L-23181, Oct. 24, 1967; Tan Khe Sing v. Republic, L-22390, Feb. 29, 1968.

2. Kwan Kwock How v. Republic, L-18521, Jan. 30, 1964; Celerino Yu Seco v. Republic, L-13441, June 30, 1960; Chua Tiong Seng v. Republic, L-21422, Dec. 8, 1967.

3. Pessumal Bhrojraj v. Republic, L-24023, May 8, 1969; and the cases cited; Sy v. Republic, L-24857, Feb. 17, 1970; Te Poot v. Republic, L-20017, March 29, 1969; O Ku Phuan v. Republic, supra, and the cases cited.

4. Tan v. Republic, L-16013, March 30, 1963.

5. Dalmacio Cheng v. Republic, L-20013, March 30, 1965; Republic v. Go Bon Lee, L-11499, April 29, 1961; Ong Ching Guan v. Republic, L-15691, March 27, 1961; Lim Hok Albano, L-10912, October 30, 1958.




Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






July-1970 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. L-28860 July 24, 1970 - IN RE: ALFREDO T. LUY v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. No. L-28051 July 28, 1970 - IN RE: MA CHIK KIN v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. No. L-26806 July 30, 1970 - COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. ROYAL INTEROCEAN LINES, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-26196 July 31, 1970 - GAN Y. GUAN v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. No. L-26811 July 31, 1970 - GLOREN, INC. v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. No. L-26875 July 31, 1970 - GUARDIAN SECURITY AND INVESTIGATION AGENCY v. WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-22497 July 31, 1970 - IN RE: QUE TEE TIAO v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. No. L-23447 July 31, 1970 - FIELDMEN’S INSURANCE CO., INC. v. ASIAN SURETY & INSURANCE CO., INC., ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-24593 July 31, 1970 - FREE TELEPHONE WORKERS UNION v. PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY

  • G.R. Nos. L-25543-44 July 31, 1970 - RE: CANCELLATION OF O.C.T.’S NOS. 1957 AND 1477

  • G.R. No. L-26697 July 31, 1970 - ENRIQUE DERECHO v. CARLOS ABIERA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-27703 July 31, 1970 - MANILA SURETY & FIDELITY CO., INC. v. WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION COMMISSION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-27746 July 31, 1970 - LUZON STEVEDORING CORPORATION v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-23878 July 31, 1970 - DOMESTIC INSURANCE CO. OF THE PHIL. v. EVERETT SIAM LINE, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-24016 July 31, 1970 - SPOUSES JESUS RUIZ, ET AL. v. SHERIFF OF MANILA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-24528 July 31, 1970 - DOMINGO T. LAO v. HON. JOSE MOYA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-31589 July 31, 1970 - LOURDES BARRERA v. LEON BARRERA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-24703 July 31, 1970 - MAGIN VELEZ, ET AL. v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-26549 July 31, 1970 - EUGENIO LOPEZ v. COURT OF APPEALS

  • G.R. No. L-26795 July 31, 1970 - CARMEN QUIMIGUING, ET AL. v. FELIX ICAO

  • G.R. No. L-27249 July 31, 1970 - MANILA SURETY & FIDELITY CO., INC. v. NOEMI ALMEDA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-27622 July 31, 1970 - IN RE: ONG CHIONG v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. Nos. L-28571 and L-28644 July 31, 1970 - COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. LIMPAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-28942 July 31, 1970 - PEDRO CAPACIO, ET AL. v. DR. JOSE RIVERA

  • G.R. No. L-29033 July 31, 1970 - ARABAY INCORPORATED v. JOSE C. AQUINO

  • G.R. No. L-30650 July 31, 1970 - HON. NICOLAS C. ADOLFO v. COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE OF ZAMBALES

  • G.R. No. L-31338 July 31, 1970 - ATLAS TEXTILE DEVELOPMENT CORP. v. KAPISANAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA SA ATLAS-PTGWO

  • G.R. No. L-26175 July 31, 1970 - LUZON STEVEDORING CORPORATION v. SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-23544 July 31, 1970 - IN RE: ONG SIAO LIONG v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. No. L-24835 July 31, 1970 - REPARATIONS COMMISSION v. NORTHERN LINES INC., ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-26820 July 31, 1970 - FRANCISCO YAP v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. No. L-28507 July 31, 1970 - JOSEFINA ANG CHAY, ET AL. v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. No. L-28217 July 31, 1970 - REYNALDO PULIDO Y FOJAS v. HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-29134 July 31, 1970 - LORENZO DE GUZMAN v. FLORENDO AQUINO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-30669 July 31, 1970 - IN RE: BETTY PO v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

  • G.R. No. L-30820 July 31, 1970 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES v. RODRIGO ENGLATERA

  • G.R. No. L-26370 July 31, 1970 - PHILIPPINE FIRST INSURANCE CO., INC. v. MARIA CARMEN HARTIGAN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-27318 July 31, 1970 - EDUARDO CASTANDIELO v. LUCILA REYES, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-27524 July 31, 1970 - JOSE C. TECSON v. HON. RAFAEL SALAS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-27782 July 31, 1970 - OCTAVIO A. KALALO v. ALFREDO J. LUZ

  • G.R. No. L-20951 July 31, 1970 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES v. PHILIPPINE BANK OF COMMERCE

  • G.R. No. L-27394 July 31, 1970 - ARMANDO V. AMPIL v. HON. JUDGE CORAZON JULIANO-AGRAVA, ET AL.