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SECOND DIVISION

G.R. No. L-31475 March 24, 1981

IN RE: PETITION TO BE ADMITTED A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES LAO ENG GUAN, petitioner-appellee, vs. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent-appellant.chanrobles virtual law library

FERNANDO, C.J.:chanrobles virtual law library

From a decision granting an application for naturalization of petitioner-appellee Lao Eng Guan, the Republic appealed on the ground that the lower court, notwithstanding the failure to allege good moral character in his application, acted favorably on it as in its opinion there was satisfactory evidence thereof adduced at the hearing, and that the lower court again concluded as curative the fact that after the filing thereof, there was an increase in the income of petitioner-appellee which was below the required level when he started the proceeding, contrary to the authoritative precedents. With the filing of brief for petitioner-appellee, the matter was deemed submitted for decision.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

On March 6, 1981, there was this manifestation and motion for the Republic of the Philippines wherein it was alleged: "The Republic of the Philippines has appealed to this Honorable Court the decision of the Court of First Instance of Zambales, Third Judicial District, Branch 1, dated December 24, 1968 granting Philippine Citizenship to Lao Eng Guan; During the pendency of the appeal, said Lao Eng Guan filed an application for naturalization under Letter of Instruction No. 270 and upon recommendation of the Special Committee on Naturalization, he was granted Philippine Citizenship on February 9, 1976 pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 836. ... ." ¹ The prayer is for the case to be dismissed for being moot and academic. Clearly, such a plea is warranted.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

WHEREFORE, the appeal is deemed withdrawn and the case dismissed for being moot and academic. No costs.