Government Of Philippine Islands V Monte De Piedad

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  Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT ManilaEN BANC  BAR MATTER No. 914 October 1, 1999RE: APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE PHILIPPINE BAR, vs. VICENTE D. CHIN, applicant.R E S O L U T I O N !APUNAN,  J.: Can a leiti!ate chil bo#n un e# the $%&' Constitution of a (ilipino !othe# an an alien fathe# vali l) electPhilippine citi*enship fou#teen +$,- )ea#s afte# he has #eache the ae of !ao#it)/ This is the 0uestion souht tobe #esolve in the p#esent case involvin the application fo# a !ission to the Philippine Ba# of 1icente 2. Chin.The facts of this case a#e as follo3s41icente 2. Chin5 the leiti!ate son of the spouses Tat Chin5 a Chinese citi*en5 an P#escila A. 2ula)5 a (ilipino53as bo#n in (#ancia 6est5 Tubao5 La Union on $$ Ap#il $%7,. Since his bi#th5 Chin has #esi e in the Philippines.On $8 9ul) $%%:5 Chin5 afte# havin co!plete a Bachelo# of La3s cou#se at the St. Louis Unive#sit) in BauioCit)5 file an application to ta;e the $%%: Ba# E<a!inations. In a Resolution of this Cou#t5 ate $ Septe!be#$%%:5 he 3as allo3e to ta;e the Ba# E<a!inations5 subect to the con ition that he !ust sub!it to the Cou#tp#oof of his Philippine citi*enship.In co!pliance 3ith the above #esolution5 Chin sub!itte on $: Nove!be# $%%:5 the follo3in ocu!ents4$. Ce#tification5 ate % 9une $%:75 issue b) the Boa# of Accountanc) of the P#ofessionalReulations Co!!ission sho3in that Chin is a ce#tifie public accountant=>. 1ote# Ce#tification5 ate $, 9une $%%85 issue b) Eli*abeth B. Ce#e*o5 Election Office# of theCo!!ission on Elections +COMELEC- in Tubao La Union sho3in that Chin is a #eiste#e vote# of the sai place= an &. Ce#tification5 ate $> Octobe# $%%:5 also issue b) Eli*abeth B. Ce#e*o5 sho3in that Chin3as electe as a !e!be# of the Sanunian Ba)an of Tubao5 La Union u#in the $> Ma) $%%>s)nch#oni*e elections.On ' Ap#il $%%%5 the #esults of the $%%: Ba# E<a!inations 3e#e #elease an Chin 3as one of the successful Ba#e<a!inees. The oath?ta;in of the successful Ba# e<a!inees 3as sche ule on ' Ma) $%%%. @o3eve#5 because of the 0uestionable status of Chins citi*enship5 he 3as not allo3e to ta;e his oath. Pu#suant to the #esolution of this Cou#t5 ate > Ap#il $%%%5 he 3as #e0ui#e to sub!it fu#the# p#oof of his citi*enship. In the sa!e #esolution5the Office of the Solicito# ene#al +OS- 3as #e0ui#e to file a co!!ent on Chins petition fo# a !ission to theba# an on the ocu!ents evi encin his Philippine citi*enship.  The OS file its co!!ent on : 9ul) $%%%5 statin that Chin5 bein the Dleiti!ate chil of a Chinese fathe# an a(ilipino !othe# bo#n un e# the $%&' Constitution 3as a Chinese citi*en an continue to be so5 unless upon#eachin the ae of !ao#it) he electe Philippine citi*enshipD $  in st#ict co!pliance 3ith the p#ovisions of Co!!on3ealth Act No. 7>' entitle DAn Act P#ovi in fo# the Manne# in 3hich the Option to Elect PhilippineCiti*enship shall be 2ecla#e b) a Pe#son 6hose Mothe# is a (ilipino Citi*en.D The OS a s that D+3-hat heac0ui#e at best 3as onl) an inchoate Philippine citi*enship 3hich he coul pe#fect b) election upon #eachin theae of !ao#it).D >  In this #ea# 5 the OS cla#ifies that Dt3o +>- con itions !ust concu# in o# e# that the electionof Philippine citi*enship !a) be effective5 na!el)4 +a- the !othe# of the pe#son !a;in the election !ust be aciti*en of the Philippines= an +b- sai election !ust be !a e upon #eachin the ae of !ao#it).D &  The OS thene<plains the !eanin of the ph#ase Dupon #eachin the ae of !ao#it)4DThe clause Dupon #eachin the ae of !ao#it)D has been const#ue to !ean a #easonable ti!eafte# #eachin the ae of !ao#it) 3hich ha been inte#p#ete b) the Sec#eta#) of 9ustice to beth#ee +&- )ea#s +1ELAO5 supra  at p. '$ citing  Op.5 Sec. of 9ustice No. 85 s. $%,5 (eb. >85 $%,-.Sai pe#io !a) be e<ten e un e# ce#tain ci#cu!stances5 as 3hen a + sic - pe#son conce#ne hasal3a)s consi e#e hi!self a (ilipino + ibid  .5 citing Op. Nos. &'' an ,>>5 s. $%''= &5 $>5 ,75 :7 an %85 s. $%'&-. But in Cuenco 5 it 3as hel that an election one afte# ove# seven +8- )ea#s 3as not!a e 3ithin a #easonable ti!e.In conclusion5 the OS points out that Chin has not fo#!all) electe Philippine citi*enship an 5 if eve# he oes5 it3oul al#ea ) be be)on the D#easonable ti!eD allo3e b) p#esent u#isp#u ence. @o3eve#5 ue to the peculia#ci#cu!stances su##oun in Chins case5 the OS #eco!!en s the #ela<ation of the stan in #ule on theconst#uction of the ph#ase D#easonable pe#io D an the allo3ance of Chin to elect Philippine citi*enship inacco# ance 3ith C.A. No. 7>' p#io# to ta;in his oath as a !e!be# of the Philippine Ba#.On >8 9ul) $%%%5 Chin file a Manifestation5 attachin the#e3ith his Affi avit of Election of Philippine Citi*enshipan his Oath of Alleiance5 both ate $' 9ul) $%%%. In his Manifestation5 Chin states4$. I have al3a)s consi e#e !)self as a (ilipino=>. I 3as #eiste#e as a (ilipino an consistentl) ecla#e !)self as one in !) school #eco# s an othe# official ocu!ents=&. I a! p#acticin a p#ofession +Ce#tifie Public Accountant- #ese#ve fo# (ilipino citi*ens=,. I pa#ticipate in electo#al p#ocessFesG since the ti!e I 3as eliible to vote='. I ha se#ve the people of Tubao5 La Union as a !e!be# of the Sanunian Ba)an f#o! $%%> to$%%'=7. I electe Philippine citi*enship on 9ul) $'5 $%%% in acco# ance 3ith Co!!on3ealth Act No. 7>'=8. M) election 3as e<p#esse in a state!ent sine an s3o#n to b) !e befo#e a nota#) public=:. I acco!panie !) election of Philippine citi*enship 3ith the oath of alleiance to theConstitution an the ove#n!ent of the Philippines=%. I file !) election of Philippine citi*enship an !) oath of alleiance to + sic - the Civil Reist#a#of Tubao La Union5 an $. I pai the a!ount of TEN PESOS +Ps. $.- as filin fees.Since Chin has al#ea ) electe Philippine citi*enship on $' 9ul) $%%%5 the 0uestion #aise is 3hethe# he haselecte Philippine citi*enship 3ithin a D#easonable ti!e.D In the affi#!ative5 3hethe# his citi*enship b) election#et#oacte to the ti!e he too; the ba# e<a!ination.  6hen Chin 3as bo#n in $%7,5 the ove#nin cha#te# 3as the $%&' Constitution. Un e# A#ticle I15 Section $+&- of the $%&' Constitution5 the citi*enship of a leiti!ate chil bo#n of a (ilipino !othe# an an alien fathe# follo3e the citi*enship of the fathe#5 unless5 upon #eachin the ae of !ao#it)5 the chil electe Philippineciti*enship. ,  This #iht to elect Philippine citi*enship 3as #econi*e in the $%8& Constitution 3hen it p#ovi e that D+t-hose 3ho elect Philippine citi*enship pu#suant to the p#ovisions of the Constitution of nineteen hun #e an thi#t)?fiveD a#e citi*ens of the Philippines. '  Li;e3ise5 this #econition b) the $%8& Constitution 3as ca##ie ove# to the $%:8 Constitution 3hich states that D+t-hose bo#n befo#e 9anua#) $85 $%8& of (ilipino !othe#s5 3hoelect Philippine citi*enship upon #eachin the ae of !ao#it)D a#e Philippine citi*ens. 7  It shoul be note 5ho3eve#5 that the $%8& an $%:8 Constitutional p#ovisions on the election of Philippine citi*enship shoul not beun e#stoo as havin a cu#ative effect on an) i##eula#it) in the ac0uisition of citi*enship fo# those cove#e b) the$%&' Constitution. 8  If the citi*enship of a pe#son 3as subect to challene un e# the ol cha#te#5 it #e!ainssubect to challene un e# the ne3 cha#te# even if the u icial challene ha not been co!!ence befo#e theeffectivit) of the ne3 Constitution. : C.A. No. 7>' 3hich 3as enacte pu#suant to Section $+&-5 A#ticle I1 of the $%&' Constitution5 p#esc#ibes thep#oce u#e that shoul be follo3e in o# e# to !a;e a vali election of Philippine citi*enship. Un e# Section $the#eof5 leiti!ate chil #en bo#n of (ilipino !othe#s !a) elect Philippine citi*enship b) e<p#essin such intentionDin a state!ent to be sine an s3o#n to b) the pa#t) conce#ne befo#e an) office# autho#i*e to a !iniste#oaths5 an shall be file 3ith the nea#est civil #eist#). The sai pa#t) shall acco!pan) the afo#esai state!ent3ith the oath of alleiance to the Constitution an the ove#n!ent of the Philippines.D@o3eve#5 the $%&' Constitution an C.A. No. 7>' i not p#esc#ibe a ti!e pe#io 3ithin 3hich the election of Philippine citi*enship shoul be !a e. The $%&' Cha#te# onl) p#ovi es that the election shoul be !a e Dupon#eachin the ae of !ao#it).D The ae of !ao#it) then co!!ence upon #eachin t3ent)?one +>$- )ea#s. %  In theopinions of the Sec#eta#) of 9ustice on cases involvin the vali it) of election of Philippine citi*enship5 this ile!!a 3as #esolve b) basin the ti!e pe#io on the ecisions of this Cou#t p#io# to the effectivit) of the $%&'Constitution. In these ecisions5 the p#ope# pe#io fo# electin Philippine citi*enship 3as5 in tu#n5 base on thep#onounce!ents of the 2epa#t!ent of State of the Unite States ove#n!ent to the effect that the electionshoul be !a e 3ithin a D#easonable ti!eD afte# attainin the ae of !ao#it). $  The ph#ase D#easonable ti!eD hasbeen inte#p#ete to !ean that the election shoul be !a e 3ithin th#ee +&- )ea#s f#o! #eachin the ae of !ao#it). $$  @o3eve#5 3e hel in Cuenco vs .  Secretary of Justice 5 $>  that the th#ee +&- )ea# pe#io is not aninfle<ible #ule. 6e sai 4It is t#ue that this clause has been const#ue to !ean a #easonable pe#io afte# #eachin the aeof !ao#it)5 an that the Sec#eta#) of 9ustice has #ule that th#ee +&- )ea#s is the #easonable ti!eto elect Philippine citi*enship un e# the constitutional p#ovision a ve#te to above5 3hich pe#io !a) be e<ten e un e# ce#tain ci#cu!stances5 as 3hen the pe#son conce#ne has al3a)sconsi e#e hi!self a (ilipino. $& @o3eve#5 3e cautione in Cuenco that the e<tension of the option to elect Philippine citi*enship is not in efinite4Rea# less of the fo#eoin5 petitione# 3as bo#n on (eb#ua#) $75 $%>&. @e beca!e of ae on(eb#ua#) $75 $%,,. @is election of citi*enship 3as !a e on Ma) $'5 $%'$5 3hen he 3as ove#t3ent)?eiht +>:- )ea#s of ae5 o# ove# seven +8- )ea#s afte# he ha #eache the ae of !ao#it). Itis clea# that sai election has not been !a e Dupon #eachin the ae of !ao#it).D $, In the p#esent case5 Chin5 havin been bo#n on $$ Ap#il $%7,5 3as al#ea ) thi#t)?five +&'- )ea#s ol 3hen heco!plie 3ith the #e0ui#e!ents of C.A. No. 7>' on $' 9une $%%%5 o# ove# fou#teen +$,- )ea#s afte# he ha #eache the ae of !ao#it). Base on the inte#p#etation of the ph#ase Dupon #eachin the ae of !ao#it)5D Chins election3as clea#l) be)on 5 b) an) #easonable )a# stic;5 the allo3able pe#io 3ithin 3hich to e<e#cise the p#ivilee. Itshoul be state 5 in this connection5 that the special ci#cu!stances invo;e b) Chin5 i . e .5 his continuous an uninte##upte sta) in the Philippines an his bein a ce#tifie public accountant5 a #eiste#e vote# an a fo#!e#electe public official5 cannot vest in hi! Philippine citi*enship as the la3 specificall) la)s o3n the #e0ui#e!entsfo# ac0uisition of Philippine citi*enship b) election.2efinitel)5 the so?calle special ci#cu!stances cannot constitute 3hat Chin e##oneousl) labels as info#!alelection of citi*enship. Chin cannot fin a #efue in the case of In re 4 Florencio Mallare 5 $'  the pe#tinent po#tionof 3hich #ea s4  An even assu!in arguendo  that Ana Malla#e 3e#e + sic - leall) !a##ie to an alien5 Estebanse<e#cise of the #iht of suff#ae 3hen he ca!e of ae5 constitutes a positive act of election of Philippine citi*enship. It has been establishe that Esteban Malla#e 3as a #eiste#e vote# as of Ap#il $,5 $%>:5 an that as ea#l) as $%>' +3hen he 3as about >> )ea#s ol -5 Esteban 3as al#ea )pa#ticipatin in the elections an ca!painin fo# ce#tain can i ateFsG. These acts a#e sufficientto sho3 his p#efe#ence fo# Philippine citi*enship. $7 Chins #eliance on Mallare is !isplace . The facts an ci#cu!stances obtainin the#ein a#e ve#) iffe#ent f#o!those in the p#esent case5 thus5 neatin its applicabilit). (i#st5 Esteban Mallare  3as bo#n befo#e the effectivit) of the $%&' Constitution an the enact!ent of C.A. No. 7>'. @ence5 the #e0ui#e!ents an p#oce u#es p#esc#ibe un e# the $%&' Constitution an C.A. No. 7>' fo# electin Philippine citi*enship 3oul not be applicable to hi!.Secon 5 the #ulin in Mallare 3as an obite# since5 as co##ectl) pointe out b) the OS5 it 3as not necessa#) fo#Esteban Malla#e to elect Philippine citi*enship because he 3as al#ea ) a (ilipino5 he bein a natu#al chil of a(ilipino !othe#. In this #ea# 5 the Cou#t state 4Esteban Malla#e5 natu#al chil of Ana Malla#e5 a (ilipina5 is the#efo#e hi!self a (ilipino5 an noothe# act 3oul be necessa#) to confe# on hi! all the #ihts an p#ivilees attache to Philippineciti*enship +U.S. vs. On Tianse5 >% Phil. &&>= Santos Co vs. ove#n!ent of the Philippine Islan s5,> Phil. ',&5 Se##a vs. Republic5 L?,>>&5 Ma) $>5 $%'>5 S) Hui!suan vs. Republic5 L?,7%&5 (eb. $75$%'&= Pitallano vs. Republic5 L?'$$$5 9une >:5 $%',-. Neithe# coul an) act be ta;en on thee##oneous belief that he is a non?filipino ivest hi! of the citi*enship p#ivilees to 3hich he is#ihtfull) entitle . $8 The #ulin in Mallare 3as #eite#ate an fu#the# elabo#ate in Co vs . Electoral Tribunal of the House of Representatives 5 $:  3he#e 3e hel 46e have u#isp#u ence that efines DelectionD as both a fo#!al an an info#!al p#ocess.In the case of In re 4 Florencio Mallare  +'% SCRA ,' F$%8,G-5 the Cou#t hel that the e<e#cise of the#iht of suff#ae an the pa#ticipation in election e<e#cises constitute a positive act of election of Philippine citi*enship. In the e<act p#onounce!ent of the Cou#t5 3e hel 4 Esteban's eercise of the right of suffrage !hen he ca e of age constitutes a positive act of #hilippine citi$enship . +p. '>4 e!phasis supplie -The p#ivate #espon ent i !o#e than !e#el) e<e#cise his #iht of suff#ae. @e has establishe his life he#e in thePhilippines. For those in the peculiar situation of the respondent !ho cannot be ecepted to have elected #hilippine citi$enship as they !ere already citi$ens% !e apply the In Re Mallare rule .<<< <<< <<< The filing of s!orn state ent or for al declaration is a re&uire ent for those !ho still have toelect citi$enship . For those already Filipinos !hen the ti e to elect ca e up% there are acts of deliberate choice !hich cannot be less binding . Ente#in a p#ofession open onl) to (ilipinos5se#vin in public office 3he#e citi*enship is a 0ualification5 votin u#in election ti!e5 #unninfo# public office5 an othe# cateo#ical acts of si!ila# natu#e a#e the!selves fo#!al!anifestations fo# these pe#sons.  n election of #hilippine citi$enship presupposes that the person electing is an alien . O# hisstatus is oubtful because he is a national of t3o count#ies. The#e is no oubt in this case aboutM#. Ons bein a (ilipino 3hen he tu#ne t3ent)?one +>$-.6e #epeat that an) election of Philippine citi*enship on the pa#t of the p#ivate #espon ent 3oul not onl) have been supe#fluous but it 3oul also have #esulte in an absu# it). @o3 can a (ilipinociti*en elect Philippine citi*enship/ $%