Spec Pro Last Cases

8/16/2019 Spec Pro Last Cases

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SPEC PRO CASES Until the EndAtty. Arceno

CHANGE OF NAME /CORRECTION / CANCELLATION OF ENTRIES INTHE CIVIL REGISTRY

SECOND DIVISION

REPUBLIC OF THEPHILIPPINES,Petitioner,

- versus -

CARLITO I. KHO, MICHAEL KHO, MERCYNONA KHO-FORTUN, HEDDY MOIRA KHO-SERRANO, KEVIN DOGMOC KHO (Minor, !n"KELLY DOGMOC KHO (Minor,

Respondents.

G.R. No. #$%&'% Pr)n*+

QUISUMBING,* J., ChairpersonCARPIO,**

CARPIO MORA!S,"INGA, and#!ASCO, $R., JJ .

PROMUGA"!%&

$une '(, '))+- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - +

D E C I S I O N CARPIO MORALES, J .+ Chaened via petition or revie/ on 0ertiorari is the O0to1er ','))2 %e0ision345 o the Court o Appeas 6CA7 in CA-G.R. C# No. 84'9/hi0h air:ed the Septe:1er 9, '))' %e0ision 3'5 o the Reiona "riaCourt 6R"C7 o Butuan Cit;, Bran0h 2 rantin the pra;er o respondentsCarito I.


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1irth o Carito, as oo/s& 647 0hane the 0itienship o his :other ro:Chinese to =iipinoD 6'7 deete $ohn ro: his na:eD and 67 deete the /ord:arried opposite the date o :arriae o his parents. "he ast 0orre0tion/as ordered to 1e ee0ted i?e/ise in the 1irth 0ertii0ates o respondentsMi0hae, Mer0; Nona, and >edd; Moira.

Additiona;, the tria 0ourt ordered the 0orre0tion o the 1irth0ertii0ates o the :inor 0hidren o Carito to ree0t the date o :arriae o Carito and Marive %o:o0 6Marive7 as $anuar; '4, '))), instead o Apri', 4(8(, and the na:e Mari1e as Marive.

ith respe0t to the :arriae 0ertii0ate o Carito and Marive, the

0orre0tions ordered pertained to the ateration o the na:e o Caritosather ro: $ohn


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+ + +. "he phiosoph; 1ehind this re@uire:ent ies in thea0t that the 1oo?s :a?in up the 0ivi reister and ado0u:ents reatin thereto sha 1e pri:a a0ie eviden0eo the a0ts therein 0ontained. I * n*ri) in * ii0r1i)*r o20" 3 orr*" or !n1" *ro214r )244!r5 6ro"in1) !n" no* *ro21

!66ro6ri!* !*ion 7rin !00 6!r*i) 7o 4!5 3!*" 35 * n*ri) !r no*ii" or r6r)n*",* "oor *o r!2" or o*r 4i)i 7o20" 3 )*o6n, * on)82n o 7i 4i1* 3"*ri4n*!0 !n" !r r!in1. + + + 6!:phasissuppied7

In Republic v. Valencia,345 ho/ever, this Court rued, and has sin0erepeated; rued, that even su1stantia errors in a 0ivi reistr; :a; 1e0orre0ted throuh a petition ied under Rue 4)8. 3495

It is undou1ted; true that i the su1Ee0t :atter

o a petition is not or the 0orre0tion o 0eri0a errors o ahar:ess and inno0uous nature, 1ut one invovinnationait; or 0itienship, /hi0h is indisputa1; su1stantiaas /e as 0ontroverted, air:ative reie 0annot 1eranted in a pro0eedin su::ar; in nature. Ho7r, i*i) !0)o *r2 *!* ! ri1* in 0!7 4!5 3 nor" !n"! 7ron1 4!5 3 r4"i" !) 0on1 !) *!66ro6ri!* r4"5 i) 2)". Ti) Co2r* !"r) *o* 6rini60 *!* n )23)*!n*i!0 rror) in ! ii0r1i)*r5 4!5 3 orr*" !n" * *r2 !*))*!30i)"

provided * 6!r*i) !11ri" 35 *rror !!i0 *4)0) o * !66ro6ri!* !"r)!r56ro"in1.

+ + + +

hat is :eant 1; appropriate adversar; pro0eedin

Ba0?s a/ %i0tionar; deines adversar; pro0eedin35 as oo/s& One havin opposin partiesD 0ontested, as

distinuished ro: an e+ parte appi0ation, one o /hi0hthe part; see?in reie has iven ea /arnin to theother part;, and aorded the atter an opportunit; to0ontest it. + + + 3425 6!:phasis, itai0s and unders0orinsuppied7

"he ena0t:ent in Mar0h '))4 o Repu1i0 A0t No. ()98, other/ise ?no/nas AN AC" AU">ORIHING ">! CI" OR MUNICIPA CI#I R!GIS"RAR OR">! CONSU G!N!RA "O CORR!C" A C!RICA OR "POGRAP>ICA

!RROR IN AN !N"R AN%JOR C>ANG! O= =IRS" NAM! OR NIC


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hat sura0es as an issue is /hether the aiure to i:pead

Marive and Caritos parents rendered the tria short o the re@uiredadversar; pro0eedin and the tria 0ourts Eud:ent void.

A si:iar issue /as earier raised in Barco v. Court o !ppeals.

3'45

"hat 0ase ste::ed ro: a petition or 0orre0tion o entries in the 1irth0ertii0ate o a :inor, $une Sava0ion Maravia, to ree0t the na:e o herrea ather 6Ar:ando Gustio7 and to 0orrespondin; 0hane hersurna:e. "he petition /as ranted 1; the tria 0ourt.

Bar0o, /hose :inor dauhter /as aeed; athered aso 1;

Gustio, ho/ever, souht to annu the tria 0ourts de0ision, 0ai:in thatshe shoud have 1een :ade a part; to the petition or 0orre0tion. =aiure toi:pead her deprived the R"C o Eurisdi0tion, she 0ontended.

In dis:issin Bar0os petition, this Court hed that the pu1i0ation

o the order o hearin under Se0tion 9 o Rue 4)8 0ured the aiure toi:pead an indispensa1e part;.

"he essentia re@uisite or ao/in su1stantia

0orre0tions o entries in the 0ivi reistr; is that the truea0ts 1e esta1ished in an appropriate adversariapro0eedin. "his is e:1odied in Se0tion , Rue 4)8 o the Rues o Court, /hi0h states&

Se0tion . Parties. hen 0an0eation or

0orre0tion o an entr; in the 0ivi reister is souht, the0ivi reistrar and a persons /ho have or 0ai: an;interest /hi0h /oud 1e ae0ted there1; sha 1e :adeparties to the pro0eedin.

+ + + + Undou1ted;, Bar0o is a:on the parties

reerred to in Se0tion o Rue 4)8. >er interest /asae0ted 1; the petition or 0orre0tion, as an; Eudi0iadeter:ination that $une /as the dauhter o Ar:ando/oud ae0t her /ards share in the estate o her ather. ++ +.

et, even thouh Bar0o /as not i:peaded in

the petition, the Court o Appeas 0orre0t; pointed outthat the dee0t /as 0ured 1; 0o:pian0e /ith Se0tion 9,Rue 4)8, /hi0h re@uires noti0e 1; pu1i0ation + + +.

+ + + +

"he purpose pre0ise; o Se0tion 9, Rue 4)8 isto 1ind the /hoe /ord to the su1se@uent Eud:ent onthe petition. "he s/eep o the de0ision /oud 0over evenparties /ho shoud have 1een i:peaded under Se0tion, Rue 4)8, 1ut /ere inadvertent; et out. + + +

+ + + + #eri;, a petition or 0orre0tion is an a0tion in

rem, an a0tion aainst a thin and not aainst aperson. "he de0ision on the petition 1inds not on; theparties thereto 1ut the /hoe /ord. An in rempro0eedinis vaidated essentia; throuh pu1i0ation. Pu1i0ation isnoti0e to the /hoe /ord that the pro0eedin has or itso1Ee0t to 1ar indeinite; a /ho :iht 1e :inded to:a?e an o1Ee0tion o an; sort aainst the riht souht to1e esta1ished. It is the pu1i0ation o su0h noti0e that1rins in the /hoe /ord as a part; in the 0ase and veststhe 0ourt /ith Eurisdi0tion to hear and de0ide it.3''5

Given the a1ove ruin, it 1e0o:es unne0essar; to rue on /hether Mariveor respondents parents shoud have 1een i:peaded as parties to thepro0eedin. It :a; not 1e a:iss to :ention, ho/ever, that durin thehearin on $anuar; 4, '))',

the 0it; prose0utor /ho /as a0tin asrepresentative o the OSG did not raise an; o1Ee0tion to the non-in0usiono Marive and Caritos parents as parties to the pro0eedin.

Parentheti0a;, it see:s hih; i:pro1a1e that Marive /as

una/are o the pro0eedins to 0orre0t the entries in her 0hidrens 1irth0ertii0ates, espe0ia; sin0e the noti0es, orders and de0ision o the tria0ourt /ere a sent to the residen0e3'5 she shared /ith Carito and the0hidren.

It is aso /e to re:e:1er that the roe o the 0ourt in hearin a

petition to 0orre0t 0ertain entries in the 0ivi reistr; is to as0ertain thetruth a1out the a0ts re0orded therein.3'95

ith respe0t to the date o :arriae o Carito and Marive, their

0ertii0ate o :arriae3'25 sho/s that indeed the; /ere :arried on $anuar;'4, '))), not on Apri ', 4(8(.!+painin the error, Carito de0ared thatthe date Apri ', 4(8( /as suppied 1; his heper, addin that he /as not:arried to Marive at the ti:e his sons /ere 1orn 1e0ause his previous:arriae /as annued on; in 4(((. 3'F5 Given the eviden0e presented 1;respondents, the CA o1served that the :inors /ere ieiti:ate at 1irth,hen0e, the 0orre0tion /oud 1rin a1out no 0hane at a in the nature o their iiation.

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ith respe0t to Caritos :other, it 1ears notin that she de0aredat the /itness stand that she /as not :arried to $uan en0e, /hie the Eurisdi0tiona re@uire:ents o Rue 4) 6/hi0hoverns petitions or 0hane o na:e7 /ere not 0o:pied /ith, o1servan0eo the provisions o Rue 4)8 sui0es to ee0t the 0orre0tion souht or.

More i:portant;, Caritos oi0ia trans0ript o re0ord ro:

the Urious Coee in Butuan Cit;,345 0ertii0ate o eii1iit; ro: the CiviServi0e Co::ission,3'5 and voter reistration re0ord35 satisa0tori; sho/that he has 1een ?no/n 1; his irst na:e on;. No preEudi0e is thus i?e;to arise ro: the droppin o the se0ond na:e.

"he 0orre0tion o the :others 0itienship ro: Chinese to =iipinoas appearin in Caritos 1irth re0ord /as aso proper. O note is the a0tthat durin the 0ross e+a:ination 1; the 0it; prose0utor o !piania, he didnot dee: it to @uestion her 0itienship. Su0h aiure to oppose the0orre0tion pra;ed or, /hi0h 0ertain; /as not respondents aut, does notin an; /a; 0hane the adversaria nature o the pro0eedins.

Aso sinii0ant to note is that the 1irth 0ertii0ates o Caritossi1ins unior:; stated the 0itienship o !piania as =iipino. "o disao/the 0orre0tion in Caritos 1irth re0ord o his :others 0itienship /oudperpetuate an in0onsisten0; in the nata 0ir0u:stan0es o the si1ins /hoare un@uestiona1; 1orn o the sa:e :other and ather.

Outside the a:1it o su1stantia 0orre0tions, o 0ourse, is the

0orre0tion o the na:e o Caritos /ie ro: Mari1e to Marive. "he :ista?eis 0ear; 0eri0a or t;poraphi0a, /hi0h is not on; visi1e to the e;es, 1utis aso o1vious to the understandin395 0onsiderin that the na:e ree0tedin the :arriae 0ertii0ate o Carito and his /ie is Marive.

Apropos is "u v. Republic 325 /hi0h hed that 0hanin the

appeants Christian na:e o Sin0io to Sen0io a:ounts :ere; to therihtin o a 0eri0a error. "he 0hane o na:e ro: Beatri a1a;oJBeatria1a;u to !:peratri a1a;o /as aso hed to 1e a :ere inno0uousateration, /hi0h 0an 1e ranted throuh a su::ar; pro0eedin. 3F5 "hesa:e ruin hods true /ith respe0t to the 0orre0tion in Caritos :arriae0ertii0ate o his athers na:e ro: $ohn


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:G.R. NO. #;$%'& + F3r2!r5


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Sin0e there /as no opposition to the petition, respondent :oved or eaveo 0ourt to present her eviden0e e$ parte 1eore a 0ourt-appointed0o::issioner. "he OSG, a0tin throuh the Provin0ia Prose0utor, did noto1Ee0tD hen0e, the o/er 0ourt ranted the :otion.

Ater the re0eption o eviden0e, the tria 0ourt rendered a de0ision orderinthe 0hane o na:e ro: Giovanni N. Gaa:aso to Giovanni Nadores. 8

=ro: this de0ision, petitioner Repu1i0 o the Phiippines, throuh the OSG,ied an appea /ith a one assin:ent o error& the 0ourt a %uo erred inrantin the petition in a su::ar; pro0eedin.

Ruin that the pro0eedins /ere sui0ient; adversaria in nature asre@uired, the CA air:ed the R"C de0ision orderin the 0hane o na:e. (

In this petition, the Repu1i0 0ontends that the CA erred in air:in thetria 0ourtKs de0ision /hi0h ranted the petition or 0hane o na:e despite

the non-Eoinder o indispensa1e parties.4) Petitioner 0ites Republic o t&eP&ilippines v. Labrador 44 and 0ai:s that the purported parents and aother persons /ho :a; 1e adverse; ae0ted 1; the 0hidKs 0hane ona:e shoud have 1een :ade respondents to :a?e the pro0eedinadversaria.4'

e den; the petition.

L"he su1Ee0t o rihts :ust have a i+ed s;:1o or individuaiation /hi0hserves to distinuish hi: ro: a othersD this s;:1o is hisna:e.L4 Understanda1;, thereore, no person 0an 0hane his na:e orsurna:e /ithout Eudi0ia authorit;.49 "his is a reasona1e re@uire:ent or

those see?in su0h 0hane 1e0ause a personKs na:e ne0essari; ae0ts hisidentit;, interests and intera0tions. "he State :ust 1e invoved in thepro0ess and de0ision to 0hane the na:e o an; o its 0itiens.

"he Rues o Court provides the re@uire:ents and pro0edure or 0hane ona:e. >ere, the appropriate re:ed; is 0overed 1; Rue 4),42 a separateand distin0t pro0eedin ro: Rue 4)8 on :ere 0an0eation and 0orre0tiono entries in the 0ivi reistr; 6usua; deain on; /ith inno0uous or0eri0a errors thereon7.4F

"he issue o non-Eoinder o aeed indispensa1e parties in the a0tion1eore the 0ourt a %uo is intert/ined /ith the nature o the pro0eedinsthere. "he point is /hether the pro0eedins /ere sui0ient; adversaria.

Su::ar; pro0eedins do not e+tensive; address the issues o a 0ase

sin0e the reason or their 0ondu0t is e+pedien0;. "his, a00ordin topetitioner, is not sui0ient to dea /ith su1stantia or 0ontentious issuesaeed; resutin ro: a 0hane o na:e, :eanin, eiti:a0; as /e assu00essiona rihts.4 Su0h issues are ventiated on; in adversariapro0eedins /herein a interested parties are i:peaded and due pro0essis o1served.48

hen Giovanni /as 1orn in 4(8' 6prior to the ena0t:ent and ee0tivit; othe =a:i; Code o the Phiippines7,4( the pertinent provision o the CiviCode then as reards his use o a surna:e, read&

Art. FF. A natura 0hid a0?no/eded 1; 1oth parents sha prin0ipa; use

the surna:e o the ather. I re0onied 1; on; one o the parents, !n!*2r!0 i0" )!00 460o5 * )2rn!4 o * ro1ni>in1 6!rn*.6emp&asis ours7

Based on this provision, Giovanni shoud have 0arried his :otherKssurna:e ro: 1irth. "he re0ords do not revea an; a0t or intention on thepart o GiovanniKs putative ather to a0tua; re0onie hi:. Mean/hie,a00ordin to the =a:i; Code /hi0h repeaed, a:on others, Arti0e FF othe Civi Code&

Art. 4F. I001i*i4!* i0"rn )!00 2) * )2rn!4 and sha 1eunder the parenta authorit;o *ir 4o*r, and sha 1e entited to

support in 0onor:it; /ith this Code. +++ +++ +++ 6emp&asis ours7

Our ruin in the re0ent 0ase o 'n Re( Petition or C&an)e o Name and*orCorrection*Cancellation o +ntry in Civil Re)istry o Julian Lin Carulasan

an)') is enihtenin&

Our a/s on the use o surna:es state that eiti:ate and eiti:ated0hidren sha prin0ipa; use the surna:e o the ather. "he =a:i; Codeives eiti:ate 0hidren the riht to 1ear the surna:es o the ather andthe :other, /hie ieiti:ate 0hidren sha use the surna:e o their

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:other, uness their ather re0onies their iiation, in /hi0h 0ase the;:a; 1ear the atherKs surna:e.

App;in these a/s, !n i001i*i4!* i0" 7o) i0i!*ion i) no*ro1ni>" 35 * !*r 3!r) on05 ! 1in n!4 !n" i) 4o*r?

)2rn!4, !n" "o) no* ! ! 4i""0 n!4.T n!4 o *2nro1ni>" i001i*i4!* i0" *ror i"n*ii) i4 !) )2. It ison; /hen the ieiti:ate 0hid is eiti:ated 1; the su1se@uent :arriaeo his parents or a0?no/eded 1; the ather in a pu1i0 do0u:ent orprivate hand/ritten instru:ent that he 1ears 1oth his :otherKs surna:e ashis :idde na:e and his atherKs surna:e as his surna:e, ree0tin hisstatus as a eiti:ated 0hid or an a0?no/eded 0hid. r1TV WXrYZ [ \ X1rr

'4

"he oreoin dis0ussion esta1ishes the sinii0ant 0onne0tion o a

personKs na:e to his identit;, his status in reation to his parents and hissu00essiona rihts as a eiti:ate or ieiti:ate 0hid. =or sure, these:atters shoud not 1e ta?en iht; as to deprive those /ho :a;, in an;/a;, 1e ae0ted 1; the riht to present eviden0e in avor o or aainstsu0h 0hane.

"he a/ and a0ts o1tainin here avor GiovanniKs petition. Giovanni avaiedo the proper re:ed;, a petition or 0hane o na:e under Rue 4) o theRues o Court, and 0o:pied /ith a the pro0edura re@uire:ents. Aterhearin, the tria 0ourt ound 6and the appeate 0ourt air:ed7 that theeviden0e presented durin the hearin o GiovanniKs petition sui0ient;esta1ished that, under Art. 4F o the Civi Code, Giovanni is entited to0hane his na:e as he /as never re0onied 1; his ather /hie his :otherhas a/a;s re0onied hi: as her 0hid. A 0hane o na:e /i erase thei:pression that he /as ever re0onied 1; his ather. It is aso to his 1estinterest as it /i a0iitate his :otherKs intended petition to have hi: Eoinher in the United States. "his Court /i not stand in the /a; o thereunii0ation o :other and son.

Moreover, it is note/orth; that the 0ases 0ited 1; petitioner '' in support oits position dea /ith 0an0eation or 0orre0tion o entries in the 0ivireistr;, a pro0eedin separate and distin0t ro: the spe0ia pro0eedinsor 0hane o na:e. "hose 0ases dea /ith the appi0ation and

interpretation o Rue 4)8 o the Rues o Court /hie this 0ase /as0orre0t; ied under Rue 4). "hus, the 0ases 0ited 1; petitioner areirreevant and have no 1earin on respondentKs 0ase. hie the OSG is0orre0t in its stan0e that the pro0eedins or 0hane o na:e shoud 1eadversaria, the OSG 0annot void the pro0eedins in the tria 0ourt ona00ount o its o/n aiure to parti0ipate therein. As the CA 0orre0t; rued&

"he OSG is 0orre0t in statin that a petition or 0hane o na:e :ust 1eheard in an adversaria pro0eedin. Uni?e petitions or the 0an0eation or0orre0tion o 0eri0a errors in entries in the 0ivi reistr; under Rue 4)8 othe Rues o Court, a petition or 0hane o na:e under Rue 4) 0annot 1ede0ided throuh a su::ar; pro0eedin. "here is no dou1t that thispetition does not a under Rue 4)8 or it is not aeed that the entr; inthe 0ivi reistr; suers ro: 0eri0a or t;poraphi0a errors. "he reiesouht 0ear; oes 1e;ond 0orre0tin erroneous entries in the 0ivireistr;, athouh 1; rantin the petition, the resut is the sa:e in that a0orrespondin 0hane in the entr; is aso re@uired to ree0t the 0hane inna:e. In *i) r1!r", :!6600= C!6o* o460i" 7i* *

r82ir4n* or !n !"r)!ri!0 6ro"in1 35 6o)*in1 in !n7)6!6r o 1nr!0 ir20!*ion no*i o * i0in1 o * 6*i*ion.T 0o7r o2r* !0)o 2rni)" * OSG ! o65 *ro. D)6i* *no*i, no on !4 or7!r" *o o66o) * 6*i*ion in02"in1 *OSG. T !* *!* no on o66o)" * 6*i*ion "i" no* "6ri *o2r* o i*) @2ri)"i*ion *o !r * )!4 nor "o) i* 4! *6ro"in1 0)) !"r)!ri!0 in n!*2r."he o/er 0ourt is sti e+pe0tedto e+er0ise its Eud:ent to deter:ine /hether the petition is :eritorious ornot and not :ere; a00ept as true the aru:ents propounded. Considerinthat the OSG neither opposed the petition nor the :otion to present itseviden0e e$ parte /hen it had the opportunit; to do so, it 0annot no/0o:pain that the pro0eedins in the o/er 0ourt /ere not adversaria

enouh.'

6emp&asis supplied 7

A pro0eedin is adversaria /here the part; see?in reie has iven ea/arnin to the other part; and aorded the atter an opportunit; to 0ontestit.'9 Respondent ave noti0e o the petition throuh pu1i0ation as re@uired1; the rues.'2 ith this, a interested parties /ere dee:ed notiied andthe /hoe /ord 0onsidered 1ound 1; the Eud:ent therein. In addition,the tria 0ourt ave due noti0e to the OSG 1; servin a 0op; o the petitionon it. "hus, a the re@uire:ents to :a?e a pro0eedin adversaria /eresatisied /hen a interested parties, in0udin petitioner as represented 1;the OSG, /ere aorded the opportunit; to 0ontest the petition.

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9HEREFORE, the petition is here1; DENIED and the $anuar; 4, '))de0ision o the Court o Appeas in CA-G.R. C# No. FF4'8 AFFIRMED.

SECOND DIVISION

:G.R. NO. #;. M!r &%,


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the rounds re0onied 1; a/. "he tria 0ourt rued that the 0hane souhtis :ere; or the 0onvenien0e o the 0hid. Sin0e the State has an interestin the na:e o a person, na:es 0annot 1e 0haned to suit the 0onvenien0eo the 1earers. Under Arti0e 49 o the =a:i; Code, eiti:ate 0hidrenhave the riht to 1ear the surna:es o the ather and the :other, andthere is no reason /h; this riht shoud no/ 1e ta?en ro: petitioner

$uian, 0onsiderin that he is sti a :inor. "he tria 0ourt added that /henpetitioner $uian rea0hes the ae o :aEorit;, he 0oud then de0ide /hetherhe /i 0hane his na:e 1; droppin his :idde na:e.

Petitioner ied a :otion or re0onsideration o the de0ision 1ut this /asdenied in a resoution dated ') Ma; '))9.9 "he tria 0ourt :aintained thatthe Sinaporean pra0ti0e o not 0arr;in a :idde na:e does not Eusti; thedroppin o the :idde na:e o a eiti:ate =iipino 0hid /ho intends tostud; there. "he droppin o the :idde na:e /oud 1e tanta:ount toivin due re0onition to or appi0ation o the a/s o Sinapore instead oPhiippine a/ /hi0h is 0ontroin. "hat the 0hane o na:e /oud notpreEudi0e pu1i0 interest or /oud not 1e or a rauduent purpose /oud not

sui0e to rant the petition i the reason or the 0hane o na:e is itsenot reasona1e.2

Petitioner then ied this Petition or Review on Certiorari /0nder Rule12F aruin that the tria 0ourt has de0ided a @uestion o su1stan0e nottheretoore deter:ined 1; the Court, that is& /hether or not droppin the:idde na:e o a :inor 0hid is 0ontrar; to Arti0e 49 o the =a:i; Code.Petitioner 0ontends that L35ith o1aiation and :i+ed :arriaes, there isa need or the Supre:e Court to rue on the :atter o droppin o a:i;na:e or a 0hid to adEust to his ne/ environ:ent, or 0onsisten0; andhar:on; a:on si1ins, ta?in into 0onsideration the L1est interest o the0hid.L8 It is arued that 0onvenien0e o the 0hid is a vaid reason or

0hanin the na:e as on as it /i not preEudi0e the State and others.Petitioner points out that the :idde na:e LCaruasanL /i 0ause hi:undue e:1arrass:ent and the dii0ut; in /ritin or pronoun0in it /i 1ean o1sta0e to his so0ia a00eptan0e and interation in the Sinaporean0o::unit;. Petitioner aso aees that it is error or the tria 0ourt to havedenied the petition or 0hane o na:e unti he had rea0hed the ae o:aEorit; or hi: to de0ide the na:e to use, 0ontrar; to previous0ases( de0ided 1; this Court that ao/ed a :inor to petition or 0hane ona:e.4)

"he Court re@uired the Oi0e o the Soi0itor Genera 6OSG7 to 0o::ent onthe petition. "he OSG ied its Comment 44 positin that the tria 0ourt0orre0t; denied the petition or 0hane o na:e. "he OSG arues thatunder Arti0e 49 o the =a:i; Code, eiti:ate 0hidren have the riht to1ear the surna:es o their ather and :other, and su0h riht 0annot 1edenied 1; the :ere e+pedient o droppin the sa:e. A00ordin to the OSG,

there is aso no sho/in that the droppin o the :idde na:e LCaruasanLis in the 1est interest o petitioner, sin0e :ere 0onvenien0e is not sui0ientto support a petition or 0hane o na:e andJor 0an0eation o entr;.4' "heOSG aso adds that the petitioner has not sho/n an; 0o:pein reason to Eusti; the 0hane o na:e or the droppin o the :idde na:e, or that:atter. PetitionerKs aeation that the 0ontinued use o the :idde na:e:a; resut in 0onusion and dii0ut; is aeed; :ore i:ainar; than rea."he OSG reiterates its aru:ent raised 1eore the tria 0ourt that thedroppin o the 0hidKs :idde na:e 0oud on; trier :u0h deeperin@uiries reardin the true parentae o petitioner. >en0e, /hie petitioner$uian has a sister na:ed $as:ine ei an, there is no 0onusion sin0e1oth use the surna:e o their ather, an. !ven assu:in that it is

0usto:ar; in Sinapore to drop the :idde na:e, it has aso not 1eensho/n that the use o su0h :idde na:e is a0tua; pros0ri1ed 1;Sinaporean a/.4

e air: the de0ision o the tria 0ourt. "he petition shoud 1e denied.

"he Court has had o00asion to e+press the vie/ that the State has aninterest in the na:es 1orne 1; individuas and entities or purposes oidentii0ation, and that a 0hane o na:e is a priviee and not a riht, sothat 1eore a person 0an 1e authoried to 0hane his na:e iven hi:either in his 0ertii0ate o 1irth or 0ivi reistr;, he :ust sho/ proper orreasona1e 0ause, or an; 0o:pein reason /hi0h :a; Eusti; su0h

0hane. Other/ise, the re@uest shoud 1e denied.49

"he tou0hstone or the rant o a 0hane o na:e is that there 1e Kproperand reasona1e 0auseK or /hi0h the 0hane is souht.42 "o Eusti; a re@uestor 0hane o na:e, petitioner :ust sho/ not on; so:e proper or0o:pein reason thereore 1ut aso that he /i 1e preEudi0ed 1; the useo his true and oi0ia na:e. A:on the rounds or 0hane o na:e /hi0hhave 1een hed vaid are& 6a7 /hen the na:e is ridi0uous, dishonora1e ore+tre:e; dii0ut to /rite or pronoun0eD 617 /hen the 0hane resuts as aea 0onse@uen0e, as in eiti:ationD 607 /hen the 0hane /i avoid0onusionD 6d7 /hen one has 0ontinuous; used and 1een ?no/n sin0e

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0hidhood 1; a =iipino na:e, and /as una/are o aien parentaeD 6e7 asin0ere desire to adopt a =iipino na:e to erase sins o or:er aienae,a in ood aith and /ithout preEudi0in an;1od;D and 67 /hen thesurna:e 0auses e:1arrass:ent and there is no sho/in that the desired0hane o na:e /as or a rauduent purpose or that the 0hane o na:e/oud preEudi0e pu1i0 interest.4F

In rantin or den;in petitions or 0hane o na:e, the @uestion o properand reasona1e 0ause is et to the sound dis0retion o the 0ourt. "heeviden0e presented need on; 1e satisa0tor; to the 0ourt and not a the1est eviden0e avaia1e. hat is invoved is not a :ere :atter o ao/an0eor disao/an0e o the re@uest, 1ut a Eudi0ious evauation o the sui0ien0;and propriet; o the Eustii0ations advan0ed in support thereo, :indu othe 0onse@uent resuts in the event o its rant and /ith the soepreroative or :a?in su0h deter:ination 1ein oded in the 0ourts.4

"he petition 1eore us is uni?e other petitions or 0hane o na:e, as itdoes not si:p; see? to 0hane the na:e o the :inor petitioner and adoptanother, 1ut instead see?s to drop the :idde na:e atoether. %e0ided0ases in this Eurisdi0tion invovin petitions or 0hane o na:e usua; dea/ith re@uests or 0hane o surna:e. "here are on; a handu o 0asesinvovin re@uests or 0hane o the iven na:e48 and none on re@uests or0hanin or droppin o the :idde na:e. %oes the a/ ao/ one to dropthe :idde na:e ro: his reistered na:e e have to ans/er in theneative.

A dis0ussion on the ea sinii0an0e o a personKs na:e is reevant at thispoint. e @uote, thus&

K=or a pra0ti0a and ea purposes, a :anKs na:e is the desination 1;/hi0h he is ?no/n and 0aed in the 0o::unit; in /hi0h he ives and is1est ?no/n. It is deined as the /ord or 0o:1ination o /ords 1; /hi0h aperson is distinuished ro: other individuas and, aso, as the a1e orappeation /hi0h he 1ears or the 0onvenien0e o the /ord at areaddressin hi:, or in spea?in o or deain /ith hi:. Na:es are used:ere; as one :ethod o indi0atin the identit; o personsD the; aredes0riptive o persons or identii0ation, sin0e, the identit; is the essentiathin and it has re@uent; 1een hed that, /hen identit; is 0ertain, avarian0e in, or :isspein o, the na:e is i::ateria.

"he na:es o individuas usua; have t/o parts& the iven na:e or properna:e, and the surna:e or a:i; na:e. "he iven or proper na:e is that/hi0h is iven to the individua at 1irth or 1aptis:, to distinuish hi: ro:other individuas. "he na:e or a:i; na:e is that /hi0h identiies thea:i; to /hi0h he 1eons and is 0ontinued ro: parent to 0hid. "he ivenna:e :a; 1e ree; see0ted 1; the parents or the 0hidD 1ut the surna:e

to /hi0h the 0hid is entited is i+ed 1; a/.

A na:e is said to have the oo/in 0hara0teristi0s& 647 It is a1soute,intended to prote0t the individua ro: 1ein 0onused /ith others. 6'7 It iso1iator; in 0ertain respe0ts, or no1od; 0an 1e /ithout a na:e. 67 It isi+ed, un0hanea1e, or i::uta1e, at east at the start, and :a; 1e0haned on; or ood 0ause and 1; Eudi0ia pro0eedins. 697 It is outsidethe 0o::er0e o :an, and, thereore, inaiena1e and intrans:issi1e 1;a0t inter vivos or mortis causa. 627 It is i:pres0ripti1e.4(

"his 0itation does not :a?e an; reeren0e to :idde na:es, 1ut this doesnot :ean that :idde na:es have no pra0ti0a or ea sinii0an0e. Middena:es serve to identi; the :aterna ineae or iiation o a person as /eas urther distinuish hi: ro: others /ho :a; have the sa:e iven na:eand surna:e as he has.

Our a/s on the use o surna:es state that eiti:ate and eiti:ated0hidren sha prin0ipa; use the surna:e o the ather.') "he =a:i; Codeives eiti:ate 0hidren the riht to 1ear the surna:es o the ather andthe :other,'4 /hie ieiti:ate 0hidren sha use the surna:e o their:other, uness their ather re0onies their iiation, in /hi0h 0ase the;:a; 1ear the atherKs surna:e.''

App;in these a/s, an ieiti:ate 0hid /hose iiation is not re0onied1; the ather 1ears on; a iven na:e and his :otherKs surna:e, and doesnot have a :idde na:e. "he na:e o the unre0onied ieiti:ate 0hidthereore identiies hi: as su0h. It is on; /hen the ieiti:ate 0hid iseiti:ated 1; the su1se@uent :arriae o his parents or a0?no/eded 1;the ather in a pu1i0 do0u:ent or private hand/ritten instru:ent that he1ears 1oth his :otherKs surna:e as his :idde na:e and his atherKssurna:e as his surna:e, ree0tin his status as a eiti:ated 0hid or ana0?no/eded ieiti:ate 0hid.

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A00ordin;, the reistration in the 0ivi reistr; o the 1irth o su0hindividuas re@uires that the :idde na:e 1e indi0ated in the 0ertii0ate."he reistered na:e o a eiti:ate, eiti:ated and re0onied ieiti:ate0hid thus 0ontains a iven or proper na:e, a :idde na:e, and asurna:e.

Petitioner theories that it /oud 1e or his 1est interest to drop his :iddena:e as this /oud hep hi: to adEust :ore easi; to and interate hi:seinto Sinaporean so0iet;. In support, he 0itesOs&ita v.Republic ' and Calderon v. Republic ,'9 /hi0h, ho/ever, are not apropos1oth.

In Os&ita, the petitioner therein, a eiti:ate dauhter o a =iipino :other,Buena Bartoo:e, and a $apanese ather,


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P a g e 1 3


In the 0ase at 1ar, the on; reason advan0ed 1; petitioner or the droppinhis :idde na:e is 0onvenien0e. >o/ever, ho/ su0h 0hane o na:e /oud:a?e his interation into Sinaporean so0iet; easier and 0onvenient is not0ear; esta1ished. "hat the 0ontinued use o his :idde na:e /oud 0ause0onusion and dii0ut; does not 0onstitute proper and reasona1e 0ause todrop it ro: his reistered 0o:pete na:e.

In addition, petitioner is on; a :inor. Considerin the ne1uous oundationon /hi0h his petition or 0hane o na:e is 1ased, it is 1est that the :attero 0hane o his na:e 1e et to his Eud:ent and dis0retion /hen herea0hes the ae o :aEorit;.'F As he is o tender ae, he :a; not ;etunderstand and appre0iate the vaue o the 0hane o his na:e andrantin o the sa:e at this point :a; Eust preEudi0e hi: in his rihtsunder our a/s.

9HEREFORE, in vie/ o the oreoin, the Petition or Review onCertiorari is %!NI!%.

SO ORDERED.

SECOND DIVISION

:G.R. No. ##&$. O*o3r ##,


14/61

P a g e 1 4


#enera0ion and >on. $ai:e ". >a:o; 9 ta?in 0onian0e o t/o 6'7separate petitions ied 1; private respondents 1eore their respe0tive saasor the 0an0eation andJor 0orre0tion o entries in the re0ords o 1irth opetitioners pursuant to Rue 4)8 o the Revised Rues o Court.

"his is a stor; o t/o 6'7 sets o 0hidren sired 1; one and the sa:e :an1ut 1eotten o t/o 6'7 dierent :others. One set, the private respondentsherein, are the 0hidren o ee "e? Shen and his a/u /ie, IO< C>!NG,1ut upon investiation, it /as ound out that her >ospita Re0ords, the:other /ho ave 1irth to MARC!O !! had iven 1irth or the 4st ti:e,as per dianosis o the attendin ph;si0ian, %r. R. IM, it /as LGRA#I%A I,PARA IL /hi0h :eans Lirst prenan0;, irst ive 1irth deiver;L 6reer to&MAS"!R PA"I!N"]S R!COR%S SUMMAR ^ Anne+ I7. Aso, the ae o the:other /hen she ave 1irth to MARC!O !! as per re0ord /as on; 4;ears od, /hen in a0t and in truth, S>IO< C>!NG]s ae /as thenaread; 8 ;ears od. "he address used 1; their ather in the Master Patientre0ord /as aso the sa:e as the Birth Certii0ate o MARC!O !! 6'9'2Ria Avenue, Mania7. "he na:e o MARC!O !! /as re0orded under>ospita No. ''4F8, pae .0hanro14es virtua4 4a/ 4i1rar;

'. As per Birth Certii0ate o ABINA !! 6Anne+ =-'7, it /as :ade toappear that ABINA !! /as the third 0hid /hi0h is /ithout an; rationait;,1e0ause the rd 0hid o S>IO< C>!NG is M!O% !! "!< S>!NG6Anne+ !-'7. Note aso, that the ae o the :other as per >ospita Re0ords Eu:p 6si07 ro: 4 to '' ;ears od, 1ut the on; ae ap o MARC!O !!and ABINA !! is on; ' ;ears.

. As per Birth Certii0ate o MARIANO !! 6Anne+ =-7, it /as :ade toappear that MARIANO !! /as the 2th 0hid, 1ut the truth is, S>IO<C>!NG]s 2th 0hid is UCIA !! "!< S>!NG 6Anne+ !-97. As per >ospitaRe0ord, the ae o S>IO< C>!NG /as on; ' ;ears od, /hie thea0tua ae o S>IO< C>!NG, /as then aread; 9) ;ears od.


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9. As per Birth Certii0ate o PABO !! 6Anne+ =-97, it /as :ade toappear that PABO !! /as the 4Fth 0hid o S>IO< C>!NG /hi0h isi:possi1e to 1e true, 0onsiderin the a0t that S>IO< C>!NG havestopped 0on0eivin ater her 44th 0hid. Aso as per >ospita Re0ord, theae o the :other /as o:itted in the re0ords. I PABO !! is the 4Fth0hid o S>IO< C>!NG, it /oud on; :ean that she have 6si07 iven1irth to her irst 1orn 0hid at the ae o 8 to ( ;ears, /hi0h is i:possi1eto 1e true.

Based on the 1irth re0ord o MARIANO !! in 4(2, the re0orded ae o S>IO< C>!NG /as ' ;ears od. "/o ;ears ater PABO !! /as 1ornin 4(22, the dieren0e is on; ' ;ears, so it is i:possi1e or PABO !! to1e the 4Fth 0hid o S>IO< C>!NG, as it /i on; :ean that she have6si07 iven 1irth at that i:possi1e ae.

2. As per Birth Certii0ate o >!!N !! 6Anne+ =-27, it /as :ade toappear that she is the Fth 0hid o S>IO< C>!NG, 1ut as per BirthCertii0ate o $UIAN !! 6Anne+ !-27, he is the true Fth 0hid o S>IO< C>!NG. Per >ospita Re0ord, S>IO< C>!NG is on; '8 ;earsod, /hie S>IO< C>!NG]S true ae at that ti:e /as 92 ;ears

od.0hanro14es virtua4 4a/ 4i1rar;

F. !MMA !! has no re0ord in the hospita 1e0ause, as per 0o:painant]saeation, she /as 1orn at their house, and /as ater ad:itted at ChineseGenera >ospita.

. As per Birth Certii0ate o CA"AINO !! 6Anne+ =-7, it /as :ade toappear that he is the 49th 0hid o S>IO< C>!NG, and that the ae o S>IO< C>!NG a.?.a. Mrs. !! "!< S>!NG, Eu:ped ro: '8 ;ears odat the 1irth o >!!N !! on ' Auust 4(2 to 8 ;ears od at the 1irth o CA"AINO !! on '' Apri 4(2(.

8. As per Birth Certii0ate o !US!BIO !!, the aeed ast son o S>IO< C>!NG, the ae o the :other is 98 ;ears od. >o/ever, as per

>ospita Re0ord, the ae o Mrs. !! "!< S>!NG, then /as on; ( ;earsod. Considerin the a0t, that at the ti:e o MARC!O]s 1irth on 44 Ma;4(2). S>IO< C>!NG]s ae is 8 ;ears od and at the ti:e o!US!BIO]s 1irth, she is aread; 98 ;ears od, it is aread; i:possi1e thatshe 0oud have iven 1irth to 8 0hidren in a span o on; 4) ;ears at herae. As per dianosis, the aeed :other reistered on !US!BIO]s 1irthindi0ate that she had underone C!ASARIAN S!C"ION, /hi0h %r. RI"A ospita Patients Re0ords, it is

ver; o1vious that the :other o these 8 0hidren is 0ertain; not S>IO< C>!NG, 1ut a :u0h ;ouner /o:an, :ost pro1a1; "IU C>UAN.Upon urther evauation and ana;sis 1; these Aents, !! "!< S>!NG, isin a @uandar; in i+in the ae o S>IO< C>!NG possi1; to 0onor:/ith his rand desin o :a?in his 8 0hidren as their o/n eiti:ate0hidren, 0onse@uent; eevatin the status o his 'nd a:i; and se0uretheir uture. "he do0tor a:ented that this 0o:paint /oud not have 1eenne0essar; had not the ather and his 'nd a:i; ?ept on insistin that the 80hidren are the eiti:ate 0hidren o S>IO< C>!NG. 8

It /as this report that pro:pted private respondents to ie the petitions or0an0eation andJor 0orre0tion o entries in petitioners] re0ords o 1irth /iththe o/er 0ourts.0hanro14es virtua4 4a/ 4i1rar;

"he petitioners ied a :otion to dis:iss 1oth petitions ^ SP. PROC. NO.('-FF(' and SP. PROC. NO. C-4F9 ̂ on the rounds that& 647 resort toRue 4)8 is i:proper /here the uti:ate o1Ee0tive is to assai theeiti:a0; and iiation o petitionersD 6'7 the petition, /hi0h is essentia;an a0tion to i:pun eiti:a0; /as ied pre:ature;D and 67 the a0tion toi:pun has aread; pres0ri1ed. (

On =e1ruar; 4', 4((, respondent $ude #enera0ion denied the :otion todis:iss SP. PROC. NO. ('-FF(' or aiure o the herein petitioners6deendants in the o/er 0ourt7 to appear at the hearin o the said :otion.4) "hen on =e1ruar; 4, 4((, $ude #enera0ion issued an Order, thepertinent portion o /hi0h, reads as oo/s&0hanro14es virtua 4a/ i1rar;

=indin the petition to 1e sui0ient in or: and su1stan0e, the sa:e ishere1; iven due 0ourse. et this petition 1e set or hearin on Mar0h '(,4(( at 8&) in the :ornin 1eore this Court o0ated at the 2th =oor othe Cit; >a o Mania.

Noti0e is here1; iven that an;one /ho has an; o1Ee0tion to the petitionshoud ie on or 1eore the date o hearin his opposition thereto /ith astate:ent o the rounds thereor.

et a 0op; o this Order 1e pu1ished, at the e+pense o the petitioners,on0e a /ee? or three 67 0onse0utive /ee?s in a ne/spaper o enera0ir0uation in the Phiippines.

et 0opies o the veriied petition /ith its anne+es and o this Order 1eserved upon the Oi0e o the Soi0itor Genera, and the respondents, and1e posted on the Buetin Board o this Court, aso at the e+pense o thepetitioners.

SO OR%!R!%. 44

On the other hand, respondent $ude >a:o; issued an Order dated Apri


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42, 4(( ta?in 0onian0e o SP. PROC. No. C-4F9, to /it&0hanro14esvirtua 4a/ i1rar;

It appearin ro: the do0u:entar; eviden0e presented and :ar?ed 1; thepetitioners that the Order o the Court settin the 0ase or hearin /aspu1ished in LMedia UpdateL on0e a /ee? or three 67 0onse0utive /ee?s,that is on =e1ruar; '), ', and Mar0h F, 4(( as eviden0ed 1; theAidavit o Pu1i0ation and the 0ippins atta0hed to the aidavit, and 1;the 0opies o the LMedia UpdateL pu1ished on the aore:entioned datesDurther, 0op; o the order settin the 0ase or hearin toether /ith 0op; o the petition had 1een served upon the Soi0itor Genera, Cit; Prose0utor o


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ro: LChineseL to L=iipinoL, and Leiti:ateL to Lieiti:ateL, respe0tive;.Athouh re0oniin that the 0hanes or 0orre0tions souht to 1e ee0tedare not :ere 0eri0a errors o a har:ess or inno0uous nature, this Court,sittin en 1an0, hed therein that even su1stantia errors in a 0ivi reister:a; 1e 0orre0ted and the true a0ts esta1ished provided the partiesarieved 1; the error avai the:seves o the appropriate adversar;pro0eedin. '4 In the said 0ase, /e aso aid do/n the rue that apro0eedin or 0orre0tion andJor 0an0eation o entries in the 0ivi reisterunder Rue 4)8 0eases to 1e su::ar; in nature and ta?es on the0hara0teristi0s o an appropriate adversar; pro0eedin /hen a thepro0edura re@uire:ents under Rue 4)8 are 0o:pied /ith. "hus /ehed& E0&0hanro1es.0o:.ph

LProvided the tria 0ourt has 0ondu0ted pro0eedins /here a reevant a0tshave 1een u; and proper; deveoped, /here opposin 0ounse have 1eeniven opportunit; to de:oish the opposite part;]s 0ase, and /here theeviden0e has 1een thorouh; /eihed and 0onsidered, the suit orpro0eedin is `appropriate.]

"he pertinent se0tions o rue 4)8 provide&0hanro14es virtua 4a/ i1rar;

`S!C"ION . Parties. ^ hen 0an0eation or 0orre0tion o an entr; in the0ivi reister is souht, the 0ivi reistrar and a persons /ho have or 0ai:an; interest /hi0h /oud 1e ae0ted there1; sha 1e :ade parties to thepro0eedin.]

`S!C"ION 9. Noti0e and pu1i0ation. ^ Upon the iin o the petition, the0ourt sha, 1; an order, i+ the ti:e and pa0e or the hearin o the sa:e,and 0ause reasona1e noti0e thereo to 1e iven to the persons na:ed inthe petition. "he 0ourt sha aso 0ause the order to 1e pu1ished on0e in a/ee? or three 67 0onse0utive /ee?s in a ne/spaper o enera 0ir0uationin the provin0e.]

`S!C"ION 2. Opposition. ^ "he 0ivi reistrar and an; person havin or0ai:in an; interest under the entr; /hose 0an0eation or 0orre0tion is

souht :a;, /ithin iteen 6427 da;s ro: noti0e o the petition, or ro:the ast date o pu1i0ation o su0h noti0e, ie his opposition thereto.]

L"hus, the persons /ho :ust 1e :ade parties to a pro0eedin 0on0erninthe 0an0eation or 0orre0tion o an entr; in the 0ivi reister are ^ 647 the0ivi reistrar, and 6'7 a persons /ho have or 0ai: an; interest /hi0h/oud 1e ae0ted there1;. Upon the iin o the petition, it 1e0o:es thedut; o the 0ourt to ^ 647 issue an order i+in the ti:e and pa0e or thehearin o the petition, and 6'7 0ause the order or hearin to 1e pu1ishedon0e a /ee? or three 67 0onse0utive /ee?s in a ne/spaper o enera0ir0uation in the provin0e. "he oo/in are i?e/ise entited to oppose thepetition& ^ 647 the 0ivi reistrar, and 6'7 an; person havin or 0ai:inan; interest under the entr; /hose 0an0eation or 0orre0tion is souht.

LI a these pro0edura re@uire:ents have 1een oo/ed, a petition or0orre0tion andJor 0an0eation o entries in the re0ord o 1irth even i iedand 0ondu0ted under Rue 4)8 o the Revised Rues o Court 0an no oner1e des0ri1ed as Lsu::ar;.L "here 0an 1e no dou1t that /hen anopposition to the petition is ied either 1; the Civi Reistrar or an; personhavin or 0ai:in an; interest in the entries souht to 1e 0an0eed andJor0orre0ted and the opposition is a0tive; prose0uted, the pro0eedinsthereon 1e0o:e adversar; pro0eedins.L '' 6+mp&asis supplied .7

"o the :ind o the Court o Appeas, the pro0eedins ta?en in 1othpetitions or 0an0eation andJor 0orre0tion o entries in the re0ords o 1irtho petitioners in the o/er 0ourts are appropriate adversar; pro0eedins.

e aree. As 0orre0t; o1served 1; the Court o Appeas&0hanro14esvirtua 4a/ i1rar;

In the instant 0ase, a petition or 0an0eation andJor 0orre0tion o entrieso 1irth /as ied 1; private respondents and pursuant to the order o theR"C-Mania, dated =e1ruar; 4, 4((, a 0op; o the order settin the 0aseor hearin /as ordered pu1ished on0e a /ee? or three 67 0onse0utive

/ee?s in a ne/spaper o enera 0ir0uation in the Phiippines. In the R"C-


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1e;ond inno0uous or har:ess 0hanes or 0orre0tions. Petitioners 0ontendthat as hed in Go, !t. A. v. Civi Reistrar, '( ao/in su1stantia 0hanesunder Rue 4)8 /oud render the said rue un0onstitutiona as the sa:e/oud have the ee0t o in0reasin or :odi;in su1stantive rihts.

At the outset, it shoud 1e pointed out that in the 0ited 0ase o a1a;o-Ro/e v. Repu1i0, ) the reason /e de0ared nu and void the portion othe o/er 0ourt]s order dire0tin the 0hane o a1a;o-Ro/e]s 0ivi statusand the iiation o one o her 0hidren as appearin in the atter]s re0ord o1irth, is not 1e0ause Rue 4)8 /as inappropriate to ee0t su0h 0hanes,1ut 1e0ause a1a;o-Ro/e]s petition 1eore the o/er 0ourt aied toi:pead a indispensa1e parties to the 0ase.

e e+pained in this /ise& E0&0hanro1es.0o:.ph

L. . . An appropriate pro0eedin is re@uired /herein a the indispensa1eparties shoud 1e :ade parties to the 0ase as re@uired under Se0tion ,Rue 4)8 o the Revised Rues o Court.

LIn the 0ase 1eore Us, sin0e on; the Oi0e o the Soi0itor Genera /asnotiied throuh the Oi0e o the Provin0ia =is0a, representin the

Repu1i0 o the Phiippines as the on; respondent, the pro0eedins ta?en,/hi0h is su::ar; in nature, is short o /hat is re@uired in 0ases /heresu1stantia aterations are souht. Aside ro: the Oi0e o the Soi0itorGenera, a other indispensa1e parties shoud have 1een :aderespondents. "he; in0ude not on; the de0ared ather o the 0hid 1ut the0hid as /e, toether /ith the paterna randparents, i an;, as theirhereditar; rihts /oud 1e adverse; ae0ted there1;. A other persons/ho :a; 1e ae0ted 1; the 0hane shoud 1e notiied or represented . . . .

$ $ $

L"he riht o the 0hid #i0toria to inherit ro: her parents /oud 1esu1stantia; i:paired i her status /oud 1e 0haned ro: ̀ eiti:ate] to

`ieiti:ate]. Moreover, she /oud 1e e+posed to hu:iiation ande:1arrass:ent resutin ro: the sti:a o an ieiti:ate iiation thatshe /i 1ear thereater. "he a0t that the noti0e o hearin o the petition/as pu1ished in a ne/spaper o enera 0ir0uation and noti0e thereo /asserved upon the State /i not 0hane the nature o the pro0eedins ta?en.Rue 4)8, i?e a the other provisions o the Rues o Court, /aspro:uated 1; the Supre:e Court pursuant to its rue-:a?in authorit;under Se0tion 4, Arti0e #III o the 4( Constitution, /hi0h dire0ts thatsu0h rues ̀ sha not di:inish, in0rease or :odi; su1stantive rihts.] I Rue4)8 /ere to 1e e+tended 1e;ond inno0uous or har:ess 0hanes or0orre0tions o errors /hi0h are visi1e to the e;e or o1vious to theunderstandin, so as to 0o:prehend su1stantia and 0ontroversia

aterations 0on0ernin 0itienship, eiti:a0; o paternit; or iiation, oreiti:a0; o :arriae, /ithout o1servin the proper pro0eedins as earier:entioned, said rue /oud there1; 1e0o:e an un0onstitutiona e+er0ise/hi0h /oud tend to in0rease or :odi; su1stantive rihts. "his situation isnot 0onte:pated under Arti0e 94' o the Civi Code.L 4 6+mp&asissupplied 7.

=ar ro: petitioners] theor;, this Court]s ruin in a1a;o-Ro/e v. Repu1i0' does not e+0ude re0ourse to Rue 4)8 o the Revised Rues o Court toee0t su1stantia 0hanes or 0orre0tions in entries o the 0ivi reister. "heon; re@uisite is that the pro0eedins under Rue 4)8 1e an appropriateadversar; pro0eedin as 0ontra-distinuished ro: a su::ar;pro0eedin.0hanro14es virtua4 4a/ 4i1rar;

"hus& E0&0hanro1es.0o:.ph

LI the purpose o the petition 3or 0an0eation andJor 0orre0tion o entriesin the 0ivi reister5 is :ere; to 0orre0t the 0eri0a errors /hi0h are visi1eto the e;e or o1vious to the understandin, the 0ourt :a;, under asu::ar; pro0edure, issue an order or the 0orre0tion o a :ista?e.>o/ever, as repeated; 0onstrued, 0hanes /hi0h :a; ae0t the 0ivi

status ro: eiti:ate to ieiti:ate, as /e as se+, are su1stantia and0ontroversia aterations /hi0h 0an on; 1e ao/ed ater appropriateadversar; pro0eedins dependin upon the nature o the issues invoved.Chanes /hi0h ae0t the 0ivi status or 0itienship o a part; aresu1stantia in 0hara0ter and shoud 1e threshed out in a proper a0tiondependin upon the nature o the issues in 0ontrovers;, and /herein a theparties /ho :a; 1e ae0ted 1; the entries are notiied or represented andeviden0e is su1:itted to prove the aeations o the 0o:paint, and prooto the 0ontrar; ad:itted . . .L 6+mp&asis supplied .7

It is true that in spe0ia pro0eedins or:a peadins and a hearin :a; 1edispensed /ith, and the re:ed; ranted upon :ere appi0ation or :otion.But this is not a/a;s the 0ase, as /hen the statute e+press; provides. 9>en0e, a spe0ia pro0eedin is not a/a;s su::ar;. One on; has to ta?e a

oo? at the pro0edure outined in Rue 4)8 to see that /hat is 0onte:patedtherein is not a su::ar; pro0eedin per se. Rue 4)8 re@uires pu1i0ationo the petition three 67 ti:es, i.e., on0e a /ee? or three 67 0onse0utive/ee?s 6Se0.97. "he Rue aso re@uires in0usion as parties o a persons/ho 0ai: an; interest /hi0h /oud 1e ae0ted 1; the 0an0eation or0orre0tion 6Se0. 7. "he 0ivi reistrar and an; person in interest are asore@uired to ie their opposition, i an;, /ithin iteen 6427 da;s ro: noti0eo the petition, or ro: the ast date o pu1i0ation o su0h noti0e 6Se0. 27.ast, 1ut not the east, athouh the 0ourt :a; :a?e orders e+peditin thepro0eedins, it is ater hearin that the 0ourt sha either dis:iss thepetition or issue an order rantin the sa:e 6Se0. 7.

"hus, /e ind no reason to depart ro: our ruin in Repu1i0 v. #aen0ia,


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2 that Rue 4)8, /hen a the pro0edura re@uire:ents thereunder areoo/ed, is the appropriate adversar; pro0eedin to ee0t su1stantia0orre0tions and 0hanes in entries o the 0ivi reister.

It :ust 1e 0on0eded, ho/ever, that even ater Repu1i0 v. #aen0ia Fthere 0ontinues to 1e a seesa/in o opinion on the issue o /hether or notsu1stantia 0orre0tions in entries o the 0ivi reister :a; 1e ee0ted 1;:eans o Rue 4)8 in reation to Arti0e 94' o the Ne/ Civi Code. "he:ore re0ent 0ases o eonor v. Court o Appeas and Repu1i0 v.a1rador 8 do see: to sina a reversion to the "; e aeed, a:on others, the nuit; o their ea vo/s arisin

ro: the Lnon-o1servan0e o the ea re@uire:ents or a vaid :arriae.LIn de1un?in the tria 0ourt]s ruin rantin su0h petition, the Court hedas oo/s&0hanro14es virtua 4a/ i1rar;

`On its a0e, the Rue /oud appear to authorie the 0an0eation o an;entr; reardin L:arriaesL in the 0ivi reistr; or an; reason 1; the :ereiin o a veriied petition or the purpose. >o/ever, it is not as si:pe as itoo?s. %o0trina;, the on; errors that 0an 1e 0an0eed or 0orre0ted underthis Rue are t;poraphi0a or 0eri0a errors, not :ateria or su1stantiaones i?e the vaidit; or nuit; o a :arriae. A 0eri0a error is one /hi0h isvisi1e to the e;es or o1vious to the understandinD error :ade 1; a 0er?or a trans0ri1erD a :ista?e in 0op;in or /ritin 6Ba0? v. Repu1i0, -4)8F(, Nov. '8, 4(287D or so:e har:ess and inno0uous 0hane su0h as a0orre0tion o na:e that is 0ear; :isspeed or o a :isstate:ent o the

o00upation o the parent 6Ansaada v. Repu1i0, -4)''F, =e1. 49, 4(287.]

`here the ee0t o a 0orre0tion in a 0ivi reistr; /i 0hane the 0ivistatus o petitioner and her 0hidren ro: eiti:ate to ieiti:ate, thesa:e 0annot 1e ranted e+0ept on; in an adversaria . . . .]

`Cear; and une@uivo0a;, the su::ar; pro0edure under Rue 4)8, and orthat :atter under Arti0e 94' o the Civi Code 0annot 1e used 1; Mauri0ioto 0hane his and #irinia]s 0ivi status ro: :arried to sine and o theirthree 0hidren ro: eiti:ate to ieiti:ate. . . .]

L"hus, /here the ee0t o a 0orre0tion o an entr; in a 0ivi reistr; /i0hane the status o a person ro: Leiti:ate to Lieiti:ate,L as in Sarah

Hita]s 0ase, the sa:e 0annot 1e ranted in su::ar; pro0eedins.L (

It is, thereore, hih ti:e that /e put an end to the 0onusion so/n 1;pronoun0e:ents see:in; in 0oni0t /ith ea0h other, and perhaps, in thepro0ess, ste: the 0ontinuin inu+ o 0ases raisin the sa:e su1stantiaissue.

"he 1asis or the pronoun0e:ent that e+tendin the s0ope o Rue 4)8 tosu1stantia 0orre0tions is un0onstitutiona is e:1odied in the ear; 0ase o";


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there1; 1e0o:e un0onstitutiona or it /oud 1e in0reasin or :odi;insu1stantive rihts, /hi0h 0hanes are not authoried under Arti0e 94' othe Ne/ Civi Code.L 9 6+mp&asis supplied 7.

e venture to sa; no/ that the a1ove pronoun0e:ents pro0eed ro: a/ron pre:ise, that is, the interpretation that Arti0e 94' pertains on; to0eri0a errors o a har:ess or inno0uous nature, ee0tive; e+0udin ro:its do:ain, and the s0ope o its i:pe:entin rue, su1stantia 0hanesthat :a; ae0t nationait;, status, iiation and the i?e. h; the i:iteds0ope o Arti0e 94' Unortunate;, "; en0e, /hat is etor the s0ope o operation o Rue 4)8 are su1stantia 0hanes and0orre0tions in entries o the 0ivi reister. "his is pre0ise; the opposite o/hat ";


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is. Repu1i0 A0t No. ()98 no/ e:1odies that su::ar; pro0edure /hieRue 4)8 is that appropriate adversar; pro0eedin. Be that as it :a;, the0ase at 1ar 0annot 1e de0ided on the 1asis o Repu1i0 A0t No. ()98 /hi0hhas prospe0tive appi0ation. >en0e, the ne0essit; or the pre0edintreatise.

II. "he petitioners 0ontend that the private respondents have no 0ause oa0tion to 1rin the 0ases 1eo/ as Arti0e 44 o the =a:i; Code ao/s theheirs o the ather to 1rin an a0tion to i:pun the eiti:a0; o his0hidren on; ater his death. 98

Arti0e 44 provides& E0&0hanro1es.0o:.ph

L"he heirs o the hus1and :a; i:pun the iiation o the 0hid /ithin theperiod pres0ri1ed in the pre0edin arti0e on; in the oo/in0ases& E0&0hanro1es.0o:.ph

L647 I the hus1and shoud die 1eore the e+piration o the period i+ed or1rinin this a0tionD

L6'7 I he shoud die ater the iin o the 0o:paint, /ithout havin

desisted therero:D or

L67 I the 0hid /as 1orn ater the death o the hus1and.L0raa/ virtua4a/i1rar;

Petitioner]s 0ontention is /ithout :erit.

In the re0ent 0ase o Ba1iera v. Catota, 9( /e uphed the de0ision o theCourt o Appeas that air:ed the Eud:ent o the R"C o anao de Nortede0arin the 1irth 0ertii0ate o one "eoista Guinto as nu and void a1initio, and orderin the o0a Civi Reistrar o Iian Cit; to 0an0e thesa:e ro: the Reistr; o ive Births. e rued therein that privaterespondent Presenta0ion Catota, 0hid o spouses !uenio Ba1iera and>er:oena Cariosa, had the re@uisite standin to initiate an a0tion to

0an0e the entr; o 1irth o "eoista Ba1iera, another aeed 0hid o thesa:e spouses 1e0ause she is the one /ho stands to 1e 1eneited or inEured1; the Eud:ent in the suit, or the part; entited to the avais o the suit.2)

e i?e/ise hed therein that& E0&0hanro1es.0o:.ph

L. . . Arti0e 44 o the =a:i; Code is not appi0a1e to the present 0ase. A0ose readin o the provision sho/s that it appies to instan0es in /hi0hthe ather i:puns the eiti:a0; o his /ie]s 0hid. "he provision,ho/ever, presupposes that the 0hid /as the undisputed osprin o the:other. "he present 0ase aees and sho/s that >er:oena did not ive1irth to petitioner. In other /ords, the pra;er therein is not to de0are that

petitioner is an ieiti:ate 0hid o >er:oena, 1ut to esta1ish that theor:er is not the atter]s 0hid at a. . . .]] 24

Si:iar;, /e rued in Benite-Badua v. Court o Appeas 2'that& E0&0hanro1es.0o:.ph

LPetitioner]s insisten0e on the appi0a1iit; o Arti0es 4F9, 4FF, 4) and44 o the =a:i; Code to the 0ase at 1en0h 0annot 1e sustained.. . . .

$ $ $

LA 0areu readin o the a1ove arti0es /i sho/ that the; do not0onte:pate a situation, i?e in the instant 0ase, /here a 0hid is aeednot 1e the 0hid o nature or 1iooi0a 0hid o a 0ertain 0oupe. Rather,these arti0es overn a situation /here a hus1and 6or his heirs7 denies ashis o/n a 0hid o his /ie. "hus, under Arti0e 4FF, it is the hus1and /ho0an i:pun the eiti:a0; o said 0hid 1; provin& 647 it /as ph;si0a;i:possi1e or hi: to have se+ua inter0ourse, /ith his /ie /ithin the irst4') da;s o the )) da;s /hi0h i::ediate; pre0eded the 1irth o the0hidD 6'7 that or 1iooi0a or other s0ientii0 reasons, the 0hid 0oud nothave 1een his 0hidD 67 that in 0ase o 0hidren 0on0eived throuh artii0iainse:ination, the /ritten authoriation or ratii0ation 1; either parent /aso1tained throuh :ista?e, raud, vioen0e, inti:idation or undue inuen0e.Arti0es 4) and 44 reinor0e this readin as the; spea? o thepres0riptive period /ithin /hi0h the hus1and or an; o his heirs shoud iethe a0tion i:punin the eiti:a0; o said 0hid. %ou1tess then, theappeate 0ourt did not err /hen it reused to app; these arti0es to the0ase at 1en0h. =or the 0ase at 1en0h is not one /here the heirs o the ate#i0ente are 0ontendin that petitioner is not his 0hid 1; Isa1e. Rather,their 0ear su1:ission is that petitioner /as not 1orn to #i0ente and Isa1e.Our ruin in Ca1at1at-i: v. Inter:ediate Appeate Court, 4FF SCRA 924,92 0ited in the i:puned de0ision is apropos, vi&0hanro14es virtua 4a/i1rar;

`Petitioners] re0ourse to Arti0e 'F o the Ne/ Civi Code 3no/ Art. 4) othe =a:i; Code5 is not /e ta?en. "his ea provision reers to an a0tionto i:pun eiti:a0;. It is inappi0a1e to this 0ase 1e0ause this is not ana0tion to i:pun the eiti:a0; o a 0hid, 1ut an a0tion o the privaterespondents to 0ai: their inheritan0e as ea heirs o their 0hidessde0eased aunt. "he; do not 0ai: that petitioner #ioeta Ca1at1at i: is anieiti:ate 0hid o the de0eased, 1ut that she is not the de0edent]s 0hid ata. Bein neither ea; adopted 0hid, nor an a0?no/eded natura 0hid,nor a 0hid 1; ea i0tion o !sperana Ca1at1at, #ioeta is not a ea heiro the de0eased.L ` 2

III. Petitioners 0ai: that private respondents] 0ause o a0tion had aread;


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pres0ri1ed as :ore than ive 627 ;ears had apsed 1et/een the reistrationo the atest 1irth a:on the petitioners in 4(F) and the iin o thea0tions in %e0e:1er o 4((' and =e1ruar; o 4((. 29

e disaree. As 0orre0t; pointed out 1; the Court o Appeas, inas:u0h asno a/ or rue spe0ii0a; pres0ri1es a i+ed ti:e or iin the spe0iapro0eedin under Rue 4)8 in reation to Arti0e 94' o the Ne/ Civi Code,it is the oo/in provision o the Ne/ Civi Code thatappies& E0&0hanro1es.0o:.ph

LArt. 449(. other a0tions /hose periods are not i+ed in this Code or inother a/s :ust 1e 1rouht /ithin ive ;ears ro: the ti:e the riht oa0tion a00rues.L0raa/ virtua4a/ i1rar;

"he riht o a0tion a00rues /hen there e+ists a 0ause o a0tion, /hi0h0onsists o three 67 ee:ents, na:e;& a7 a riht in avor o the painti 1;/hatever :eans and under /hatever a/ it arises or is 0reatedD 17 ano1iation on the part o the deendant to respe0t su0h rihtD and 07 an a0tor o:ission on the part o su0h deendant vioative o the riht o thepainti. It is on; /hen the ast ee:ent o00urs or ta?es pa0e that it 0an1e said in a/ that a 0ause o a0tion has arisen. 220hanro14es virtua4 4a/

4i1rar;

It is indu1ita1e that private respondents have a 0ause o a0tion. "he astee:ent o their 0ause o a0tion, that is, the a0t o their ather in asi;inthe entries in petitioners] 1irth re0ords, o00urred :ore than thirt; 6)7;ears ao. Stri0t; spea?in, it /as upon this o00urren0e that privaterespondents] riht o a0tion or riht to sue a00rued. >o/ever, /e :ust ta?einto a00ount the a0t that it /as on; so:eti:e in 4(8( that privaterespondents dis0overed that the; in a0t had a 0ause o a0tion aainstpetitioners /ho 0ontinue to use said asiied 1irth re0ords.

>en0e, it /oud resut in :aniest inEusti0e i /e /ere to deprive privaterespondents o their riht to esta1ish the truth a1out a a0t, in this 0ase,petitioners] true :other, and their rea status, si:p; 1e0ause the; had

dis0overed the dishonest; perpetrated upon the: 1; their 0o::on atherat a :u0h ater date. "his is espe0ia; true in the 0ase o privaterespondents /ho, as their ather]s eiti:ate 0hidren, did not have an;reason to suspe0t that he /oud 0o::it su0h de0eption aainst the: anddeprive the: o their soe riht to inherit ro: their :other]s 6


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the Revised Pena Code, and /hi0h see?s the punish:ent o the a00usedDor the a0tion or the 0an0eation o ee "e? Shen naturaiation 0ertii0ate/hi0h has or its 0ause o a0tion the 0o::ission 1; ee "e? Shen o ani::ora a0t, and his uti:ate deportation or its o1Ee0tD or or that :atter,the a0tion or partition o


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On '9 %e0e:1er 4(), private respondent Nadina Maravia 6LNadinaL7:arried =ran0is0o Maravia 6L=ran0is0oL7. B; =e1ruar; o 4(, thespouses had opted to ive separate;,4 and in =e1ruar; o the oo/in ;earthe; o1tained an e00esiasti0a annu:ent o :arriae issued 1; theCathoi0 %io0ese o Ba0ood Cit;.' On ( $une 4(8, Nadina ave 1irth to adauhter na:ed $une Sava0ion 6L$uneL7 in Ma?ati, Metro Mania. $unes

1irth 0ertii0ate isted =ran0is0o Maravia as the ather, and Maravia as the0hids surna:e. Nadina sined the 1irth 0ertii0ate short; ater it /asa00o:pished.

%espite the notation in $unes 1irth 0ertii0ate, Nadina su1se@uent; 0ai:edthat a aon, the rea ather o her 0hid /as Ar:ando Gustio 6LGustioL7,a or:er Conress:an /ith /ho: she :aintained a reationship. At theti:e o $unes 1irth, Gustio /as :arried to one Consueo Cara;0on, /ho/oud ater perish in the M# %on $uan nava a00ident o 4(84.9 On '4Auust 4(8', Nadina and Gustio /ere :arried in the United States.2 "his:arriae too? pa0e t/o and a ha ;ears 1eore Nadinas :arriae to=ran0is0o /as aeed to have 1een annued in the Phiippines. On 4'

Mar0h 4(82, Nadina apparent; /as a1e to o1tain a Eudi0ia de0arationannuin her :arriae to =ran0is0o.F

On 4 Mar0h 4(8, Nadina ied in her o/n na:e a Petition or Correctiono +ntries in t&e Certiicate o Birt& o her dauhter $une /ith the Reiona"ria Court 6LR"CL7 o Ma?ati. "herein, she aeed that she had 1een ivinseparate; ro: her a/u spouse =ran0is0o sin0e =e1ruar; o 4(, andthat Gustio /as the rea ather o $une.8 She 0ai:ed that she did not ao/=ran0is0o to have an; se+ua 0onress /ith her /ithin the irst ') da;s othe three hundred da;s pre0edin the 1irth o $une.( She pra;ed that theo0a Civi Reistrar o Ma?ati 1e dire0ted to 0orre0t the 1irth 0ertii0ate o$une to the ee0t that the atters u na:e 1e :ade L$une Sava0ion C.

Gustio,L and that the na:e o her ather 1e 0haned ro: L=ran0is0oMaraviaL to LAr:ando Gustio.L Nota1;, =ran0is0o ai+ed his sinature tothe Petition sini;in his 0onor:it; thereto.4)

On ') Mar0h 4(8. Gustio ied a LConstancia,L /herein he a0?no/eded$une as his dauhter /ith Nadina, and that he /as posin no o1Ee0tion toNadinas petition.44

"he Petition /as do0?eted as SP Pro0. No. M-4). On 'F $u; 4(8, theR"C, in a00ordan0e /ith Rue 4)8 o the Rues o Court, issued an Order

settin the 0ase or hearin and dire0tin that a 0op; o the order 1epu1ished on0e a /ee? or three 0onse0utive /ee?s in a ne/spaper oenera 0ir0uation. On Septe:1er 4(8, Nadina ied an !mendedPetition,4'this ti:e i:peadin =ran0is0o and Gustio as respondents.Correspondin;, the R"C a:ended the Order on '' Septe:1er 4(8 toree0t the additiona i:peaded parties.4

"he Oi0e o the Soi0itor Genera ied a 3otion to 4ismiss the petition onthe round that the R"C Lhad no Eurisdi0tion over the su1Ee0t :atterandJor the nature o th3e5 suit.L49 "he; 0ited various Eurispruden0e hodinthat on; inno0uous or 0eri0a errors :a; 1e 0orre0ted under a Rue 4)8petition or 0orre0tion o entries, and that the Petition see?s 0hanes Laresu1stantia and 0ontroversia in 0hara0ter /hi0h dire0t; ae0t the iiationand eiti:a0; o petitioners dauhter.L42 On ' =e1ruar; 4(89, the 3otionto 4ismiss /as denied 1; the R"C, /hi0h aso su1se@uent; denieda 3otion or Reconsideration thereto ied 1; the Soi0itor Genera.

On $anuar; 4(82, the R"C issued an Order 6LR"C OrderL7 rantin the

petition and orderin the re@uested 0orre0tions to 1e ee0ted. "he R"C0onsidered the 0ai: o Nadina that she had reied 0o:pete; on her un0eiia: R. #eto4F to a0iitate the preparation o $unes 1irth 0ertii0ate, thatit /as throuh his inadverten0e that the :ista?en entries /ere :ade, andthat she /as in intense ph;si0a dis0o:ort /hen she had ai+ed hersinature to the 1irth 0ertii0ate 0ontainin the in0orre0t entries.4 "he R"Caso noted that =ran0is0o had siniied his 0onor:it; to the a0tion 1;sinin the oriina petition, and that Gustio had :aniested throuha Constancia dated ') Mar0h 4(8 that he /as a0?no/edin $une as hisdauhter and e+pressin no o1Ee0tion to the petition.48

Gustio died in 4( %e0e:1er 4(8F. 4( "/o estate pro0eedins arose ro: his

death, one oded in Ma?ati,') the other in >arris Count;, "e+as.'4 A:onthe parti0ipants in 1oth estate pro0eedins /as $ose #i0ente Gustio 6L$ose#i0enteL7, aeed; a 1iooi0a 0hid o Gustio.'' On 2 Mar0h 4((, he ied/ith the Court o Appeas a Petition' see?in the annu:ent o theR"C Order o $anuar; 4(82 /hi0h had ee0ted 0hanes in the 0ivi statuso $une. $ose #i0ente a:ended his Petition in $u; o 4(( to i:peadNadina as an indispensa1e part;.'9 In her Comment , Nadina 0ounteredthat $ose #i0ente had not sui0ient; proven that he /as a 0hid oAr:ando, and there /as neither e+trinsi0 raud or a0? o Eurisdi0tion that/oud Eusti; the annu:ent o the R"C Order.'2 Nadina aso pointed outthat the Ma?ati intestate 0ourt had approved a 0o:pro:ise aree:ent


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/herein the parties had areed that the on; heirs o the de0edentAr:ando are Lthe survivin spouse, Nadina G. Gustio, the dauhter, $uneSava0ion G. Gustio, the son, $ose #i0ente Gustio III, and anotherdauhter, Mar; $o; Ann Gustio.L'F >o/ever, this 0o:pro:ise aree:ent/as su1se@uent; voided on petition 1; $ose #i0ente to the Court oAppeas, on the round that the Civi Code prohi1ited 0o:pro:ise as to the

0ivi status o persons.'

Ater the Court o Appeas 0o::en0ed hearins on the petition, petitionerMiaros Bar0o 6LBar0oL7, on 44 $anuar; 4((9, ied in her 0apa0it; as thenatura uardian andJor uardian ad litem o her dauhter, Mar; $o; AnnGustio 6LMar; $o;L7, a 3otion or 'ntervention /ith a Complaint-in-'ntervention atta0hed thereto.'8 Bar0o aeed that Mar; $o; had a eainterest in the annu:ent o the R5C Order as she /as i?e/ise athered 1;Gustio. In her Complaint-in-'ntervention, Bar0o 0ai:ed that she andGustio had :aintained a reationship sin0e 4(F, and to the: /as 1ornMar; $o; in 4(.'( Bar0o aso aeed that she a0tua; :oved in /ithGustio ater the death o the atters /ie in 4(8), and :aintained her

aair /ith Gustio unti 4(8, /hen she /as purported; suppanted 1;Nadina as Gustios 0o::on-a/ 0o:panion ater Gustio had 1e0o:erave; i.)

Ater the parties had ied their respe0tive :e:oranda, the Court oAppeas rendered a 4ecision on 4 Mar0h 4((2, dis:issin 1oththe Petition and the Complaint-in-'ntervention.4 "he appeate 0ourt hedthat neither $ose #i0ente nor Bar0o /ere a1e to esta1ish the e+isten0e oa0? o Eurisdi0tion and e+trinsi0 raud, the t/o rounds that /oud Eusti;the annu:ent o a ina Eud:ent.' It rued that /hie $ose #i0ente andBar0o had not 1een :ade parties in the Petition or Corre0tion, thesu1se@uent noti0e and pu1i0ation o the Order settin the 0ase or hearin

served as 0onstru0tive noti0e to a parties /ho :iht have an interest toparti0ipate in the 0ase. "he pu1i0ation o the Order 0onerred upon theR"C the Eurisdi0tion to tr; and de0ide the 0ase. It aso ound no :erit in$ose #i0entes 0ai: that he earned o the R"C Order on; in Nove:1er o4((', pointin out that as ear; as 4(8, he ied a peadin /ith theintestate 0ourt aein that $unes 1irth 0ertii0ate had 1een a:ended tore0ord the na:e o her true ather.9

On; the intervenor Bar0o ied a 3otion or Reconsideration2 o the Courto Appeas 4ecision, /hi0h the appeate 0ourt denied on 4F Ma;4((2.F "hus, Bar0o ied the present Petition or Review on

Certiorari see?in the reversa o the Court o Appeas 4ecision and theannu:ent o the 4(82 R"COrder.

Beore this Court, Bar0o assais that R"C Order on the round o a0? o Eurisdi0tion. "hat /as the sa:e round she invo?ed in the Court oAppeas. Spe0ii0a;, she raises the oo/in issues&

47 Bar0o shoud have 1een :ade a part; to the Nadinas petition and theaiure to i:pead her deprived the R"C o Eurisdi0tionD

'7 "his R"C 0oud not have entertained Nadinas petition, sin0e the Courtsruin in a on ine o 0ases, 1einnin /ith Republic v. Valencia, that apetition or 0orre0tion o entries in the 0ivi reister is not i:ited toinno0uous or 0eri0a :ista?es, appies on; to 0itienship 0asesD

7 "he petition or 0orre0tion /as ied out o ti:e, as Arti0e 'F o theCivi Code o 4(2) sets a pres0riptive period or i:punin the eiti:a0;

o a 0hid /hi0h is one ;ear ro: the re0ordin o 1irth in the Civi Reistr;,i the hus1and shoud 1e in the sa:e pa0e, or in a proper 0ase, an; o hisheirsD

97 Nadinas petition shoud have 1een treated as a petition or 0hane ona:e, /hi0h 0an on; 1e ied 1; the person /hose na:e is souht to 1e0hanedD

27 "he R"C Order 0ontravenes the ea presu:ption that 0hidren 1orndurin the penden0; o a :arriae are eiti:ate and the rue thateiti:ate 0hidren 0annot adopt the surna:e o a person /ho is not theiratherD and

F7 "he R"C shoud have e+0uded as hearsa; the Constancia aeed;sined 1; Gustio and that the surroundin 0ir0u:stan0es under /hi0h it/as issued ave reason to dou1t its authenti0it; and 0redi1iit;.

Interestin;, the @uestions that Bar0o raised /oud ti0?e the an0ies oerudite 0iviists ;earnin or a 0haene. >o/ever, the uti:ate resoutiono this 0ase hines on /hether the de ri)ueur re@uire:ents o thee+traordinar; re:ed; o annu:ent o Eud:ent have 1een satisied.


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=irst, a 1rie revisit o the a0tion to annu Eud:ent.

"he re0ourse is e@uita1e in 0hara0ter, ao/ed on; in e+0eptiona 0ases, as/here there is no avaia1e or other ade@uate re:ed;. Annu:ent o Eud:ents is a re:ed; on authoried and san0tioned in our Eurisdi0tion.8 As ar 1a0? as 4(48, this Court in Banco +spa6ol-7ilipino v.Palanca(re0onied the avaia1iit; o a dire0t atta0? o a ina Eud:ent onthe round that it is void or /ant o Eurisdi0tion. In Reyes v. 4atu9)/e hedthat the vaidit; o a ina Eud:ent or order o the 0ourt :a; 1e atta0?edon; 1; a dire0t a0tion or pro0eedin or 1; :otion in another 0ase on theround o a0? o Eurisdi0tion.

et, it /as on; in the 4(( Rues o Civi Pro0edure that or the irst ti:ethe pro0edure or the annu:ent o Eud:ents or ina orders andresoutions in 0ivi 0ases o reiona tria 0ourts, throuh a petition 1eorethe Court o Appeas, /as or:a; provided. Rue 9 thereo under /hi0hthe pro0edure /as interated in0orporates setted Eurispruden0e onannu:ent o Eud:ent.

Statutor; 1asis or the re:ed; /as aid /a; 1a0? in 4(8), /ith theena0t:ent o "he $udi0iar; Reoraniation A0t o 4(8).94 Se0tion ( thereovests in the Court o Appeas e+0usive oriina Eurisdi0tion over a0tions orannu:ent o Eud:ents o the o/er 0ourts.

Se0tion ', Rue 9 o the 4(( Rues o Civi Pro0edure e+pi0it; provideson; t/o rounds or annu:ent o Eud:ent, na:e;& e+trinsi0 raud anda0? o Eurisdi0tion. "his e+press i:itation is sinii0ant sin0e previous Eurispruden0e re0onied other rounds as /e.9' "he under;in reason istra0ea1e to the notion that annuin ina Eud:ents oes aainst therain o inait; o Eud:ent. itiation :ust end and ter:inate so:eti:e

and so:e/here, and it is essentia to an ee0tive ad:inistration o Eusti0ethat on0e a Eud:ent has 1e0o:e ina the issue or 0ause invoved thereinshoud 1e aid to rest. "he 1asi0 rue o inait; o Eud:ent is rounded onthe unda:enta prin0ipe o pu1i0 poi0; and sound pra0ti0e that at theris? o o00asiona error, the Eud:ent o 0ourts and the a/ard o @uasi- Eudi0ia aen0ies :ust 1e0o:e ina at so:e deinite date i+ed 1;a/.9 !ven i the rue on annu:ent o Eud:ent is rounded on e@uit;, thereie is o an e+traordinar; 0hara0ter, and not as readi; avaia1e as there:edies o1tainin to a Eud:ent that is not ;et ina.

"here are t/o aspe0ts o Eurisdi0tion /hi0h are vita or disposition o this0ase - Eurisdi0tion over then!*2r o * !*ion or )23@* 4!**r, and Eurisdi0tion over the 6!r*i).99 Bar0o 0ai:s that the R"C aied to satis;1oth aspe0ts o Eurisdi0tion. She opines that the R"C did not a0@uire Eurisdi0tion over the parties due to the aiure to i:pead her as a part; tothe petition or 0orre0tion. On the other hand, the re:ainin issues that

she raises as errors put into @uestion /hether the R"C had Eurisdi0tion overthe su1Ee0t :atter o Nadinas petition.

e sha irst ta0?e the @uestion o /hether the R"C had a0@uired Eurisdi0tion over Bar0o and a other indispensa1e parties to the petition or0orre0tion.

"he essentia re@uisite or ao/in su1stantia 0orre0tions o entries in the0ivi reistr; is that the true a0ts 1e esta1ished in an appropriateadversaria pro0eedin. "his is e:1odied in Se0tion , Rue 4)8 o theRues o Court, /hi0h states&

Se0tion . Parties hen 0an0eation or 0orre0tion o an entr; in the 0ivireister is souht, the 0ivi reistrar and a persons /ho have or 0ai: an;interest /hi0h /oud 1e ae0ted there1; sha 1e :ade parties to thepro0eedin.

"he Court o Appeas hed that Eurisdi0tion over the parties /as proper;a0@uired throuh the noti0e 1; pu1i0ation ee0ted in 0onor:it; /ithSe0tion 9 o Rue 4)8. Bar0o assais this hodin and 0ai:s that the aiureto i:pead her as a part; to the petition or 0orre0tion deprived the R"C o Eurisdi0tion.

Undou1ted;, Bar0o is a:on the parties reerred to in Se0tion o Rue4)8. >er interest /as ae0ted 1; the petition or 0orre0tion, as an; Eudi0iadeter:ination that $une /as the dauhter o Ar:ando /oud ae0t her/ards share in the estate o her ather. It 0annot 1e esta1ished /hetherNadina ?ne/ o Mar; $o;s e+isten0e at the ti:e she ied the petition or0orre0tion. Indeed, dou1t :a; a/a;s 1e 0ast as to /hether a petitionerunder Rue 4)8 /oud ?no/ o a the parties /hose interests :a; 1eae0ted 1; the rantin o a petition. =or e+a:pe, a petitioner 0annot 1epresu:ed to 1e a/are o a the eiti:ate or ieiti:ate osprins ohisJher spouse or para:our. "he a0t that Nadina a:ended her petition to


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i:pead =ran0is0o and Gustio indi0ates earnest eort on her part to0o:p; /ith Se0tion as @uoted a1ove.

et, even thouh Bar0o /as not i:peaded in the petition, the Court oAppeas 0orre0t; pointed out that the dee0t /as 0ured 1; 0o:pian0e /ithSe0tion 9, Rue 4)8, /hi0h re@uires noti0e 1; pu1i0ation, thus&

Se0tion 9. Upon the iin o the petition, the 0ourt sha, 1; order, i+ theti:e and pa0e or the hearin o the sa:e, and 0ause reasona1e noti0ethereo to 1e iven to the persons na:ed in the petition. "he 0ourt shaaso 0ause the order to 1e pu1ished on0e a /ee? or three 67 0onse0utive/ee?s in a ne/spaper o enera 0ir0uation in the provin0e.

"he purpose pre0ise; o Se0tion 9, Rue 4)8 is to 1ind the /hoe /ord tothe su1se@uent Eud:ent on the petition. "he s/eep o the de0ision /oud0over even parties /ho shoud have 1een i:peaded under Se0tion , Rue4)8, 1ut /ere inadvertent; et out. "he Court o Appeas 0orre0t; noted&

"he pu1i0ation 1ein ordered /as in 0o:pian0e /ith, and 1orne out 1;the Order o $anuar; , 4(82. "he a0tua pu1i0ation o the Septe:1er '',4(8 Order, 0onerred Eurisdi0tion upon the respondent 0ourt to tr; andde0ide the 0ase. hie Lno1od; appeared to oppose the instant petitionLdurin the %e0e:1er F, 4(89 hearin, that did not divest the 0ourt ro: its Eurisdi0tion over the 0ase and o its authorit; to 0ontinue tr;in the 0ase.=or, the rue is /e-setted, that Eurisdi0tion, on0e a0@uired 0ontinues untiter:ination o the 0ase.92

#eri;, a petition or 0orre0tion is an a0tion in rem, an a0tion aainst a thinand not aainst a person.9F"he de0ision on the petition 1inds not on; theparties thereto9 1ut the /hoe /ord.98 Anin rem pro0eedin is vaidatedessentia; throuh pu1i0ation.9( Pu1i0ation is noti0e to the /hoe /ordthat the pro0eedin has or its o1Ee0t to 1ar indeinite; a /ho :iht 1e:inded to :a?e an o1Ee0tion o an; sort aainst the riht souht to 1eesta1ished.2) It is the pu1i0ation o su0h noti0e that 1rins in the /hoe/ord as a part; in the 0ase and vests the 0ourt /ith Eurisdi0tion to hearand de0ide it.24

Sin0e the R"C proper; a0@uired Eurisdi0tion over the parties, /hat re:ainsor deter:ination is /hether it had a0@uired Eurisdi0tion over Nadinas 0auseo a0tion. It shoud 1e e:phasied that Eurisdi0tion over the nature o the

a0tion or the su1Ee0t :atter is 0onerred 1; a/. "his Courts re0ent hodinin 4urisol P&ilippines, 'nc. v. Court o !ppeals2'is instru0tive in this reard&

3I5t shoud 1e stressed that in a petition or annu:ent o Eud:ent 1asedon a0? o Eurisdi0tion, petitioner :ust sho/ not :ere; an a1use o Eurisdi0tiona dis0retion 1ut an a1soute a0? o Eurisdi0tion. a0? o

Eurisdi0tion :eans a1sen0e o or no Eurisdi0tion, that is, the 0ourt shoudnot have ta?en 0onian0e o the petition 1e0ause the a/ does not vest it/ith Eurisdi0tion over the su1Ee0t :atter.2

"he @uestion o /hether a 0ourt has Eurisdi0tion over the su1Ee0t :atter0an 1e ans/ered si:p; 1; deter:inin i on the 1asis o the 0o:paint orpetition the 0ourt has, under the a/, the po/er to hear and de0ide the0ase. Bar0os re:ainin aru:ents are to 1e tested aainst this standard.

One o Bar0os stri?in assertions is that the enera rue sti is that the Eurisdi0tion o the 0ourt in the 0orre0tion o entries in the 0ivi reister isi:ited to inno0uous or 0eri0a :ista?es, as /hat she insinuates as theapparent 0ontrar; hodin in Republic v. Valencia29appies on; to0itienship 0ases.

Sin0e the pro:uation o the Valencia ruin in 4(8F the Court hasrepeated; rued that even su1stantia errors in a 0ivi reistr; :a; 1e0orre0ted throuh a petition ied under Rue 4)8, /ith the true a0tsesta1ished and the parties arieved 1; the error avaiin the:seves othe appropriate adversaria pro0eedin. Bar0o, 1; see?in to i:it theappi0ation o the Valencia do0trine to 0itienship 0ases, is oin a deadhorse. "his aru:ent /as de1un?ed in su1se@uent 0ases,22nota1; there0ent 0ase o Lee v. Court o !ppeals.2F"he e+haustive dis@uisition thereino $usti0e Sa1ino de eon shoud pre0ude an; urther aru:ents on the

s0ope o Rue 4)8.

"he Court in Lee a0?no/eded that there e+isted a ine o de0ided 0ases,so:e o the: de0ided aterValencia, statin that Rue 4)8 0annot 1e usedto ee0t su1stantia 0orre0tions in entries o the 0ivi reister.2 "hedo0trine /as tra0ed 1a0? to the 4(29 0ase o 5y 8on) 5in v. Republic ,28 therationae o /hi0h the Court reevauated in Lee&

e venture to sa; no/ that the a1ove pronoun0e:ents pro0eed ro: a/ron pre:ise, that is, the interpretation that Arti0e 94' pertains on; to


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0eri0a errors o a har:ess or inno0uous nature, ee0tive; e+0udin ro:its do:ain, and the s0ope o its i:pe:entin rue, su1stantia 0hanesthat :a; ae0t nationait;, status, iiation and the i?e. h; the i:iteds0ope o Arti0e 94' Unortunate;, "; en0e, /hat is etor the s0ope o operation o Rue 4)8 are su1stantia 0hanes and0orre0tions in entries o the 0ivi reister.F)

It :a; 1e ver; /e said that Repu1i0 A0t No. ()98 is Conresss responseto the 0onusion /rouht 1; the aiure to deineate as to /hat e+a0t; is

that so-0aed su::ar; pro0edure or 0hanes or 0orre0tions o a har:essor inno0uous nature as distinuished ro: that appropriate adversar;pro0eedin or 0hanes or 0orre0tions o a su1stantia ?ind. =or /e :ustad:it that thouh /e have 0onstant; reerred to an appropriate adversar;pro0eedin, /e have aied to 0ateori0a; state Eust /hat that pro0edureis. Repu1i0 A0t No. ()98 no/ e:1odies that su::ar; pro0edure /hieRue 4)8 is that appropriate adversar; pro0eedin. +++F4

Repu1i0 A0t No. ()98 :a; not ind appi0ation in this 0ase, ;et it is 0ear;another indi0iu: o ho/ entren0hed the #aen0ia ruin is toda;. ith the


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ena0t:ent o the a/, the eisature a0?no/eded the poten0; o theruin. "o repeat, su1stantia 0orre0tions to the 0ivi status o personsre0orded in the 0ivi reistr; :a; 1e ee0ted throuh the iin o a petitionunder Rue 4)8. An; urther atte:pt to i:it the s0ope o appi0ation oRue 4)8 runs aainst the /a o Eudi0ia pre0edent 0e:ented 1; eisativeair:ation.

Ne+t, Bar0o arues that the petition or 0orre0tion had pres0ri1ed underthe Civi CodeD and that the petition or 0orre0tion shoud 1e treated as apetition or 0hane o na:e /h

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