Republic of the Philippines

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

7TH JUDICIAL REGION
BRANCH 01
CEBU CITY

IN RE: IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTION OF

MINOR PEDRO P. PENDUKO AND CHANGE
OF NAME TO ALEXANDER LIM GO
SPECIAL
PROCEEDING
NO. 89775465
SPS. ANTHONY D. GO and MARLA L.
GO,

Petitioners.

PETITION

COMES, NOW, THE PETITIONERS, thru their counsel, and unto this
Honorable Court, most respectfully allege the following, to wit:
1. That petitioners are both of legal age, Filipinos, married to each
other, and residents of #54 148 Residences, Pelaez St., Cebu City;
2. That they desire to adopt the minor child named PEDRO PENDUKO,
who is male, three years of age, Filipino, and likewise residing at #54
148 Residences, Pelaez St., Cebu City;
3. That herein subject minor, was born at Vicente Sotto Memorial
Medical Center on December 5, 2015 to MARIA PENDUKO, unmarried,
which proof of birth was duly registered in the Register of Births of the
Office of the Civil Registrar of Cebu City, for which a Certificate of Live
Birth was issued. A machine copy of it is herewith attached as Annex
“A”;
4. That the minor child was admitted to the proper care and custody of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD for
brevity) by his biological mother together with referring social worker,
SANDRA REYES of DWSD-Crisis Intervention Unit located in Cebu City
on December 8, 2015. Subject child was referred to their office by the
Medical Social Worker of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center after
being initially assessed that the mother cannot support the child with
all his needs due to economic and health reasons;
5. That PEDRO was only 2 days old when he was brought for admission
at the center. He was born through normal delivery and assisted by DR.
KARL SUAREZ, Medical Officer III of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical
Center;
6. That during the interview of the child’s mother, it was found that the
subject child’s mother worked as a Guest Relation Officer (GRO) in
Heaven KTV bar along Pelaez Street, this city, and his father could not
be identified. No further details regarding his family background was
established due to the mother’s inconsistent answers to the questions.
Moreover, the referring social worker, MS. SANDRA REYES worked out
to submit child’s mother for assessment by psychiatrist but the mother
refused as she insisted to be mentally stable and healthy. Per collateral
review on the given address, it was found that the mother has several
men whom she does not want to identify. She has no relative living in
the city.
7. That during the child’s admission in the center, the mother, was
informed of the placement status of the child and the center’s
programs and services. She was also advised to come and visit her son
to determine her readiness to assume the role of parenting.
Unfortunately, the mother failed to fulfill such agreement. In fact, it
was her first and last visit to her child has been deprived of the love,
care and attention from his biological mother since he was two (2) days
old up to the present;
8. That as per Child Study report, the DSWD has evaluated and
recommended that the minor child can be legally adopted to spouses
ANTHONY D. GO and MARLA L. GO for the child’s best interest and
welfare. A copy of said DSWD Child Study Report is herein attached as
Annex “B”;
9. THAT, MOREOVER, Petitioner is qualified to adopt the minor child
above-named under Articles 183-186 of the Family Code of the
Philippines, as amended by the provisions of Republic Act No. 9552,
the Domestic Adoption of 1998;
10. That, in addition, the adoptive applicants have been married since
June 16, 2012 but they remain childless. The spouses decided to foster
a child to whom they can give their love, care and affection. On
January 10, 2016, Pedro Penduko from the Child Reception and Study
Center for Children in this city, was placed under their custody as foster
child. Attached herewith is a copy of the spouses’ Marriage Contract as
Annex “C”;
11. That the DSWD in fact made a Child Study Report on the case of
the subject minor child and in that study report i.e. social diagnosis the
minor deprived of parental love and care. They maintained that it was
the present custodian, who unselfishly provided them love and the best
opportunities to make the child fully accepted and loved by the family
resulting to a positive parent-child relationship;
12. That, on October 21, 2018, the subject minor was formally
matched to Spouses ANTHONY and MARLA GO. Last October 15, 2015,
the corresponding AFFIDAVIT OF CONSENT TO ADOPTION by DSWD
was issued and herein attached and form part of the petition as Annex
“D”;
13. That herein petitioners has the capability and ability to extend to
said minor the kind of financial support that a parent can give to his
child. ANTHONY GO is an Accounts Officer in the Land Bank of the
Philippines while the wife MARLA is a teacher at University of San
Carlos High School. Attached hereto are the employment identification
cards of petitioners as Annex “E” and “E-1”;
9. That it is for the best interest of said minor if they would be
considered as child of herein petitioners because his financial, spiritual,
and emotional needs would be taken care of and his future would be
safeguarded. In fact, the couple owns a house located a safe
neighborhood. They also hired a nanny to take care of the subject
minor while they are at work. Moreover, the mother of Anthony lives
with the spouses who loves the child as much as the spouses. With
that, the DSWD, in its Home Study Report, has strongly evaluated and
recommended that the Honorable Court approve the adoption of
minor Pedro Penduko to Spouse Anthony Go and Marla L. Go. A copy of
the Home Study Report is herein attached as Annex “F”;
10. That the spouses are of good character, has no derogatory record
whatsoever can be attributed to them, are emotionally and
psychologically capable of caring for the child, are more than sixteen
(16) years older that the subject minor sought to be adopted, are in
position to support and care said child in keeping with the means of the
family. Attached herewith are copies of their Police clearances as
statements as Annexes “G” and “G-1”;
11. That, at present, the subject minor is now three (3) years old and
has been with the petitioners for two (2) years now. He has adjusted
well in the atmosphere and environment of his foster family. He is
observed to be an active, healthy, sociable and affectionate child.
Generally speaking, his total growth and development is within the
normal level which could be attributed to the positive, alternative, and
stimulating activities given by the foster family.
12. That the minor sought to be adopted does not own any real,
personal, tangible and intangible property; and
13. That this adoption is for the best interest and security of the said
minor if he would be considered as true and legal child of herein
petitioners and it will make his life normal, productive, and good
persons in the community;

PRAYER
WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this
Honorable Court to grant this petition of Spouses Anthony and Marla L.
Go for the adoption of Pedro Penduko and for the change of the child’s
name to Alexander Lim Go.
Such other reliefs which the Honorable Court may deem just and
equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.
City of Cebu, Philippines, February 14, 2019.

ATTY. KIMBERLY E. URBIZTONDO

FUASA Law Office
Room 204 Aniceta Bldg., Osmeña Blvd.
Capitol Site, Cebu City
Email: fuasa.law@gmail.com
(032) 997-3056
PTR No. 745453, 9 January 2019
IBP No. 1454545, 9 February 2019
Roll No. 8768786
MCLE V Compliance No. 7675786
(Republic of the Philippines)
(City of Cebu ) S.S.
X- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - )

VERIFICATION AND CERITIFICATION

We, Spouses ANTHONY D. GO and MARLA L. GO, both of legal age,

Filipino citizens, and residents of #54 L148 Residences, Pelaez St.,
Cebu City, under oath, depose and state:

1. That we are the Petitioners in the above-mentioned case;

2. That we have caused the preparation of this Petition;
3. That we have read and understood its contents and affirm that they
are true and correct to our personal knowledge and based on authentic
records; and,
4. That we hereby certify that there is no other case or special
proceeding commenced or pending before any court involving the
same parties and the same issue and that should we learn of such a
case or special proceeding, we shall notify the court within five (5) days
from our notice.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have signed this instrument on the

14th day of February 2019, in the City of Zamboanga, Philippines.

ANTHONY D. GO MARLA L. GO
Affiant Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 14th day of February

2019, in the City of Cebu, Philippines.
 CATHERINE Y. YAP
NOTARY PUBLIC OF RTC OF CEBU CITY
Commission No. 53-07, until December 31, 2020
Yap & Associates Law Office
yap.law@gmail.com
Pelaez St., Cebu City
032- 997-3056
Until December 31, 2020
PTR No. 4634956, 9 January 2019
IBP No. 54345943593, 9 February 2019
Roll No. 34465634
MCLE V Compliance No. 5454654

Doc. No.: 01
Page no.: 01
Book no.: 01
Series of 2019.