1

Labo, Jr. vs. COMELEC

(Aug. 1, 1989)
Ponente: Cruz, J.
FACTS:
Ramon Labo, Jr. married an Australian citizen in the Philippines. He was granted
Australian
citizenship in 1976. In 1980, the marriage was declared void Ior being bigamous.
Labo returned to the Philippines in 1980, using an Australian passport, and obtained an
Alien
CertiIicate oI Registration (ACR). He later applied Ior a change in status Irom immigrant to
returning Filipino citizen. However, the Commission on Immigration and Deportation denied his
application Ior the cancellation oI his ACR since he has not applied Ior reacquisition oI his
Filipino citizenship.
According to the records oI the Australian Embassy (as certiIied by the Australian
Consul),
Labo was still an Australian citizen as oI April 12, 1984. Although no direct evidence was
presented to prove that he took an oath oI allegiance as a naturalized Australian citizen, the
laws oI Australia at the time required any person over the age oI 16 years who is granted
Australian citizenship to take an oath oI allegiance. The wording/text oI this oath includes a
renunciation oI all other allegiance.
Labo ran and won as Mayor oI Baguio City in the local elections held on January 18,
1988. The
second-placer, Luis Lardizabal, Iiled a petition Ior quo warranto, alleging that Labo is
disqualiIied Irom holding public oIIice on the grounds oI alienage, and asking that the latter's
proclamation as Mayor be annulled.
ISSUES:
*The original issue raised beIore the Supreme Court concerned only the COMELEC's
jurisdiction over
Lardizabal's petition. Labo contended that the petition Ior quo warranto was not Iiled on time,
hence
the COMELEC lacks the jurisdiction to conduct an inquiry regarding his citizenship. However,
the SC
decided to rule on the merits oI the case, given that the issue is also oI considerable importance
(a
Ioreign citizen holding public oIIice in the Philippines), and in the interest oI the speedy
administration
oI justice.

2

1. Does the COMELEC have the jurisdiction to inquire into Labo's citizenship?
2. Is Ramon Labo, Jr. a Filipino citizen?
3. Is he qualiIied to hold public oIIice in the Philippines?
4. II Labo is not eligible to serve as Mayor, can Lardizabal, as the runner-up in the elections,
replace
him?
HELD/RATIO:
1. Yes. Contrary to Labo's claim, the petition Ior quo warranto was Iiled on time. Lardizabal did
not
immediately pay the Iiling Iee because the COMELEC had at Iirst considered the petition as a
pre-
proclamation proceeding, which does not require the payment oI such a Iee. When the
COMELEC
reclassiIied the petition, Lardizabal immediately paid the Iiling Iee -- thus, he still complied with
the
prescribed 10-day period. Furthermore, the Court held that such technicalities should not hinder
judicial decisions on signiIicant issues, such as the one being decided in this case.
2. Labo is not a Filipino citizen. He had lost his Philippine citizenship by all 3 modes speciIied in
the
Constitution: (1) naturalization in a Ioreign country, (2) express renunciation oI citizenship, and
(3)
subscribing to an oath oI allegiance to support the Constitution or laws oI a Ioreign country. He
has not
reacquired Philippine citizenship by any oI the 3 methods prescribed in the Constitution: (1)
direct act
oI Congress, (2) naturalization, and (3) repatriation.
- Contrary to Labo's claim, his naturalization in Australia did not conIer him with dual
citizenship. The
Constitution explicitly states that dual citizenship is inimical to national interest.
- The contention that his marriage to an Australian national did not automatically divest him oI
FilipiNO citizenship is irrelevant. There was no claim that Labo had automatically ceased to be a
Filipino
because oI that marriage. Also, his Filipino citizenship has not been automatically restored upon
the annulment oI his Australian citizenship, when his marriage was declared void on the grounds
oI bigamy.
- The Commission on Immigration and Deportation held in in 1988 that Labo was not a Filipino
citizen.
The earlier contrary decision by the COMELEC in 1982 is totally baseless, and is even alleged to
have been politically motivated. The latter can be reversed because the doctrine oI res judicata
does not
apply to questions oI citizenship.

3

3. Labo is not eligible to hold public oIIice in the Philippines. He was not even a qualiIied voter
when
he was elected.
4. Despite getting the second highest number oI votes, Lardizabal cannot assume the position oI
Mayor because he has not been duly elected by the people oI Baguio City. Labo's
disqualiIication alone does not entitle him to take oIIice. Instead, the elected Vice Mayor shall
replace Labo.
*Separate concurring opinion (Gutierrez Jr., J.):
Although no decision has been rendered by the COMELEC and elevated to the SC Ior review, it
is
undeniable that a Ioreigner cannot be allowed to hold public oIIice in the Philippines. It is
regrettable,
however, that Labo should be disqualiIied on the basis oI his citizenship because he has already
achieved a lot while serving as Mayor during the pendency oI the case.
















4

Tecson vs. COMELEC , GR 16134 , March 3, 2004
FACTS: Petitioners questioned the jurisdiction oI the COMELEC in taking cognizance oI and
deciding the citizenship issue aIIecting Fernando Poe Jr. They asserted that under Section 4(7) ,
Article VII oI the 1987 Constituition, only the Supreme Court had original and exclusive
jurisdiction to resolve the basic issue oI the case.

ISSUE: As the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) , does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction
over the qualiIications oI presidential candidates?

RULING: No. An examination oI the phraseology in Rule 12, 13, and Rule 14 oI the "Rules oI
the Presidential Electoral Tribunal," promulgated by the Supreme Court on April 1992
categorically speak oI the jurisdiction oI the tribunal over contests relating to the election, returns
and qualiIications oI the "President" or "Vice-President", oI the Philippines, and not oI
"candidates" Ior President or Vice-President. A quo warranto proceeding is generally deIined as
being an action against a person who usurps, intrudes into, or unlawIully holds or exercises a
public oIIice. In such context, the election contest can only contemplate a post-election scenario.
In Rule 14, only a registered candidate who would have received either the second or third
highest number oI votes could Iile an election protest. This rule again presupposes a post-
election scenario.
It is Iair to conclude that the jurisdiction oI the Supreme Court, deIined by Section 4, paragraph
7, oI the 1987 Constitution, would not include cases directly brought beIore it, questioning the
qualiIications oI a candidate Ior the presidency or vice-presidency beIore the elections are held.













3

TE680N V. 60HH|88|0N 0N ELE6T|0N8
vlTu0; Varcr 3, 2001

6T8
0r 0eceroer 31, 2003, FPJ l||ed r|s cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy lor lre pos|l|or ol Pres|derl ol lre
Pr|||pp|res urder lre Koa||syor rg Nag|a|a|sarg P|||p|ro (KNP).
lr r|s cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy, FPJ represerled r|rse|l lo oe a ralura|oorr c|l|zer.
l|s rea| rare Was slaled lo oe 'Ferrardo, Jr. or 'Rora|d A||ar Poe, oorr |r Var||a or Augusl 20, 1939.
0r Jaruary 9, 2001, v|clor|ro X. Forr|er l||ed a pel|l|or oelore lre C0VELEC lo d|squa||ly FPJ ard lo
dery due course or lo carce| r|s cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy or lre grourd lral FPJ rade a raler|a|
r|srepreserlal|or |r r|s cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy oy c|a|r|rg lo oe a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro c|l|zer.
Accord|rg lo Forr|er, FPJ's parerls Were lore|grers - r|s rolrer 8ess|e Ke||ey Poe Was ar Arer|car ard
r|s lalrer A||ar F. Poe Was a 3par|sr ral|ora| oe|rg a sor ol Lorerzo Pou, a 3par|sr suojecl.
Ever |l A||ar F. Poe Was a F|||p|ro c|l|zer, re cou|d rol rave lrarsr|lled r|s F|||p|ro c|l|zersr|p lo FPJ
oecause FPJ Was |||eg|l|rale.
A||ar F. Poe corlracled a pr|or rarr|age lo a cerla|r Pau||la 0orez oelore rarry|rg 8ess|e Ke||ey
accord|rg lo ar 'urcerl|l|ed copy ol a supposed cerl|l|cal|or ol lre rarr|age |r Ju|y 5, 193.
Ever |l ro sucr pr|or rarr|age ex|sled, A||ar F. Poe rarr|ed 8essey Ke||ey or|y a year aller lre o|rlr ol
FPJ. Tre rarr|age cerl|l|cale ol lre|r rarr|age rel|ecled lre dale ol lre|r rarr|age lo oe or 3epleroer 1,
1910 Wrere A||ar Was 25, urrarr|ed ard F|||p|ro, ard 8ess|e Was 22, urrarr|ed ard Arer|car.
FPJ's ear||esl eslao||sred ascerdarl Was r|s grardlalrer Lorerzo Pou.
No o|rlr cerl|l|cale lor Lorerzo oul r|s dealr cerl|l|cale |ssued upor r|s dealr |r 3epleroer 11, 1951 al
age 81 |derl|l|ed r|r as a F|||p|ro res|d|rg |r 3ar Car|os, Pargas|rar.
Lorerzo rarr|ed Varla Reyes ard lre|r sor A||ar Was oorr or Vay 1Z, 1915. Tre o|rlr cerl|l|cale ol A||ar
sroWed lral r|s lalrer Was ar Esparo| lalrer ard lo a resl|za Esparo| rolrer.

Procedure
lr lre Jaruary 19, 2001 rear|rg oelore lre C0VELEC, Forr|er preserled lre lo||oW|rg p|eces ol
ev|derce:

6

Copy ol lre cerl|l|cale ol o|rlr ol FPJ
Cerl|l|ed prolocopy ol ar all|dav|l oy Pau||la 0orezPoe allesl|rg lral sre rad l||ed a o|gary case
aga|rsl A||ar F. Poe oecause ol r|s re|al|orsr|p W|lr Ke||ey (|r 3par|sr)
Erg||sr lrars|al|or ol (o)
Cerl|l|ed copy ol lre cerl|l|cale ol o|rlr ol A||ar F. Poe
Cerl|l|cal|or lror lre d|reclor ol lre Records Varagererl ard Arcr|ves 0ll|ce slal|rg lral a Lorerzo
Poe/Pou res|ded |r lre Pr|||pp|res oelore 190Z
Cerl|l|cal|or lror 0lC ol lre Arcr|ves 0|v|s|or ol lre Nal|ora| Arcr|ves slal|rg lral lrere Was ro ava||ao|e
|rlorral|or regard|rg lre o|rlr ol A||ar F. Poe
FPJ preserled lre lo||oW|rg p|eces ol ev|derce arorg olrers:
Cerl|l|cal|or lral lrere Was ro ava||ao|e |rlorral|or regard|rg lre o|rlr ol A||ar F. Poe |r lre reg|slry ol
o|rlrs lor 3ar Car|os, Pargas|rar
Cerl|l|cal|or oy lre 0lC ol lre Arcr|ves 0|v|s|or ol lre Nal|ora| Arcr|ves lral lrere Was ro ava||ao|e
|rlorral|or aooul lre rarr|age ol A||ar F. Poe ard Pau||la 0orez
Cerl|l|cale ol o|rlr ol Rora|d A||ar F. Poe
0r|g|ra| Cerl|l|cale ol T|l|e |l lre Reg|slry 0eeds ol Pargas|rar |r lre rare ol Lorerzo Pou,
Cop|es ol lax dec|aral|ors urder lre rare ol Lorerzo Pou
Copy ol cerl|l|cale ol dealr ol Lorerzo Pou
Copy ol rarr|age corlracl ol Ferrardo Pou ard 8ess|e Ke||ey
Cerl|l|cal|or |ssued oy lre C|ly C|v|| Reg|slrar ol 3ar Car|os, Pargas|rar slal|rg lral lre records ol lre
o|rlr ol lre sa|d oll|ce lror 1900 lo Vay 191 Were deslroyed dur|rg wor|d war ll
Jaruary 23, 2001 - C0VELEC d|sr|ssed lre Forr|er pel|l|or lor |ac| ol rer|l ard Forr|er l||ed a rol|or
lor recors|deral|or or Jaruary 2, 2001. Tre rol|or Was der|ed oy lre C0VELEC er oarc or Feoruary
, 2001.
Feoruary 10, 2001 - Forr|er l||ed a pel|l|or oelore lre 3uprere Courl, pray|rg lor TR0, a Wr|l ol
pre||r|rary |rjurcl|or or ary olrer reso|ul|or lral Wou|d slay lre l|ra||ly ard/or execul|or ol lre C0VELEC
reso|ul|ors.
Tre lWo olrer pel|l|ors (Tecsor ard 0es|dero v. C0VELEC ard ve|ez v. Poe) cra||erge lre jur|sd|cl|or
ol lre C0VELEC ard asserl lral or|y lre 3uprere Courl ras or|g|ra| ard exc|us|ve jur|sd|cl|or lo reso|ve
lre oas|c |ssue or lre case.

7


|88UE8
1. 0oes lre Courl rave jur|sd|cl|or over lre lrree cases l||ed?
2. Car FPJ oe d|squa||l|ed as a pres|derl|a| card|dale or lre grourd lral re raler|a||y r|srepreserled |r
r|s cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy lral re Was a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro?

EL0
1. #,9o Jur|sd|cl|or |ssue
Tre C0VELEC's dec|s|or or d|squa||l|ed cases |rvo|v|rg a pres|derl|a| card|dale cou|d oe e|evaled lo
ard cou|d oe la|er cogr|zarce oy lre 3uprere Courl.
Tre jur|sd|cl|or ol lre 3uprere Courl Wou|d rol |rc|ude cases d|recl|y orougrl oelore |l quesl|or|rg lre
qua||l|cal|ors ol a card|dale lor lre pres|dercy or v|cepres|dercy oelore lre e|ecl|ors are re|d.
#e,8onng
0oes lre Courl rave jur|sd|cl|or over lre lrree cases l||ed?
Forr|er pel|l|or Yes
lr see||rg lre d|squa||l|cal|or ol FPJ oelore lre C0VELEC, Forr|er re||ed or lre lo||oW|rg:
- "/ ver|l|eo per|r|on seek|n ro oeny oue oourse or ro oanoe| a oerr|l|oare ol oano|oaoy may oe l||eo oy any
person exo|us|ve|y on rne rouno rnar any marer|a| represenrar|on oonra|neo rnere|n as requ|reo unoer
$eor|on 74 |s la|se. (0rr|ous E|ecl|or Code, 3ec. Z8)
".rne 0omm|ss|on sna|| nave exo|us|ve onare ol rne enloroemenr ano aom|n|srrar|on ol a|| |aus re|ar|ve
ro rne oonouor ol e|eor|ons lor rne purpose ol enour|n lree, oroer|y ano nonesr e|eor|ons. (3ec. 52,
sare)
- "any |nreresreo parry aulror|zed lo l||e a ver|l|ed pel|l|or lo dery or carce| lre cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy ol
ary ru|sarce card|dale (Arl. 9, sare)
- 0ec|s|ors ol lre C0VELEC or d|squa||l|cal|or cases ray oe rev|eWed oy lre 3uprere Courl urder lre
Rev|sed Ru|es ol C|v|| Procedure (Ru|e 5). As|de lror lral, accord|rg lo Arl. 9, 3ec. Z ol lre Corsl|lul|or,
"any oeo|s|on, oroer or ru||n ol eaon 0omm|ss|on may oe orounr ro rne $upreme 0ourr on oerr|orar| oy
rne ar|eveo parry u|rn|n rn|rry oays lrom reoe|pr rnereol.
Jud|c|a| poWer |s vesled |r lre 3uprere Courl Wr|cr |rc|udes lre duly ol lre courls lo sell|e aclua|
corlrovers|es |rvo|v|rg r|grls Wr|cr are |ega||y derardao|e ard erlorceao|e ard lo delerr|re Wrelrer or

8

rol lrere ras oeer grave aouse ol d|screl|or arourl|rg lo |ac| or excess ol jur|sd|cl|or or lre parl ol ary
orarcr ol |rslrurerla||ly ol lre goverrrerl. (Arl. 8, 3ec. 1, Corsl|lul|or).
Tecsor pel|l|or ard ve|ez pel|l|or No
Tre Tecsor ard ve|ez pel|l|ors ra|e use ol Arl. Z, 3ec 1(Z) ol lre Corsl|lul|or |r assa|||rg lre
C0VELEC's jur|sd|cl|or Wrer |l loo| cogr|zarce ol lre Forr|er pel|l|or oecause lre "$upreme 0ourr s|rr|n
en oano sna|| oe rne so|e uoe ol a|| oonresrs re|ar|n ro rne e|eor|on, rerurns ano qua||l|oar|ons ol rne
Pres|oenr or v|oe Pres|oenr ano may promu|are |rs ru|es lor rne purpose.
A 'corlesl relers lo a posle|ecl|or scerar|o. E|ecl|or corlesls are e|lrer e|ecl|or prolesls or a quo
Warrarlo Wr|cr Wou|d rave lre oojecl|ve ol d|s|odg|rg lre W|rrer lror oll|ce. Tre Ru|es ol lre Pres|derl|a|
E|eclora| Tr|oura| slale:
- "Tr|ouna| sna|| oe rne so|e uoe ol a|| oonresrs.re|ar|n ro qua||l|oar|ons ol rne Pres|oenr or v|oe-
Pres|oenr ol rne Pn|||pp|nes. (Ru|e 12)
- "/n e|eor|on oonresr |s |n|r|areo oy rne l|||n ol an e|eor|on oonresr or a per|r|on lor quo-uarranro aa|nsr rne
Pres|oenr or v|oe-Pres|oenr. (Ru|e 13)
- "Dn|y rne re|srereo oano|oare lor Pres|oenr or v|oe-Pres|oenr uno reoe|veo rne seoono or rn|ro n|nesr
numoer ol vores may oonresr rne e|eor|on ol rne Pres|oenr or rne v|oe-Pres|oenr.oy l|||n a ver|l|eo
per|r|on.u|rn|n J0 oays alrer rne proo|amar|on ol rne u|nner. (Ru|e 11)
Tre ru|es spea| ol lre jur|sd|cl|or ol lre lr|oura| over corlesls re|al|rg lo lre e|ecl|or, relurrs ard
qua||l|cal|ors ol lre Pres|derl ard lre v|ce Pres|derl ard rol card|dales lor Pres|derl or v|cePres|derl.

2. #,9o FPJ's c|l|zersr|p |ssue (vol|rg corcur, Z d|sserl, 1 aoslerl|or ard 1 separale op|r|or)
Tre d|sl|rcl|ors oelWeer |eg|l|racy ard |||eg|l|racy srou|d or|y rera|r |r lre sprere ol c|v|| |aW ard
srou|d rol urdu|y |rp|rge or lre dora|r ol po||l|ca| |aW.
Tre 1935 Corsl|lul|or corlers c|l|zersr|p lo a|| persors Wrose lalrers are F|||p|ro regard|ess ol Wrelrer
sucr cr||drer are |eg|l|rale ol |||eg|l|rale.
#e,8onng
Car FPJ oe d|squa||l|ed as a pres|derl|a| card|dale or lre grourd lral re raler|a||y r|srepreserled |r r|s
cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy lral re Was a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro?
Corcepl ol c|l|zersr|p
Ar|slol|e descr|oed a c|l|zer as a rar Wro srared |r lre adr|r|slral|or ol jusl|ce ard |r lre ro|d|rg ol ar
oll|ce ard lre slale Wou|d oe corposed ol sucr |rd|v|dua|s |r order lo acr|eve a se|lsull|c|erl ex|slerce.

9

C|l|zersr|p dea|s W|lr r|grls ard erl|l|ererls or lre ore rard ard W|lr corcor|larl oo||gal|ors or lre
olrer.
C|l|zersr|p urderWerl crarges |r lre 18
lr
lo 20
lr
cerlur|es.
lr lre 18
lr
cerlury, lre corcepl Was c|v|| c|l|zersr|p Wr|cr eslao||sred lre r|grls recessary lor recessary
lor |rd|v|dua| lreedor (eg. R|grls lo properly, persora| ||oerly ard jusl|ce)
lr lre 19
lr
cerlury, |l exparded lo |rc|ude po||l|ca| c|l|zersr|p Wr|cr ercorpassed lre r|grl lo parl|c|pale
|r lre exerc|se ol po||l|ca| poWer.
lr lre 20
lr
cerlury, lrere Was lre deve|oprerl ol soc|a| c|l|zersr|p Wr|cr |a|d erpras|s or lre r|grl ol lre
c|l|zer lo ecoror|c We||oe|rg ard soc|a| secur|ly.
lrlerral|ora||zal|or ol c|l|zersr|p |s ar orgo|rg deve|oprerl.

C|l|zersr|p |r lre Pr|||pp|res lror lre 3par|sr l|res lo lre preserl
0ur|rg lre 3par|sr per|od, ro sucr lerr as 'Pr|||pp|re c|l|zers, or|y '3par|sr suojecls. lr crurcr
records, ral|ves Were |derl|l|ed as '|rd|os.
3par|sr |aWs or c|l|zersr|p |rc|uded:
0rder de |a Regerc|a ol 1811
Roya| 0ecree ol 23 Augusl 188 (del|red lre po||l|ca| slalus ol cr||drer oorr |r lre Pr|||pp|res)
Ley Exlrarjera de u|lrarar ol 18Z0
Tre 18Z 3par|sr Corsl|lul|or Was rol exlerded lo lre Pr|||pp|res oecause lre co|ory Was lo oe
goverred oy spec|a| |aWs.
Accord|rg lo lre C|v|| Code ol 3pa|r, lre lo||oW|rg Were 3par|sr c|l|zers:
Persors oorr |r 3par|sr lerr|lory
Cr||drer ol a 3par|sr lalrer or rolrer ever |l lrey Were oorr ouls|de 3pa|r
Fore|grers Wro rave oola|red ralura||zal|or papers
Trose Wro, W|lroul sucr papers, ray rave oecore dor|c||ed |rrao|larls ol ary loWr ol lre Vorarcry
Arl|c|e 10 ol lre Trealy ol Par|s slaled lral lre c|v|| ard po||l|ca| slalus ol lre ral|ve |rrao|larls Wou|d oe
delerr|red oy lre u3 Corgress. 3par|sr suojecls ard ral|ves Wro croose lo rera|r |r lre lerr|lory ray
preserve lre|r a||eg|arce lo lre CroWr ol 3pa|r oy ra||rg a dec|aral|or ol lre|r dec|s|or W|lr|r a year lror

10

lre dale ol lre ral|l|cal|or ol lre lrealy. ll ro sucr dec|aral|or |s rade, lre|r a||eg|arce sra|| oe re|d
rerourced ard lrey Wou|d rave adopled lre ral|ora||ly ol lre lerr|lory |r Wr|cr lrey res|de.
upor ral|l|cal|or ol lre lrealy, lre ral|ve |rrao|larls ol lre Pr|||pp|res oecare 3par|sr suojecls.
Trey d|d rol oecore Arer|car c|l|zers oul Were |ssued passporls descr|o|rg lrer lo oe c|l|zers ol lre
Pr|||pp|res erl|l|ed lo prolecl|or ol lre u3.
Pr|||pp|re 0rgar|c Acl ol 1902 - l|rsl appeararce ol lre lerr 'c|l|zers ol lre Pr|||pp|re |s|ards. A c|l|zer
ol lre Pr|||pp|re |s|ards urder lr|s Acl Was:
Ar |rrao|larl ol lre Pr|||pp|res ard a 3par|sr suojecl or Apr|| 11, 1899.
Ar |rrao|larl rearl:
A ral|ve oorr |rrao|larl
Ar |rrao|larl Wro Was a ral|ve ol 3pa|r
Ar |rrao|larl Wro oola|red 3par|sr papers or or oelore Apr|| 11, 1899.
Corlroversy as lo lre c|l|zersr|p ol a cr||d oorr oelWeer Apr|| 11, 1899 ard Ju|y 1, 1902 as lrere Was ro
c|l|zersr|p |aW |r lre Pr|||pp|res. Tre corror |aW pr|rc|p|e jus so|| (pr|rc|p|e ol lerr|lor|a||ly) Was sa|d lo
goverr lrose oorr |r lre Pr|||pp|res dur|rg lr|s l|re.
Pr|||pp|re Aulorory Acl (Jores LaW) - A ral|ve oorr |rrao|larl ol lre Pr|||pp|res Was deered lo oe a
c|l|zer ol lre Pr|||pp|res as ol Apr|| 11, 1899 |l:
A 3par|sr suojecl or Apr|| 11, 1899
Res|d|rg |r lre Pr|||pp|res or lre sa|d dale
3|rce lral dale, rol a c|l|zer ol arolrer courlry
1935 Corsl|lul|or - prov|ded lral jus sargu|r|s (o|ood re|al|orsr|p) oe lre oas|s lor c|l|zersr|p, as slaled
|r 3ec. 1, Arl. 3:
Trose Wro are c|l|zers ol lre Pr|||pp|re ls|ards al lre l|re ol lre adopl|or ol lre Corsl|lul|or
Trose oorr |r lre Pr|||pp|re ls|ards ol lore|gr parerls Wro, oelore lre adopl|or ol lr|s Corsl|lul|or, rad
oeer e|ecled lo puo||c oll|ce |r lre Pr|||pp|re ls|ards
- Tnose unose larners are o|r|zens ol rne Pn|||pp|nes
Trose Wrose rolrers are c|l|zers ol lre Pr|||pp|res ard upor reacr|rg lre age ol rajor|ly, e|ecl
Pr|||pp|re c|l|zersr|p
Trose Wro are ralura||zed |r accordarce W|lr |aW

11

19Z3 Corsl|lul|or - Correcled 3ec. 1, Arl. 3 (1) ol lre 1935 Corsl|lul|or, Wr|cr, Wrer la|er logelrer W|lr
lre ex|sl|rg c|v|| |aW prov|s|ors Wou|d prov|de lral Worer Wou|d auloral|ca||y |ose lre|r F|||p|ro c|l|zersr|p
ard acqu|re lral ol lre|r lore|gr rusoards. Tr|s Was deered d|scr|r|ralory |r lral |l |rcapac|laled lre
F|||p|ro Worar lror lrarsr|ll|rg rer c|l|zersr|p lo rer |eg|l|rale cr||drer ard requ|red |||eg|l|rale cr||drer
ol F|||p|ro rolrers lo sl||| e|ecl F|||p|ro c|l|zersr|p upor reacr|rg lre age ol rajor|ly. Tre prov|s|ors ol
3ec. 1, Arl. 3 ol lre 19Z3 Corsl|lul|or slale lral lre lo||oW|rg are c|l|zers ol lre Pr|||pp|res:
Trose Wro are c|l|zers ol lre Pr|||pp|res al lre l|re ol lre adopl|or ol lr|s Corsl|lul|or
- Tnose unose larners or morners are o|r|zens ol rne Pn|||pp|nes
Trose Wro e|ecl Pr|||pp|re c|l|zersr|p pursuarl lo lre prov|s|ors ol lre 1935 Corsl|lul|or
Trose Wro are ralura||zed |r accordarce W|lr |aW
Add 3ec. 2 ol lre sare arl|c|e Wr|cr prov|ded lral a lera|e c|l|zer ol lre Pr|||pp|res Wro rarr|es ar a||er
rela|rers rer Pr|||pp|re c|l|zersr|p ur|ess oy rer acl or or|ss|or sre |s deered lo rave rerourced rer
c|l|zersr|p urder lre |aW.
198Z Corsl|lul|or - a|red lo correcl lre |rregu|ar s|lual|or gereraled oy lre quesl|orao|e prov|so |r lre
1935 Corsl|lul|or Wr|cr oul||res |r Arl|c|e 1, 3ec. 1 lral lre lo||oW|rg are F|||p|ro c|l|zers:
Trose Wro are c|l|zers ol lre Pr|||pp|res al lre l|re ol lre adopl|or ol lr|s Corsl|lul|or
Trose Wrose lalrers ard rolrers are c|l|zers ol lre Pr|||pp|res
Trose oorr oelore Jaruary 1Z, 19Z3 ol F|||p|ro rolrers Wro e|ecl Pr|||pp|re c|l|zersr|p upor reacr|rg
lre age ol rajor|ly
Trose Wro are ralura||zed |r accordarce W|lr |aW.

Tre Corsl|lul|or requ|res lral lre Pres|derl ol lre Pr|||pp|res srou|d oe, arorg lre rary requ|rererls,
a ralura|oorr c|l|zer ol lre Pr|||pp|res (Arl. Z, 3ec. 2).
Nalura| oorr c|l|zer - c|l|zers ol lre Pr|||pp|res lror o|rlr W|lroul rav|rg lo perlorr ary acl lo acqu|re or
perlecl lre|r Pr|||pp|re c|l|zersr|p
C|l|zersr|p ol FPJ |r re|al|or lo grardlalrer Lorerzo Pou's c|l|zersr|p ard lalrer A||ar F. Poe's
c|l|zersr|p
A||ar F. Poe Was a F|||p|ro c|l|zer oecause r|s lalrer Lorerzo Was a|so F|||p|ro.
Corc|us|ors W|lr sore degree ol cerla|rly lo oe draWr lror lre docurerls preserled:
Tre parerls ol FPJ Were A||er Poe ard 8ess|e Ke||ey.

12

FPJ Was oorr lo lrer or Augusl 20, 1939.
A||ar F. Poe ard 8ess|e Ke||ey Were rarr|ed lo eacr olrer or 3epleroer 1, 1910.
Tre lalrer ol A||ar F. Poe Was Lorerzo Pou.
Al lre l|re ol r|s dealr or 3epleroer 11, 1951, Lorerzo Poe Was 81 years o|d.
Tre puo||c docurerls suor|lled are deered lruslWorlry.
Tre lrree docurerls (o|rlr cerl|l|cale ol FPJ, rarr|age cerl|l|cale ol 8ess|e ard A||ar ard lre dealr
cerl|l|cale ol Lorerzo) Were cerl|l|ed lrue cop|es ol lre or|g|ra|s.
Tre Ru|es ol Courl (130, 3ecl|or 3) slale lral Wrer lre suojecl ol lre |rqu|ry |s lre corlerl ol lre
docurerl, ro ev|derce sra|| oe adr|ss|o|e excepl lre or|g|ra| docurerl |lse|l. 0re ol lre excepl|ors
roWever |s Wrer lre or|g|ra| |s a puo||c record |r lre cuslody ol a puo||c oll|ce |s recorded |r a puo||c oll|ce.
As puo||c docurerls, lre lrree docurerls are pr|ra lac|e prool ol lre|r corlerls as slaled |r lre Ru|es ol
Courl (130, 3ecl|or 11) lral lre erlr|es |r oll|c|a| records rade oy a puo||c oll|cer |r lre perlorrarce ol r|s
duly are pr|ra lac|e ev|derce ol lre lacls slaled lrere|r. Tr|s |s grourded or:' ol oll|c|a| duly |r lre
preparal|or ol lre slalererl rade. Tre pera|ly all|xed lo a oreacr ol lral duly. Roul|re ard d|s|rleresled
or|g|r ol rosl sucr slalererls. Puo||c|ly ol lre record Wr|cr ra|es rore |||e|y lre pr|or exposure ol sucr
errors as r|grl rave occurred
ll |s sale lo assure lral Lorerzo Pou's p|ace ol res|derce al lre l|re ol dealr Was lre sare as r|s
res|derce oelore dealr |r lre aoserce ol ev|derce lral Wou|d allesl olrerW|se. lr lral case, Lorerzo Pou
Wou|d rave oerel|led lror lre 'er rasse F|||p|r|zal|or lral lre Pr|||pp|re 8||| ellecled |r 1902. Tr|s
c|l|zersr|p Wou|d lrer exlerd lo r|s sor A||ar F. Poe, FPJ's lalrer.
Lorerzo oorr sorel|re |r 18Z0 dur|rg lre 3par|sr co|or|zal|or per|od.
Forr|er argues lral Lorerzo Was rol |r lre Pr|||pp|res dur|rg lre cruc|a| per|od ol 1898 lo 1902 oul lrere
|s ro ex|sl|rg record lo allesl lo lral c|a|r.
Forr|er la||ed lo sroW lral Lorerzo Was oul ol lre courlry dur|rg lral sare l|re per|od.
Lorerzo's res|derce al lre l|re ol dealr Was |r 3ar Car|os, Pargas|rar.
For prool ol l|||al|or or palerr|ly, lre rardalory ru|es ol c|v|| |aW Wou|d rol app|y |r lr|s case. Tre du|y
rolar|zed dec|aral|or oy Ruoy Ke||ey Vargaras, FPJ's ralerra| aurl ard s|sler ol r|s rolrer 8ess|e,
prov|rg lre acls ol A||ar F. Poe, recogr|z|rg r|s oWr palerra| re|al|orsr|p W|lr FPJ (||v|rg W|lr 8ess|e ard
lre cr||drer |r ore rouse as ore lar||y) Wou|d oe accepled.
Forr|er argues lral lre rardalory ru|es urder c|v|| ru|e srou|d app|y oecause FPJ Was ar |||eg|l|rale sor.

13

Ac|roW|edgererl reeded lo eslao||sr palerr|ly (eg. Ac|roW|edgererl |r lre o|rlr cerl|l|cale oy s|gr|rg
rare)
lr lre FPJ case, lrere Was ro s|gralure ol A||ar F. Poe |r lre o|rlr cerl|l|cale ol FPJ.
1950 C|v|| Code - ac|roW|edgererl ol |||eg|l|rale cr||drer ol lrree lypes Wr|cr rad lo oe dore dur|rg
lre ||lel|re ol lre presured parerl:
vo|urlary (express|y rade |r record o|rlr, W||| or a slalererl oelore lre courl |r aulrerl|c Wr|l|rg)
Lega| (|r lavor ol lu|| o|ood orolrers ard s|slers ol ar |||eg|l|rale cr||d Wro Was recogr|zed as ralura|)
Corpu|sory (derarded gerera||y |r cases Wrer lre cr||d rad |r r|s lavor ary ev|derce lo prove l|||al|or)
Tre Far||y Code ras ||oera||zed lre ru|es as slaled |r Arl|c|es 1Z2, 1Z3 ard 1Z5 ard lre ru|es rave
relroacl|ve ellecl (Arl|c|e 255). Trese prov|s|ors are lrere lo goverr lre pr|vale ard persora| alla|rs ol lre
lar||y. Trere |s ||ll|e |rd|cal|or lral lr|s srou|d a|so goverr r|s po||l|ca| r|grls.
Tr|s srou|d oe la|er |r lre corlexl ol c|v|| |aW, oe|rg lral orarcr ol |aW Wr|cr |s corcerred W|lr lre
orgar|zal|or ol lre lar||y ard regu|al|or ol properly. Tre re|evarce ol c|l|zersr|p |s exerp||l|ed |r Arl. 15
ol lre C|v|| Code.
Tre prool ol l|||al|or lor purposes ol delerr|r|rg c|l|zersr|p slalus srou|d oe deered |rdeperderl lror
lrose prescr|oed lor c|v|| code purposes. Tre ord|rary ru|es srou|d goverr.
0NA lesl|rg lo prove palerr|ly cou|d a|so oe resorled lo.
Trere |s ro jur|spruderce lo prove lral ar |||eg|l|rale cr||d carrol |rrer|l r|s lalrer's c|l|zersr|p.
Forr|er argues lral ever |l A||ar F. Poe Were F|||p|ro, A||ar's c|l|zersr|p Wou|d rol rave oeer lrarsr|lled
lo FPJ oecause FPJ Was |||eg|l|rale.
FPJ Was a||eged lo oe |||eg|l|rale oecause ol lre o|garous rarr|age oelWeer r|s parerls A||ar ard
8ess|e lor lre reasor lral A||ar a||eged|y rad a pr|or ex|sl|rg rarr|age lo a cerla|r Pau||la 0orez. Tre
Courl re|d lral lre verac|ly ol lr|s rarr|age oelWeer Pau||la ard A||ar |s douollu|.
Forr|er a|so corlerded lral ever |l A||ar ard 8ess|e's rarr|age Was rol o|garous, FPJ Was sl|||
|||eg|l|rale oecause r|s parerls Were rarr|ed aller re Was oorr. Forr|er oased r|s argurerls or lre
cases ol Voraro v. v|vo, Cr|orgo|ar v. de Leor ard 3erra v. Repuo||c.
lr lre cases c|led aoove, |l |s |rporlarl lo role lre ||s rola |r eacr case. ll lre prorourcererl ol jus
sargur|s Was |r lre ||s rola, |l Wou|d corsl|lule doclr|re courlesy ol slare dec|s|s. ll rol, |l |s rere oo|ler
d|clur.
lr a|| ol lre rerl|ored cases, lrere Was ro jus sargu|r|s |r lre ||s rola ol lre cases. ll lrere Was jus
sargur|s rerl|ored, |l Was rere oo|ler d|clur.

14

Tre prorourcererl lral ar |||eg|l|rale cr||d carrol |rrer|l lre lalrer's c|l|zersr|p ras ro lexlua| oas|s |r
lre Corsl|lul|or ard v|o|ales lre equa| prolecl|or c|ause.
For jur|spruderce lral regarded ar |||eg|l|rale cr||d lo |rrer|l lre rolrer's c|l|zersr|p, |l Was lrere lo
ersure a F|||p|ro ral|ora||ly lor lre cr||d W|lr lre assurpl|or lral lre rolrer Wou|d ga|r cuslody.
Tre 1935 Corsl|lul|or app||es lo FPJ s|rce re Was oorr dur|rg lral l|re per|od ard |l slales lral F|||p|ro
c|l|zers |rc|ude lrose Wrose lalrers are c|l|zers ol lre Pr|||pp|res.

ec8on
1. Tre ev|derce does rol eslao||sr corc|us|ve|y FPJ's c|l|zersr|p oul lre ev|derce preporderales |r r|s
lavor lo ro|d lral re cou|d rol oe gu||ly ol r|srepreserlal|or |r r|s cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy. Forr|er v.
C0VELEC 0|8H|88E0 lor la||ure lo sroW grave aouse ol d|screl|or or lre parl ol lre C0VELEC lor
d|sr|ss|rg lre or|g|ra| pel|l|or.
2. Tecsor v. C0VELEC ard ve|ez v, Poe 0|8H|88E0 lor Warl ol jur|sd|cl|or.

8EP#TE 0P|N|0N

PUN0
Jur|sd|ct|on
3C |s urar|rous or lre |ssue ol jur|sd|cl|or
Tecsor ard va|dez pel|l|ors - pel|l|orers carrol |rvo|e Arl vll 31 ol lre Corsl|lul|or oecause lre Word
'corlesl rears lral lre Courl car or|y oe |rvo|ed aller lre e|ecl|or ard proc|aral|or ol a Pres|derl or
v|ce Pres|derl. Trere car oe ro 'corlesl oelore a W|rrer |s proc|a|red.
Forr|er pel|l|or - as a rev|eW urder R1 |r re|al|or lo R5 ol lre RoC, Courl ras jur|sd|cl|or.
C0VELEC d|d rol corr|l grave aouse ol d|screl|or Wrer |l ru|ed lral pel|l|orer la||ed lo prove oy
suoslarl|a| ev|derce lral FPJ de||oerale|y r|srepreserled lral re |s a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro c|l|zar |r r|s
CoC
Cerl|orar| poWer ol lre 3C lo rev|eW C0VELEC dec|s|ors |s a ||r|led poWer
Car or|y reverse or crarge lre C0VELEC dec|s|or or lre grourd lral C0VELEC corr|lled grave
aouse ol d|screl|or (despol|c, aro|lrary or capr|c|ous)

13

Tre ru||rg ol lre C0VELEC dery|rg lre pel|l|or lo d|squa||ly resporderl Poe |s oased or suoslarl|a|
ev|derce, rerce |s rol despol|c, Wr|rs|ca| or capr|c|ous
Rorua|dezVarcos v C0VELEC - r|srepreserlal|or rusl rol or|y oe raler|a| oul a|so de||oerale ard
W|||lu|
Pel|l|orer ras ourder lo prove ev|derce lo sroW lral (1) resporderl rade r|srepreserlal|or |r r|s CoC,
(2) lral r|srepreserlal|or |s raler|a| lo lre pos|l|or lo Wr|cr re |s card|dale ard (3) lral raler|a|
r|srepreserlal|or Was rade de||oerale|y ard W|||lu||y
Ara|ys|s ol pel|l|orer's ev|derce
Cerl|l|cale ol o|rlr - or|y proved lre dale ol o|rlr ol FPJ, rol lral re |s rol a ralura|oorr c|l|zer
3Worr slalererls ol Pau||la 0orez crarg|rg A||ar Poe W|lr o|gary ard rarr|age ||cerse ol oelWeer
A||ar Poe ard Pau||la 0orez, preserled lrru 0|r. Varapal - pu||ed oul oecause lrey Were laor|caled
Resporderl suor|lled all|dav|ls lral sroW lral lre l||es suor|lled oy lre pel|l|orer are laor|caled oy
Varapal's |rslrucl|ors
Pel|l|orer c|a|rs lral lre all|dav|ls rusl rol oe cors|dered oecause ol lecrr|ca| grourds
3C ru|ed lral lre C0VELEC |s a quas|jud|c|a| oody ard are rol oourd oy lre lecrr|ca| ru|es ol ev|derce.
8|rlr cerl|l|cale ol A||ar Poe - a|so laor|caled; does rol prove arylr|rg oes|des o|rlr
Cerl|l|cal|or ol 0|r. Varapal lral lre Nal|ora| Arcr|ves ras ro record lral Lorerzo Pou erlered or res|ded
|r lre Pr|||pp|res oelore 190Z - rarulaclured
Cerl|l|cal|or ol Eslre||a 0or|rgo, 0lC Arcr|ves 0|v lral lre Reg|sler ol 8|rlrs lral lrere |s ro |rlorral|or
or lre Nal|ora| Arcr|ves or lre o|rlr ol A||ar Poe lo lre spouse Lorerzo Pou ard Varla Reyes - |ac| ol
|rlorral|or |s rol prool
Poe lror lre l|re ol r|s |rvo|urlary o|rlr ras a|Ways corducled r|rse|l as F|||p|ro
'For la||ure ol lre pel|l|orer lo d|scrarge lre ourder ol prool, Poe |s erl|l|ed lo ar oulr|grl d|sr|ssa| ol lre
Forr|er pel|l|or. Poe does rol reed lo preserl corlrary ev|derce lor lre ourder ol prool |s rol sr|lled lo
r|r.
Assur|rg lral C0VELEC grave|y aoused |ls jur|sd|cl|or ard lre |ssue ol Wrelrer resporderl Poe |s a
ralura|oorr c|l|zer F|||p|ro srou|d roW oe reso|ved, lre Forr|er pel|l|or reed rol oe rerarded lo lre
C0VELEC lor lurlrer recepl|or ol ev|derce
Rerard lo lre C0VELEC lo g|ve lre pel|l|orer a secord opporlur|ly lo prove r|s case |s a pa|pao|e error

16

'lr ||grl ol lrese erud|le op|r|ors ol our ar|c| curae, |l |s day||grl c|ear lral pel|l|orer Forr|er |s rol or|y
Wr|rg W|lr r|s lacls oul a|so Wrorg W|lr r|s |aW.
Rerard rears a reW rourd ol ||l|gal|or |r lre C0VELEC Wrer |ls proceed|rgs rave |org oeer c|osed
ard lerr|raled; lo g|ve arolrer crarce lo prove lacls Wr|cr re la||ed lo prove oelore
Favors ol rerard carrol oe exlerded lo lre ||l|garl oecause ol po||l|ca| reulra||ly
Rerard W||| crarge lre ralure ol a 3ec Z8 proceed|rg oy jud|c|a| |eg|s|al|or, rerce, urcorsl|lul|ora|
Pr|rc|pa| |ssue: Wrelrer resporderl de||oerale|y rade a raler|a| r|srepreserlal|or |r r|s CoC Wrer re
Wrole lral re |s a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro c|l|zer
Rerard|rg lre case lo C0VELEC W||| crarge lre craracler ol a 3Z8 proceed|rg (w0N F0J |s a ralura|
oorr F|||p|ro c|l|zer W||| oe lre ra|r |ssue ard rol jusl ar |ssue |rc|derla| lo lre |ssue ol raler|a|
r|srepreserlal|or)
3C carrol ergage |r jud|c|a| |eg|s|al|or as |l |s sorelr|rg or|y |eg|s|alure car crarge oy arolrer |aW
Rerard W||| v|o|ale resporderl Poe's r|grl lo due process, rerce, urcorsl|lul|ora|
ll case Were rerarded lo lre C0VELEC, lre oody |s ro |orger ar |rparl|a| lr|oura| |s lrere are lrree ol
lre sever reroers ol lre corr|ss|or lral rave g|ver l|rr v|eW lral Poe |s rol a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro
c|l|zer
Rerard W||| de|ay lre reso|ul|or ol lre |ssue ol Wrelrer resporderl Poe |s qua||l|ed. 0e|ay W||| a|so
prejud|ce r|s card|dacy ard W||| lavor r|s po||l|ca| opporerls.
'Tre r|grl lo rur lor puo||c oll|ce |rc|udes lre r|grl lo equa| crarce lo corpele. Tre r|grl lo rur |s erply |l
lre crarce lo W|r |s d|r|r|sred ol der|ed a card|dale.
To avo|d de|ay, lre courl srou|d |lse|l dec|de lre |ssue ard dec|are resporderl Poe as a ralura|oorr
c|l|zer or lre oas|s ol lre ev|derce adduced oelore lre C0VELEC
wrelrer resporderl Poe |s |||eg|l|rale |s |rre|evarl |r delerr|r|rg r|s slalus as ralura|oorr c|l|zer
lral |s lre |aW.
Tre |aW does rol ra|e ary d|sl|rcl|or |r app|y|rg us sanu|n|s lo |||eg|l|rale cr||drer.
Voraro v v|vo - w0N lre slepsor Was lo l||e lre ralura| cereora| rouse.
Cr|orgo|ar v de Leor - a |eg|l|rale sor Wrose lalrer oecare F|||p|ro oecause ol e|ecl|or lo a puo||c
oll|ce oelore lre 1935 corsl|lul|or
3erra v Repuo||c - ar |||eg|l|rale sor ol a Cr|rese lalrer ard a F|||p|ro rolrer

17

Paa v Crar - 0u|rl|r c|a|rs lral r|s lalrer |s F|||p|ro oecause r|s grardrolrer |s a F|||p|ra. Tre courl
ru|ed lral s|rce lrere |s ro prool lral r|s grardrolrer |s F|||p|ro lrer r|s lalrer |s rol F|||p|ro lrereoy rol
ra||rg r|r F|||p|ro as We||. Tre courl's ru||rg srou|d rave slopped rere oul lre 3C lo||oWed W|lr ar oo|rer
o|orum lral ever |l 0u|rl|r's lalrer Were F|||p|ro, re Wou|d rol oe F|||p|ro oecause re Was |||eg|l|rale.
Tre slalererls or lre |||eg|l|rale cr||d Were urrecessary ard Were jusl oo|rer o|ora ard rol rar|o
oeo|oeno|, lrerelore do rol corsl|lule srare oeo|s|s.
- Do|rer o|ora do rol eslao||sr doclr|re ever |l repealed erd|ess|y.
Reasors Wry courl srou|d creale reW doclr|re:
Trere |s ro lexlua| lourdal|or
ll v|o|ales lre equa| prolecl|or c|ause
Peop|e v Cayal - eslao||sred lre doclr|re or corsl|lul|ora||y a||oWao|e d|sl|rcl|ors. 3ucr d|sl|rcl|or rusl
oe gerrare lo lre purpose ol lre |aW.
Tar Crorg v 3ecrelary ol Laoor - 'Tre duly ol lr|s Courl |s lo lorsa|e ard aoardor ary doclr|re or ru|e
lourd lo oe |r v|o|al|or ol lre |aW |r lorce.
- uo| |es non o|sr|nu|r ne nos o|sr|nuere oeoemus, espec|a||y |l lre d|sl|rcl|or ras ro lexlua|
Ver||r Vaga||ora - lrarsr|ss|ve esserce ol c|l|zersr|p
To eslao||sr lral resporderl Poe |s a ralura|oorr c|l|zer, a|| lral |s reeded |s prool ol r|s l|||al|or lo r|s
lalrer A||ar Poe, a F|||p|ro c|l|zer lral |s lre cr|l|ca| lacl.
F|||p|ro c|l|zersr|p ol A||ar Poe, resporderl's lalrer |s We|| eslao||sred.
To d|squa||ly resporderl Poe oecause re |s |||eg|l|rale W||| v|o|ale our lrealy oo||gal|or.
85o89;e wrelrer resporderl Ferrardo Poe, Jr. |s qua||l|ed lo rur lor Pres|derl |rvo|ves a
corsl|lul|ora| |ssue oul |ls po||l|ca| lore |s ro |ess dor|rarl. Tre Courl |s sp||l doWr lre r|dd|e or lre
c|l|zersr|p ol resporderl Poe, ar |ssue ol l|rsl |rpress|or rade rore d|ll|cu|l oy lre |rlerp|ay ol ral|ora|
ard |rlerral|ora| |aW. 0|ver lre |rdec|s|veress ol lre voles ol lre reroers ol lr|s Courl, lre oeller po||cy
approacr |s lo |el lre peop|e dec|de Wro W||| oe lre rexl Pres|derl. For or po||l|ca| quesl|ors, lr|s Courl
ray err oul lre sovere|gr peop|e W||| rol. To oe sure, lre Corsl|lul|or d|d rol grarl lo lre ure|ecled
reroers ol lr|s Courl lre r|grl lo e|ecl |r oera|l ol lre peop|e.
|N V|Ew wE#E0, lre pel|l|ors |r 0.R. Nos. 11131, 1131 ard 11821 are 0l3Vl33E0.

0V|0E

18

6T8
Jaruary 9, 2001 - Forr|er l||ed pel|l|or lo d|squa||ly FPJ ard lo carce| r|s cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy lor lre
Vay 10 e|ecl|ors oecause ol re |s rol a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro c|l|zer
Jaruary 23, 2001 - C0VELEC d|sr|ssed lre case dec|ar|rg lral |ls jur|sd|cl|or |s ||r|led lo a|| rallers
re|al|rg lo e|ecl|or, relurrs ard qua||l|cal|ors ol a|| e|ecl|ve reg|ora|, prov|rc|a| ard c|ly oll|c|a|s, oul rol
lrose ol ral|ora| oll|c|a|s |||e lre pres|derl.
oul |l ras jur|sd|cl|or lo pass upor lre |ssue ol c|l|zersr|p ol ral|ora| oll|c|a|s urder sec Z8 ol 0ECor
pel|l|ors lo dery due course or carce| cerl|l|cales ol card|dacy or lre grourd ol la|se raler|a|
represerlal|or.
F|rd|rgs:
Forr|er ev|derce |s rol suoslarl|a|
FPJ d|d rol corr|l ary la|serood |r raler|a| represerlal|or Wrer re slaled lral re |s a ralura|oorr
F|||p|ro c|l|zer
Tecsor ard 0es|der|o, Jr prayed spec|a| c|v|| acl|or ol cerl|orar| urder R5 RoC lo cra||erge jur|sd|cl|or
ol C0VELEC over lre |ssue ol FPJ's c|l|zersr|p. Trey c|a|r lral or|y lre 3c ras jur|sd|cl|or (Arlvll 31,
corsl|)
Jaruary 29, 2001 ve|ez l||ed pel|l|or W|lr lre ll |ssues:
wrelrer C0VELEC ras jur|sd|cl|or over lre pel|l|ors lo dery due course or carce| cerl|l|caled ol
card|dacy ol Pres|derl|a| card|dales
wrelrer 3C ras jur|sd|cl|or over lre pel|l|ors ol Tecsor, ve|ez ard Forr|er
wrelrer FPJ |s a F|||p|ro c|l|zer, ard |l so, |l re's a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro c|l|zer
Jur|sd|ct|on
Tecsor ard ve|ez pel|l|ors
Tre prov|s|or |r lre corsl|lul|or or|y relers lo pasle|ecl|or rered|es, lrey srou|d rave resorled lo pre
e|ecl|or rered|es |r lre 0EC Wr|cr are |rp|ererled oy lre C0VELEC Ru|es ol Procedure
Pree|ecl|or rered|es are rol W|lr|r lre jur|sd|cl|or ol lre 3C
urder lre 0EC, C0VELEC ras or|g|ra| jur|sd|cl|or lo delerr|re Wrelrer a card|dale lor ar e|ecl|ve
oll|ce |re||g|o|e lor lre oll|ce lor Wr|cr re l||ed r|s cerl|l|cale ol card|dacy oecause ol ary ol lre recogr|zed
grourds lor d|squa||l|cal|or.

19

Forr|er pel|l|or
3C ras jur|sd|cl|or over lre case urder (Arl lXA 3Z Corsl| )
3C car la|e cogr|zarce ol |ssue ol w0N C0VELEC corr|lled grave aouse ol d|screl|or arourl|rg lo
|ac| or excess ol jur|sd|cl|or |r lre cra||erged reso|ul|or oy v|rlue ol (Arlvlll 31 Corsl|)
w0N PJ |s a natura|-born |||p|no 6|t|zen
Facls:
1. FPJ Was oorr or 20 Augusl 1939 |r Var||a, Pr|||pp|res.
2. FPJ Was oorr lo A||ar Poe ard 8ess|e Ke||ey.
3. 8ess|e Ke||ey ard A||ar Poe Were rarr|ed or 1 3epleroer 1910.
1. A||ar Poe Was a F|||p|ro oecause r|s lalrer, Lorerzo Poe, a|oe|l a 3par|sr suojecl, Was rol sroWr lo
rave dec|ared r|s a||eg|arce lo 3pa|r oy v|rlue ol lre Trealy ol Par|s ard lre Pr|||pp|re 8||| ol 1902.

#,9o For lre purposes ol c|l|zersr|p, ar |||eg|l|rale cr||d Wrose lalrer |s F|||p|ro ard Wrose rolrer |s ar
a||er, prool ol palerr|ly or l|||al|or |s erougr lor lre cr||d lo lo||oW lre c|l|zersr|p ol lre lalrer
C0VELEC d|d rol corr|l ary grave aouse ol d|screl|or |r ro|d|rg lral FPJ |s a F|||p|ro c|l|zer pursuarl lo
Arl lv 31 per 3 corsl|. Tre prov|s|or d|d rol ra|e ary d|sl|rcl|or oelWeer |eg|l|rale ard |||eg|l|rale
cr||drer ol F|||p|ro lalrers.
Pe99on8 ,re d8288ed.

8N00VL-CUT|E##EZ
Hay court exerc|se jud|c|a| power to d|squa||fy a cand|date before the e|ect|on?
Courl ray rol. ll W||| Wrec| lre corsl|lul|ora| r|grl ol lre peop|e lo croose lre|r card|dales.
#omua|dez-Harcos v 60HELE6
Vr. Jusl|ce v|cerle v. Verdoza, a rel|red reroer ol lr|s Courl, |r r|s 3eparale 0p|r|or sa|d, 'lr ry v|eW,
lre |ssue |r lr|s case |s Wrelrer lre Corr|ss|or or E|ecl|ors ras lre poWer lo d|squa||ly card|dales or
lre grourd lral lrey |ac| e||g|o|||ly lor lre oll|ce lo Wr|cr lrey see| lo oe e|ecled. l lr|r| lral |l ras rore
ard lral lre qua||l|cal|ors ol card|dales ray oe quesl|ored or|y |r lre everl lrey are e|ecled, oy l|||rg a
pel|l|or lor quo uarranro or ar e|ecl|or prolesl |r lre appropr|ale lorur.

20

Ru||rg ol C0VELEC |s lre sare as Vardoza op|r|or.
0|squa||ly|rg resporderl Poe W||| oe v|eWed as d|recled aga|rsl lre 'rasses, a s|lual|or rol a||oWed oy
lre Corsl|lul|or. Tre 3C ray oecore |||e lre lrar|ar 0uard|ar Courc||.Tr|s Courl, as lre |asl guard|ar ol
derocracy, ras lre duly lo prolecl lre r|grl ol our ral|or lo a geru|re, lree ard la|r e|ecl|or.

whether the 60HELE6 comm|tted grave abuse of d|scret|on |n d|sm|ss|nC orn|er's pet|t|on for
d|squa||f|cat|on aga|nst respondent
3a|cedo v C0VELEC - lre or|y |rslarce Wrer a pel|l|or ra|s|rg lre qua||l|cal|ors ol a reg|slered
card|dale |s oelore e|ecl|or (3Z8 0EC)
To jusl|ly lre carce||al|or ol CoC, la|se represerlal|or rerl|ored rusl perla|r lo raler|a| raller
Trere rusl oe de||oerale allerpl lo r|s|ead, r|s|rlorr, or r|de lacl Wr|cr Wou|d rerder a card|dale
|re||g|o|e
Forr|er pel|l|or orougrl urder R5 RoCP - Wrere C0VELEC acled W|lr grave aouse ol d|screl|or |r Jar
23 ard Feo reso|ul|ors ro|d|rg lral 'cors|der|rg lre ev|derce preserled oy lre pel|l|orer |s rol
suoslarl|a|, We dec|are lral lre resporderl d|d rol corr|l ary raler|a| r|srepreserlal|or Wrer re slaled
|r r|s CoC lral re |s a ralura| oorr F|||p|ro c|l|zer
A||egal|ors |r lre C0VELEC pel|l|or:
1. Resporderl Poe corr|lled la|se raler|a| represerlal|or oy slal|rg |r r|s Cerl|l|cale ol Card|dacy lral
re |s a ralura| oorr F|||p|ro c|l|zer; ard
2. le |roW|rg|y rade sucr la|se represerlal|or.
FPJ |s rol a c|l|zer oecause oolr r|s parerls are a||ers.
0|reclor Varapal ol lre Nal|ora| Arcr|ves la|s|l|ed lre rarr|age corlracl ol FPJ's parerls ard r|s lalrer's
o|rlr cerl|l|cale.
- E| |noumo|r prooar|on qu| oeo|r, non que near. - re Wro asserls, rol re Wro der|es, rusl prove; 31
R131 RroE; 8or|orgar v Vadr|deo - ourder ol prool |s or lre parly asserl|rg lre all|rral|ve ol ar |ssue
Forr|er la||ed lo prove a||egal|ors; Wr|l ol cerl|orar| car or|y oe grarled |l |l car oe prover lral C0VELEC
corr|lled a grave aouse ol d|screl|or;
0rave aouse ol d|screl|or - capr|c|ous ard Wr|rs|ca| exerc|se ol judgrerl so palerl ard gross lral |l
arourled lo ar evas|or ol pos|l|ve duly or lo a v|rlua| relusa| lo perlorr lre duly erjo|red or lo acl al a|| |r
corlerp|al|or ol |aW

21

we carrol d|scerr lror lre records ary |rd|cal|or lral lre C0VELEC grave|y aoused |ls d|screl|or |r
d|sr|ss|rg Forr|er's pel|l|or. lrdeed, r|s ava||rerl ol lre exlraord|rary Wr|l ol cerl|orar| |s gross|y
r|sp|aced.
wrelrer lre resporderl corr|lled a raler|a| ard la|se represerlal|or Wrer re dec|ared |r r|s CoC lral
re |s a ralura|oror F|||p|ro c|l|zer
C0VELEC re|d lral lre FPJ d|d rol corr|l ary raler|a| r|srepreserlal|or |r r|s CoC oecause r|s lalrer
|s a F|||p|ro oy v|rlue ol us sanu|n|s ard urder lre 1935 corsl|lul|or.
va||es v C0VELEC - Pr|||pp|re |aW or c|l|zersr|p adreres lo us sanu|n|s
FPJ |s F|||p|ro c|l|zer, rav|rg oeer oorr lo a F|||p|ro lalrer
Pel|l|orers c|a|r lral A||ar Ferrardo Poe |s a c|l|zer ol 3pa|r oecause r|s
Varr|age Corlracl W|lr Pau||la 0orez sroWs lral r|s parerls are c|l|zers ol 3pa|r.
Tre rarr|age cerl|l|cale Was sroWr lo rave oeer la|s|l|ed.
Forr|er d|d rol d|spule lral A||ar Ferrardo Poe |s lre lalrer ol FPJ
A||ar's lalrer, Lorerzo Pou |s a 3par|sr suojecl ard ar |rrao|larl ol lre Pr|||pp|res or Apr|| 11, 1899
Wrer 3pa|r ceded lre Pr|||pp|res (Trealy ol Par|s, Pr|| 8||| 1902 ard Jores LaW)
lr re 8osque - exp|ral|or ol lre lerr ol 18 rorlrs W|lroul ra||rg ar express dec|aral|or ol |rlerl|or lo
rela|r lre|r 3par|sr ral|ora||ly resu|led |r lre |oss ol lre |aller ard lrereoy oecor|rg suojecls ol lre reW
sovere|gr |r lre sare rarrer as lre ral|ves ol lrese |s|ards
Pa|arca v Repuo||c -
'A persor, Wro Was ar |rrao|larl ol lre Pr|||pp|re ls|ards ard a ralura||zed suojecl ol 3pa|r or lre 11
lr

day ol Apr|| 1899, |s a F|||p|ro c|l|zer, oy v|rlue ol lre prov|s|ors ol 3ec. 1 ol lre Acl ol Corgress or 1 Ju|y
1902 ard ol 3ec. 2 ol lre Acl ol Corgress ol 29 Augusl 191. urder lre Corsl|lul|or, re |s a|so a c|l|zer
ol lre Pr|||pp|res oecause re Was sucr al lre l|re ol lre adopl|or ol lre Corsl|lul|or.
Corsl|lul|or d|d rol spec|ly |r relerr|rg lo lrose Wrose lalrers are F|||p|ro c|l|zers as lo Wrelrer lr|s or|y
app||es lo |eg|l|rale cr||drer or rol.
- uo| |ex non o|sr|nu|r neo nos o|sr|nuere oeoemus, espec|a||y |l lre d|sl|rcl|or ras ro lexlua| lourdal|or
|r lre Corsl|lul|or, serves ro slale |rleresl, ard ever |rposes ar |rjusl|ce or ar |rrocerl cr||d. (Fr
8erras)
To |rlroduce a d|sl|rcl|or oelWeer |eg|l|racy or |||eg|l|racy |r lre slalus ol lre cr||d v|sv|s lre
der|val|or ol r|s c|l|zersr|p lror lre lalrer deleals lre lrarsr|ss|ve esserce ol c|l|zersr|p |r o|ood
re|al|orsr|p. (0ear Ver||r Vaga|ora)

22

lr l|re, l re|lerale lral lre C0VELEC d|d rol grave|y aouse |ls d|screl|or |r rerder|rg |ls assa||ed
Reso|ul|ors daled Jaruary 23, 2001 ard Feoruary , 2001.
wE#E0#E, l corcur W|lr Jusl|ce Jose C. v|lug |r r|s poneno|a ard W|lr 3er|or Jusl|ce Reyralo 3.
Puro |r r|s 3eparale 0p|r|or 0l3Vl33lN0 Forr|er's pel|l|or

6#P|0-H0#LE8
88ue8 for #e8olu9on:
1) wrelrer lr|s Courl ras or|g|ra| ard exc|us|ve jur|sd|cl|or lo pass upor lre qua||l|cal|ors ol pres|derl|a|
card|dales;
2) wrelrer lre C0VELEC acled W|lr grave aouse ol d|screl|or Wrer |l |ssues |ls Reso|ul|ors ol Jar. 23,
2001 ard Feo. , 2001, d|sr|ss|rg lre Pel|l|or lor 0|squa||l|cal|or;
3) wrelrer FPJ |s a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro ard lrerelore qua||l|ed lo see| e|ecl|or as Pres|derl.

Jur|sd|ct|on:
Pel|l|ors |r 0.R. Nos. 1111 ard 1131
Pel|l|orers Tecsor er a|. ard ve|ez asserl lral lr|s Courl ras exc|us|ve or|g|ra| jur|sd|cl|or lo delerr|re
Wrelrer FPJ |s qua||l|ed lo oe a card|dale lor Pres|derl: paragrapr Z, 3ecl|or 1 ol Arl|c|e vll ol lre
Corsl|lul|or:
The 8upreme 6ourt, s|tt|ng en b,nc, sha|| be the so|e judge of a|| contests re|at|ng to the e|ect|on,
returns, and qua||f|cat|ons of the Pres|dent or V|ce-Pres|dent, ard ray proru|gale |ls ru|es lor lre
purpose.
relers lo lr|s Courl's jur|sd|cl|or over e|eclora| corlesls re|al|rg lo lre e|ecl|or, relurrs ard qua||l|cal|ors
ol lre Pres|derl, ard rol lo lre qua||l|cal|ors or d|squa||l|cal|ors ol a pres|derl|a| card|dale. FPJ |s sl||| jusl
a card|dale; pel|l|or: preralure.
Pel|l|orers Tecsor er a|. ard ve|ez c|a|r lral lre |ssue ol FPJ's qua||l|cal|or lor lre Pres|dercy ray a|so
oe orougrl d|recl|y lo lr|s Courl or lre oas|s ol 3ecl|or 1 ol Arl|c|e vlll ol lre Corsl|lul|or lrrougr a pel|l|or
lor oerr|orar| urder Ru|e 5 ol lre Ru|es ol Courl, spec|a||y cors|der|rg lral lre |rslarl case |s ore ol
lrarscerderla| |rporlarce.
a pel|l|or lor oerr|orar| urder Ru|e 5 ol lre Ru|es ol Courl |s rol ava||ao|e Wrere lrere |s arolrer p|a|r,
speedy ard adequale reredy |r lre ord|rary course ol |aW|||e |r lr|s case: (lo |rlervere |r lre Pel|l|or
lor 0|squa||l|cal|or)

23

|r delerr|r|rg Wrelrer procedura| ru|es, sucr as slard|rg, srou|d oe re|axed or lre grourd ol
'lrarscerderla| |rporlarce, lre lo||oW|rg srou|d oe cors|dered: lre |ac| ol ary olrer parly W|lr a rore
d|recl ard spec|l|c |rleresl |r ra|s|rg lre quesl|ors oe|rg ra|sed. Cors|der|rg lral lre suoslarl|ve |ssues
ra|sed oy pel|l|orers Tecsor er a|. ard ve|ez |r 0.R. Nos. 11131 ard 1131, respecl|ve|y, are v|rlua||y
|derl|ca| lo lrose ra|sed oy pel|l|orer Forr|er |r 0.R. No. 11821, lr|s Courl |s rol corv|rced lral lre
'lrarscerderla| |rporlarce ol lre |ssues ra|sed rere|r jusl|l|es a d|recl resorl lo lr|s Courl urder Ru|e 5
ol lre Ru|es ol Courl or lre exerc|se ol |ls exparded oerr|orar| jur|sd|cl|or urder 3ec. 1, Arl|c|e vlll ol lre
Corsl|lul|or.
Pel|l|or |r 0.R. No. 11821
lr|s Courl del|r|le|y ras jur|sd|cl|or over lre pel|l|or lor Cerl|orar| quesl|or|rg lre Reso|ul|ors ol Jar. 23,
2001 ard Feo. , 2001, |ssued oy C0VELEC: 3ecl|or Z ol Arl. lXA ol lre Corsl|lul|or vesls lr|s Courl W|lr
lre poWer ol rev|eW over dec|s|ors, orders, or ru||rgs ol lre C0VELEC.
0DVElE0s Jur|so|or|on Dver rne $uoeor Varrer ol rne Per|r|on lor 0|squa||l|oar|on unoer $eor|on 78 ol
rne Dmn|ous E|eor|on 0ooe.
rol rea||y a corsl|lul|ora| quesl|or.
whether The 60HELE6 cted w|th Crave buse of 0|scret|on |n 0|sm|ss|ng the Pet|t|on for |s
qua||f|cat|on for Lack of Her|t.
lre C0VELEC d|d |rdeed acl W|lr grave aouse ol d|screl|or |r |ssu|rg lrer:
8y reso|v|rg lo d|sr|ss lre pel|l|or |r lre Pel|l|or lor 0|squa||l|cal|or W|lroul slal|rg lre laclua| oases
lrerelore:
3ecl|or 11, Arl|c|e vlll ol lre Corsl|lul|or prov|des lral '[r|o dec|s|or sra|| oe rerdered oy ary courl
W|lroul express|rg lrere|r c|ear|y ard d|sl|rcl|y lre lacls ard lre |aW or Wr|cr |l |s oased.
8y reso|v|rg lo d|sr|ss lre Pel|l|or lor 0|squa||l|cal|or W|lroul ru||rg calegor|ca||y or lre |ssue ol FPJ's
c|l|zersr|p.
To jusl|ly |ls evas|or ol lre duly lo ru|e square|y or lre |ssue ol c|l|zersr|p, lre C0VELEC re||es or lr|s
Courl's ru||rg |r $a|oeoo ll v. 0omm|ss|on on
E|eor|ons,http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2004/mar2004/161434_carpiom
orales.htm - _ftn96 ard re|d lral re|d lral Forr|er srou|d rave preserled 'prool ol r|srepreserlal|or
W|lr a de||oerale allerpl lo r|s|ead or lre parl ol FPJ corl|red lre |ssue |r lre Pel|l|or lor
0|squa||l|cal|or lo Wrelrer FPJ 'rusl rave |roWr or rave oeer aWare ol lre la|serood as [a||eged|y|
appear|rg or r|s cerl|l|cale.
Carp|oVora|es: |l |s |rposs|o|e lor lre C0VELEC lo delerr|re Wrelrer FPJ Was aWare ol a la|se
raler|a| represerlal|or |r r|s Cerl|l|cale ol Card|dacy W|lroul l|rsl delerr|r|rg Wrelrer sucr raler|a|
represerlal|or (|r lr|s case, r|s c|a|r ol ralura|oorr c|l|zersr|p) Was la|se. Tre lacl a|ore lral lrere |s a

24

puo||c docurerl (|.e., r|s o|rlr cerl|l|cale) Wr|cr FPJ r|grl rave re||ed upor |r averr|rg ralura|oorr
c|l|zersr|p does rol auloral|ca||y exc|ude lre poss|o|||ly lral (a) lrere |s olrer ev|derce lo sroW lral sucr
averrerl |s la|se, ard (o) lral FPJ Was aWare ol sucr ev|derce.
whether PJ |s a natura|-born |||p|no
F|ve cruc|a| laclua| quesl|ors
(1) wrelrer Lorerzo Pou ras oeer eslao||sred lo oe a F|||p|ro c|l|zer al lre l|re ol lre o|rlr ol r|s sor,
A||ar F. Poe;
lre ev|derce preserled does rol sroW lral Lorerzo Pou acqu|red Pr|||pp|re c|l|zersr|p oy v|rlue ol lre
Trealy ol Par|s or lre 0rgar|c Acls cover|rg lre Pr|||pp|re ls|ards. (ro ev|derce as lo r|s res|derce, or|y
pr|ra lac|e ev|derce.)
(2) wrelrer A||ar F. Poe, lre pulal|ve lalrer ol FPJ Was a F|||p|ro al lre l|re ol lre o|rlr ol lre |aller;
C|a|r: A||ar F. Poe acqu|red F|||p|ro c|l|zersr|p |rdeperderl|y ol r|s lalrer's oy v|rlue ol us so||, A||ar F.
Poe rav|rg oeer a||eged|y oorr |r lre Pr|||pp|res or Noveroer 2Z, 191.
ever assur|rg aruenoo lral A||ar F. Poe Was oorr |r lre Pr|||pp|res or Noveroer 2Z, 191, sucr lacl,
per se, Wou|d rol sull|ce lo prove lral re Was a c|l|zer ol lre Pr|||pp|re ls|ards aoserl a sroW|rg lral re
Was jud|c|a||y dec|ared lo oe a F|||p|ro c|l|zer: lr Tan 0non v. $eorerary ol
laoor,http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2004/mar2004/161434_carpiomora
les.htm - _ftn186 lr|s Courl ru|ed lral lre pr|rc|p|e us so|| or acqu|s|l|or ol c|l|zersr|p oy p|ace ol o|rlr
Was rever exlerded or app||ed |r lre Pr|||pp|re ls|ards:
(3) wrelrer FPJ |s a |eg|l|rale or |||eg|l|rale cr||d;
FPJ's o|rlr cerl|l|cale |rd|cales lral r|s parerls Were rarr|ed, ard lral re |s a |eg|l|rale cr||d. loWever,
lre Varr|age Corlracl ol r|s pulal|ve parerls, Ferrardo R. Pou ard 8ess|e Ke||ey, |s daled 3epleroer 1,
1910, lrereoy |rd|cal|rg lral re Was oorr oul ol Wed|oc|. 3|rce, |r lre Varr|age Corlracl, lre lWo
corlracl|rg parl|es, A||ar F. Poe ard 8ess|e Ke||ey, parl|c|paled |r |ls execul|or, lre erlry lrere|r W|lr
respecl lo lre dale ol lre|r rarr|age srou|d oe g|ver grealer We|grl lrar lre o|rlr cerl|l|cale, Wr|cr Was
execuled oy a prys|c|ar Wro rad lo re|y or rearsay as regards FPJ's |eg|l|racy.
FPJ Was oorr oul ol Wed|oc|, ard Was lrus ar |||eg|l|rale cr||d al o|rlr.
(1) wrelrer A||ar F. Poe ras oeer |ega||y delerr|red lo oe lre lalrer ol FPJ (Assur|rg aruenoo lral
A||ar F. Poe ras oeer sroWr lo rave acqu|red Pr|||pp|re c|l|zersr|p)
As prool ol r|s l|||al|or, FPJ re||es upor (1) lre sl|pu|al|or oy pel|l|orer Forr|er, oolr oelore lre C0VELEC
ard lr|s Courl lral A||ar F. Poe |s |rdeed lre lalrer ol FPJ; (2) lre dec|aral|or ol Ruoy Ke||ey Vargaras;
ard (3) a cerl|l|ed copy ol ar all|dav|l ol 'Ferrardo R. Poe lor Pr|||pp|re Arry Persorre|.

23

rore ol lre prools supp||ed are sull|c|erl prools ol l|||al|or urder Arl|c|e 1Z2 ol lre Far||y Code.
(5) wrelrer FPJ |s a ralura|oorr F|||p|ro C|l|zer.
Carp|oVora|es adopls lre ru|e lral ar |||eg|t|mate, ch||d of an a||en-mother Wro c|a|rs lo oe ar
ollspr|rg ol a F|||p|ro lalrer ray oe cors|dered a ralura|oorr c|l|zer |f he was du|y acknow|edged by
the |atter ,9 br9, lrus |eav|rg lre |||eg|l|rale cr||d W|lr norn|n more ro oo ro aoqu|re or perleor n|s
o|r|zensn|p (rolr|rg rore lo do lo acqu|re c|l|zersr|p = ralura| oorr).
ro ev|derce ras oeer suor|lled lo sroW lral A||ar F. Poe d|d |rdeed ac|roW|edge FPJ as r|s oWr sor at
b|rth
3|rce FPJ lrer Was oorr oul ol Wed|oc| ard Was rol ac|roW|edged oy r|s lalrer, lre or|y poss|o|e
F|||p|ro parerl, at the t|me of h|s b|rth, lre |rescapao|e corc|us|or |s lral re |s rol a ralura|oorr
Pr|||pp|re c|l|zer.
onclu8on wE#E0#E, l vole lo: (1) 0l3Vl33 lre pel|l|ors |r 0.R. Nos. 11131 ard 1131 lor
oe|rg preralure, (2) 0ECLARE C0VELEC Reso|ul|ors daled Jaruary 23, 2001 ard Feoruary , 2001,
rerdered |r C0VELEC 3PA No. 01003 NuLL AN0 v0l0, ard (3) 0lRECT lre C0VELEC lo carce| lre
Cerl|l|cale ol Card|dacy ol Rora|d A||ar Ke||ey Poe, a.|.a. Ferrardo Poe Jr., lor corla|r|rg a la|se raler|a|
represerlal|or.














26

AN1CNIC vs kLLS
Gk No1SS800

I A C 1 S
1hls ls a landmark case on sychologlcal lncapaclLy whlch proclalms under cerLaln
clrcumsLances hablLual lylng as consLlLuLlve of psychologlcal lncapaclLy whlch may
lead Lo nulllLy of marrlage
1he peLlLlonerhusband alleged LhaL respondenL from Lhe sLarL had exhlblLed unusual
and abnormal behavlor of perennlally Lelllng lles fabrlcaLlng rldlculous sLorles and
lnvenLlng personallLles and slLuaLlons of wrlLlng leLLers Lo peLlLloner uslng flcLlLlous
names and of lylng abouL her acLual occupaLlon lncome educaLlonal aLLalnmenL and
famlly background among oLhers

I S S U L
WheLher or noL repeaLed lylng ls abnormal and paLhologlcal and amounLs Lo
psychologlcal lncapaclLy of Lhe respondenL?

n L L D
?es
1he CourL acknowledges LhaL Lhe deflnlLlon of psychologlcal lncapaclLy as lnLended
by Lhe revlslon commlLLee was noL casL ln lnLracLable speclflcs !udlclal undersLandlng
of psychologlcal lncapaclLy may be lnformed by evolvlng sLandards Laklng lnLo accounL
Lhe parLlculars of each case currenL Lrends ln psychologlcal and even canonlcal
LhoughL and experlence 1he case sufflclenLly saLlsfles Lhe guldellnes ln Mollna
Mollna has proven lndublLably useful ln provldlng a unlLary framework LhaL guldes
courLs ln ad[udlcaLlng peLlLloners for declaraLlon of nulllLy under ArLlcle 36 AL Lhe
same Llme Lhe Mollna guldellnes are noL seL ln sLone Lhe clear leglslaLlve lnLenL
mandaLlng a caseLocase percepLlon of each slLuaLlon and Mollna lLself arlslng from
Lhls evoluLlonary undersLandlng of ArLlcle 36

8espondenLs fanLasLlc ablllLy Lo lnvenL and fabrlcaLe sLorles and personallLles
enabled her Lo llve ln a world of makebelleve 1hls made her psychologlcally
lncapaclLaLed as lL rendered her lncapable of glvlng meanlng and slgnlflcance Lo her
marrlage Cne unable Lo adhere Lo reallLy cannoL be expecLed Lo adhere as well Lo any
legal or emoLlonal commlLmenLs










27

Leouel Santos vs Court of Appeals & 1ulia Rosario Bedia-Santos (G.R. No. 112019)
18 Aug
ACTS: Leouel, a member oI the Army, met Julia in Iloilo City. In September 1986, they got
married. The couple latter lived with Julia`s parents. Julia gave birth to a son in 1987. Their
marriage, however, was marred by the Irequent interIerence oI Julia`s parent as averred by
Leouel. The couple also occasionally quarrels about as to, among other things, when should they
start living independently Irom Julia`s parents. In 1988, Julia went to the US to work as a nurse
despite Leouel`s opposition. 7 months later, she and Leouel got to talk and she promised to
return home in 1989. She never went home that year. In 1990, Leouel got the chance to be in the
US due to a military training. During his stay, he desperately tried to locate his wiIe but to no
avail. Leouel, in an eIIort to at least have his wiIe come home, Iiled to nulliIy their marriage due
to Julia`s psychological incapacity. Leouel asserted that due to Julia`s Iailure to return home or at
least communicate with him even with all his eIIort constitutes psychological incapacity. Julia
attacked the complaint and she said that it is Leouel who is incompetent. The prosecutor
ascertained that there is no collusion between the two. Leouel`s petition is however denied by the
lower and appellate court.
ISSUE: Whether or not psychological incapacity is attendant to the case at bar.
HELD: BeIore deciding on the case, the SC noted that the Family Code did not deIine the term
'psychological incapacity, which is adopted Irom the Catholic Canon Law. But basing it on the
deliberations oI the Family Code Revision Committee, the provision in PI, adopted with less
speciIicity than expected, has been designed to allow some resiliency in its application. The
FCRC did not give any examples oI PI Ior Iear that the giving oI examples would limit the
applicability oI the provision under the principle oI ejusdem generis. Rather, the FCRC would
like the judge to interpret the provision on a case-to-case basis, guided by experience, the
Iindings oI experts and researchers in psychological disciplines, and by decisions oI church
tribunals which, although not binding on the civil courts, may be given persuasive eIIect since
the provision was taken Irom Canon Law. The term 'psychological incapacity deIies any
precise deIinition since psychological causes can be oI an inIinite variety. Article 36 oI the
Family Code cannot be taken and construed independently oI but must stand in conjunction with,
existing precepts in our law on marriage. PI should reIer to no less than a mental (not physical)
incapacity that causes a party to be truly incognitive oI the basic marital covenants that
concomitantly must be assumed and discharged by the parties to the marriage which (Art. 68),
include their mutual obligations to live together, observe love, respect and Iidelity and render
help and support. The intendment oI the law has been to conIine the meaning oI PI to the most
serious cases oI personality disorders clearly demonstrative oI an utter insensitivity or inability to
give meaning and signiIicance to the marriage. This psychological condition must exist at the
time the marriage is celebrated.
The SC also notes that PI must be characterized by
(a) gravity,

28

(b) juridical antecedence, and
(c) incurability. The incapacity must be grave or serious such that the party would be incapable
oI carrying out the ordinary duties required in marriage; it must be rooted in the history oI the
party antedating the marriage, although the overt maniIestations may emerge only aIter the
marriage; and it must be incurable or, even iI it were otherwise, the cure would be beyond the
means oI the party involved. In the case at bar, although Leouel stands aggrieved, his petition
must be dismissed because the alleged PI oI his wiIe is not clearly shown by the Iactual settings
presented. The Iactual settings do not come close to to the standard required to decree a nullity oI
marriage.


































29

Azcueta vs. Republic (G.R. No. 180668)
16 Aug
acts: Marietta Azcueta (Marietta) Iiled a petition Ior declaration oI absolute nullity oI her
marriage to RodolIo Azcueta (RodolIo) beIore the Regional Trial Court (RTC). Marietta averred
that RodolIo was psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential obligations oI
marriage. Marietta complained that despite her encouragement, RodolIo never bothered to look
Ior a job and always depended on his mother Ior Iinancial assistance and Ior his decisions. It was
RodolIo`s mother who Iound them a room near the Azcueta home and paid the monthly rental.
RodolIo also pretended to have Iound work and gave Marietta money which actually came Irom
RodolIo`s mother. When Marietta conIronted him, RodolIo cried like a child and told her his
parents could support their needs. They had sex only once a month which Marietta never
enjoyed. When they discussed this, RodolIo told Marietta that sex was sacred and should not be
enjoyed or abused. RodolIo also told her he was not ready Ior a child. When Marietta asked
RodolIo iI they could move to another place, he did not agree and she was Iorced to leave and
see iI he would Iollow her. He did not.
RodolIo`s Iirst cousin, who at one time lived with RodolIo`s Iamily, corroborated Marietta`s
testimony that RodolIo was not gainIully employed and relied on the allowance given by his
mother who also paid the rentals Ior the room the couple lived in. The psychiatrist who examined
Marietta testiIied that she Iound the latter to be mature, independent, Iocused, responsible, had a
direction and ambition in liIe, and was not psychologically incapacitated to perIorm the duties
and responsibilities oI marriage. Based on inIormation gathered Irom Marietta, the same
psychiatrist Iound RodolIo to be suIIering Irom Dependent Personality Disorder characterized by
loss oI selI-conIidence, constant selI-doubt, inability to make his own decisions and dependency
on other people. The psychiatrist explained that the root cause oI the disorder was a cross-
identiIication with RodolIo`s mother who was the dominant Iigure in the Iamily considering that
RodolIo`s Iather, a seaman, wasalways out oI the house. She added that the problem began
during the early stages oI RodolIo`s liIe but maniIested only aIter his marriage. She stated that
the problem was severe, because he would not be able take on the responsibilities oI a spouse,
and incurable, because it began in early development and had been deeply ingrained in his
personality. She, thus,concluded that RodolIo was psychologically incapacitated to perIorm his
marital duties and responsibilities.
RodolIo Iailed to appear and Iile an answer despite service oI summons on him. The City
Prosecutor Iound no collusion between the parties. Based on the evidence presented by Marietta,
the Regional Trial Court (RTC) declared the marriage void ab initio.
The Solicitor General appealed the RTC`s decision, arguing that the psychiatric report was based
solely on the inIormation given by Marietta, and there was no showing that the alleged
psychological disorder was present at the start oI the marriage or that it was grave, permanent
and incurable.The Court oI Appeals reversed the RTC`s decision. Marietta, thus, brought the
case to the Supreme Court on a petition Ior review on certiorari.

30

Issue: Whether or not RodolIo is psychologically incapacitated to justiIy a declaration that his
marriage to Marrieta is void ab initio under Article 36 oI the Family Code.
Held: RodolIo was psychologically incapacitated to perIorm his marital duties because oI his
Dependent Personality Disorder. His marriage to Marietta was declared void ab initio.
Marietta suIIiciently discharged her burden to prove her husband`s psychological incapacity. As
held in Marcos vs. Marcos |397 Phil. 840 (2000)|, there is no requirement that the respondent
spouse should be personally examined by a physician or psychologist as a condition sine qua non
Ior the declaration oI nullity oI marriage based on psychological incapacity. What matters is
whether the totality oI evidence presented is adequate to sustain a Iinding oI psychological
incapacity. Marietta`s testimony was corroborated in material points by RodolIo`s close relative,
and supported by the psychiatrist`s testimony linking the maniIestations oI RodolIo`s
psychological incapacity and the psychological disorder itselI. It is a settled principle oI civil
procedure that the conclusions oI the trial court regarding the credibility oI witnesses are entitled
to great respect Irom the appellate courts because the trial court had an opportunity to observe
the demeanor oI witnesses while giving testimony which may indicate their candor or lack
thereoI. Since the trial court itselI accepted the veracity oI Marietta`s Iactual premises, there is
no cause to dispute the conclusion oI psychological incapacity drawn thereIrom by her expert
witness.
The root cause oI RodolIo`s psychological incapacity was alleged in the petition, medically or
clinically identiIied, suIIiciently proven by testimony oI an expert witness with more than 40
years experience in the Iield oI psychology and psychological incapacity, and clearly explained
in the trial court`s decision. As held in Te vs. Te (G.R. No. 161793, 13 February 2009), '(b)y the
very nature oI Article 36, courts, despite having the primary task and burden oI decision-making,
must not discount but, instead, must consider as decisive evidence the expert opinion on the
psychological and mental temperaments oI the parties.
RodolIo`s psychological incapacity was also established to have clearly existed at the time oI and
even beIore the celebration oI marriage. Witnesses were united in testiIying that Irom the start oI
the marriage, RodolIo`s irresponsibility, overdependence on his mother and abnormal sexual
reticence were already evident. These maniIestations oI RodolIo`s Dependent Personality
Disorder must have existed even prior to the marriage being rooted in his early development and
a by-product oI his upbringing and Iamily liIe.
Furthermore, RodolIo`s psychological incapacity had been shown to be grave so as to render him
unable to assume the essential obligations oI marriage. The Court oI Appeals` opinion that
RodolIo`s requests Ior Iinancial assistance Irom his mother might have been due to
embarrassment Ior Iailing to contribute to the Iamily coIIers and that his motive Ior not wanting
a child was a 'responsible realization since he was unemployed, were dismissed by the High
Court Ior being speculative and unsupported by evidence. The Supreme Court likewise disagreed
with the Court oI Appeals` Iinding that RodolIo`s irresponsibility and overdependence on his
mother could be attributed to immaturity, noting that at the time oI his marriage, RodolIo was
almost 29 years old. Also, the expert testimony identiIied a grave clinical or medical cause
Ior RodolIo`s abnormal behavior Dependent Personality Disorder.

31

A person aIIlicted with Dependent Personality Disorder cannot assume the essential marital
obligations oI living together, observing love, respect and Iidelity and rendering help and
support, Ior he is unable to make everyday decisions without advice Irom others, allows others to
make most oI his importantdecisions (such as where to live), tends to agree with people even
when he believes they are wrong, has diIIiculty doing things on his own, volunteers to do things
that are demeaning in order to get approval Irom other people, Ieels uncomIortable or helpless
when alone and is oIten preoccupied with Iears oI being abandoned. (Te vs. Te, supra)
One who is unable to support himselI, much less a wiIe; one who cannot independently make
decisions regarding even the most basic matters that spouses Iace every day; and one who cannot
contribute to the material, physical and emotional well-being oI his spouse, is psychologically
incapacitated to comply with the marital obligations within the meaning oI Article 36 oI the
Family Code.
This is not to say, however, that anyone diagnosed with Dependent Personality Disorder is
automatically deemed psychologically incapacitated to perIorm his/her marital obligations. The
court must evaluate the Iacts, as guided by expert opinion, and careIully examine the type oI
disorder and the gravity thereoI beIore declaring the nullity oI a marriage under Article 36.
Finally, it has been established that RodolIo`s condition is incurable, having been deeply
ingrained in his system since his early years.













32

Case 8rlef no 2 Ch| M|ng 1so| vs Court of Appea|s 266 SCkA 324Gk No 119190 16 Ianuary
1997

l a c L s
C n 2 2 M a y 1 9 8 8 r e s p o n d e n L C l n a L a o m a r r l e d p e L l L l o n e r Chl
Mlng 1sol Slnce Lhel r marrlage unLl l Lhel r separaLlon on13 March 1989 Lhere was
no sexual conLacL beLween Lhem Clna fl led a case of annul menL of marrlage on Lhe
ground of ps yc hol ogl cal l ncapac l L y 1he 81C Cuez on Cl L y g r anL ed annulmenL
and Lhe CourL of appeals afflrmed sald declslon

l s s u e
W h e L h e r o r n o L C h l M l n g 1 s o l ' s f a l l u r e L o h a v e
s e x u a l lnLercourse wlLh hls wlfe Clna form Lhe Llme of Lhe marrlageunLll Lhe Llme of
Lhelr separaLl on a ground for psychologl cal lncapaclLy

8 u l l n g
? e s 1 h e S u p r e m e C o u r L r u l e d L h a L L h e s e n s e l e s s
a n d proLracLed refusal of Lhe husband Lo have sexual lnLercourse L o pr ocr eaL e chl l dr en
an es s enL l al mar l L al obl l gaL l on f r om L h e L l m e o f L h e m a r r l a g e u p
L o L h e L h e l r s e p a r a L l o n L e n monLhs laLer ls equlvalenL Lo psychologlcal
lncapaclLy !udgmenL afflrmed
























33

Case 8rlef no 4 LuclLa L Pernandez vs CA and Marlo Pernandez320 SC8A 76 C8 no 126010
8 uecember 1999
l a c L s
C n 1 ! a n u a r y 1 9 8 1 L u c l L a L s L r e l l a m a r r l e d
M a r l o Pernandez and Lhey begoL Lhree chll dren Cn 10 !uly 1992LuclLa flled a
peLlLlon for annulmenL of marrlage under ArLlcle3 6 o f L h e l a m l l y C o d e S h e
a l l e g e d L h a L f r o m L h e L l me o f L h e l r ma r r l a g e Ma r l o f a l l e d L o
p e r f o r m h l s o b l l g a L l o n s L o s uppor L L he f aml l y dev oL l ng mos L of hl s
L l me dr l nk l ng hada f f a l r s w l L h m a n y w o m e n a n d c o h a b l L l n g
w l L h a n o L h e r woman wl L h whom he had an l l l eg l L l maL e chl l d and
f l nal l y a b a n d o n l n g h e r a n d L h e f a m l l y 1 h e 8 1 C 1 a g a y L a y
C l L y dlsmlssed Lhe peLlLlon whlch was afflrmed by Lhe CA
l s s u e
W h e L h e r o r n o L M a r l o ' s h a b l L u a l a l c o h o l l s m
s e x u a l l n f l d e l l L y / p e r v e r s l o n a n d f a m l l y a b a n d o n me n L
c o n s L l L u L e psychologlcal lncapaclLy under ArLlcle 36 of Lhe lamlly Code

8ul l ng
no 1he Supr eme Cour L r ul ed L haL L he af or emenL l oned acL s do noL by
L hems el ves c ons L l L uL e gr ounds f or ps ychol ogl cal l nca pacl L y wl L hl n L he
conL empl aL l on of L he laml l y Code l L m u s L b e s h o w n L h a L L h e s e
a c L s a r e m a n l f e s L a L l o n s o f a dlsordered personal lLy whlch make Marlo
compleLely unableLo dlscharge hls essenLlal marlLal obllgaLlons and noL merelyd u e L o
h l s y o u L h a n d s e l f c o n s c l o u s f e e l l n g s o f b e l n g handsome!udgmenL
afflrmed






34

Case 8rlef no 3 Marcos vs MarcosC8 no 136490 19 CcLober 2000 (3
rd
ulvlslon)l a c L s l a l n L l f f 8 r e n d a Ma r c o s a n d d e f e n d a n L Wl l s o n M a r c o s
we r e ma r r l e d L w l c e o n 6 S e p L e m b e r 1 9 8 2 a n d o n 8 Ma y 1 9 8 3 1hey
had flve chll dren 8renda flled a case for null lLy of Lhemarrlage for psychologlcal
lncapaclLy al leglng LhaL Wl lsonf a l l e d L o p r o v l d e ma L e r l a l s u p p o r L L o L h e
f a m l l y a n d h a d r e s o r L e d L o p h y s l c a l a b u s e a n d a b a n d o n me n L 1 h e
8 1 C declared Lhelr marrlage nul l and vol d under arLlcle 36 of Lhelaml l y Code
Powever L he Cour L of appeal s r ever s ed L hesald declslonl s s u e s 1 Wh e L h e r
o r n o L L h e L o L a l l L y o f e v l d e n c e p r e s e n L e d l n L h l s case show psychologlcal
lncapaclLy2 W h e L h e r o r n o L p e r s o n a l m e d l c a l o r
p s y c h o l o g l c a l examlnaLlon of Wllson by a physlclan ls a requlremenL for
adeclaraLlon of psychologlcal lncapaclLy8ul l ng 1 no Al L hough L he S upr eme Cour L
l s s uf f l cl enL l y c onvl ncedLhaL Wllson falled Lo provlde maLerlal supporL and resorLed
Lophys l cal abus e and abandonmenL L he L oL al l L y of hl s acL s does noL lead Lo
psychologlcal lncapaclLy2 no Lhe Supreme CourL ruled LhaL examl naLl on by
physlclano r p s y c h o l o g l s L l s n o L a c o n d l L l o n s l n e g u a n o n f o r
L h e declaraLlon of psychologlcal lncapaclLy

Case 8rlef no 6 8epubllc vs uagdagC8 no 109973 9 lebruary 2001 (2
nd
ulvlslon)l a c L s Cn 7 S e p L e m b e r 1 9 7 3 L r l l n d a Ma L l a s a n d A v e l l n o
ua g d a g g oL mar r l ed and had L wo chl l dr en l n 1990 Lr l l nda f l l ed apeLlLl on
for nul llLy of marrlage for psychol oglcal lncapaclLyShe al leged LhaL Avel lno would
ofLen dlsappear for monLhsl ndul ge l n dr l nkl ng s pr ees wl L h f r l ends and
l nf l l cL phys l cal l n [ u r l e s o n h e r S h e a l s o l e a r n e d
L h a L A v e l l n o w a s lmprlsoned buL escaped from [al l uurl ng Lhe courL
hearlngvlrglnla uagdag Lrllnda's slsLerlnlaw LesLlfled Lhe veraclLyof Lr l l nda' s
al l egaL l ons 1he 81C Cl ongapo Cl L y decl ar edLhe marrlage null and vold whlch
was affl rmed by Lhe courLof Appealsl s s ue WheL her or noL Avel l no s uf f er s f r om
ps ychol og l cal l ncapac l L yas he ls emoLlonally lmmaLure and l rresponslble a
hablLualalcohollc and a fuglLlve from [usLlce8 u l l n g 1 h e S u p r e m e C o u r L r u l e d
L h a L L r l l n d a f a l l e d L o c o mp l y w l L h Lhe evl denLlary requl remenLs under Lhe
guldell nes seL l n LheLwo cases of SanLos and Moll na as she falled Lo presenL
aps ychl aL r l s L or medl cal docL or L o L es L l f y L he al l egaL l on L haL Avell no ls a

33

fuglLlve from [usLlce was noL suffl clenLly provena n d L h e
l n v e s L l g a L l n g p r o s e c u L o r w a s n o L g l v e n
a n opporLunlLy Lo presenL converLlng evldences

1lLle eople vs rlngas 331 SC8A 828 (C8 no 173928 31 AugusL 2007)lacLsCn
7 SepLember 1973 Lrl lnda MaLlas and Avel l no uagdag goL marrledand had L wo
chl l dr en l n 1990 Lr l l nda f l l ed a peL l L l on f or nul l l L y of marrlage for
psychologlcal lncapaclLy She alleged LhaL Avellno wouldofLen dlsappear for monLhs lndulge ln
drlnklng sprees wlLh frlends andl nf l l cL phys l c al l n[ ur l es on her She al s o l ear ned
L haL Avel l no was lmprlsoned buL escaped from [all uurlng Lhe courL hearlng
vl rglnlauagdag Lr l l nda' s s l s L er l n l aw L es L l f l ed L he ver ac l L y of
Lr l l nda' s allegaLlons 1he 81CClongapo ClLy declared Lhe marrlage null and voldwhlch was afflrmed by Lhe
courL of Appealsl s s ue WheL her or noL Avel l no s uf f er s f r om ps yc hol ogl cal
l ncapac l L y as he l s emoLl onally lmmaLure and lrresponsl ble a hablLual alcohol lc
and afuglLlve from [usLlceP e l d 1 h e S u p r e m e C o u r L r u l e d L h a L
L r l l n d a f a l l e d L o c o m p l y w l L h L h e evldenLlary requlremenLs under
Lhe gul del lnes seL ln Lhe Lwo cases of SanLos and Mol lna as she fal led Lo presenL a
psychlaLrlsL or medlcaldocLor Lo LesLlfy Lhe allegaLlon LhaL Avellno ls a fuglLlve from [usLlce
wasnoL sufflclenLly proven and Lhe lnvesLlgaLlng prosecuLor was noL glven anopporLunlLy Lo presenL converLlng
evldences




















36

ConsLlLuLlonal Law1
MLkCADC V MAN2ANC 307 SCkA 630 (1999)
C8 no 133083 onenLe Mendoza !
eLlLloner LrnesLo S Mercado
8espondenLs Lduardo 8 Manzano and CCMLLLC

lAC1S
1hls ls a peLlLlon for cerLlorarl seeklng Lo seL aslde Lhe resoluLlon of Lhe CCMLLLC
en banc and Lo declare Manzano dlsquallfled Lo hold Lhe offlce of vlcemayor of
MakaLl ClLy lmporLanL deLalls on Ldu Manzano born SepLember 4 1933 ln San
lranclsco Callfornla uSA Lo llllplno parenLs
On the May 11, 1998 elections Ior vice-mayoralty oI Makati City, 3
candidates competed Ior the post: Eduardo B. Manzano, Ernesto S. Mercado, and
Gabriel V. Daza III. Manzano won the elections but his proclamation was
suspended due to a pending petition Ior disqualiIication Iiled by a certain Ernesto
Mamaril alleging that Manzano was an American citizen. On May 7, 1998, the
Second Division oI the COMELEC cancelled the certiIicate oI candidacy oI
Manzano on the grounds oI his dual-citizenship, which disqualiIies him according
to Sec.40(d) oI the Local Government Code. Manzano Iiled a motion Ior
reconsideration. Mercado sought to intervene in the case Ior disqualiIication.
Manzano opposed the motion to intervene. The motion was unresolved. But on
August 31, 1998, the COMELEC en banc (with 1 commissioner abstaining)
reversed the Second Division`s ruling on the cancellation oI the certiIicate oI
candidacy and directing the proclamation oI Manzano as winner, saying:
Manzano belng born ln Lhe uSA obLalned uS clLlzenshlp by operaLlon of Lhe uS
consLlLuLlon and laws under prlnclple of [us soll (basls ls place of blrLh)

Yet, by being born to Filipino parents, Manzano natural born Filipino citizen, by
operation oI the 1935 Philippine Constitution and laws under principle jus
sanguinis
(the right oI blood).
Although he is registered as an alien with the Philippine Bureau oI
Immigration and holds and American passport, he has not lost his Filipino
citizenship since he has not renounced it and has not taken an oath oI
allegiance to the USA.

37

Manzano, aIter the age oI majority, registered himselI as a voter and voted in the
1992, 1995, and 1998 Philippine elections which eIIectively renounced his US
citizenship under American law. Under Philippine law, he no longer had US
citizenship.
rlvaLe respondenL Manzano was Lhen proclalmed as vlcemayor of MakaLl ClLy
lSSuLS
1. WON petitioner Mercado has personality to bring this suit considering that he was
not an original party in the case Ior disqualiIication Iiled by Ernesto Mamaril nor
was his motion Ior leave to intervene granted.
2 WCn respondenL Manzano ls a dual clLlzen and lf so WCn he ls dlsquallfled
from belng a
candldaLe for vlcemayor ln MakaLl ClLy
uLClSlCnS
1 ?es
2no and so no
8LASCnS
1. Manzano argues that Mercado has neither legal interest in the matter oI litigation
nor an interest to protect because he is 'a deIeated candidate Ior the vice-mayoralty
post oI Makati City |who| cannot be proclaimed as the Vice-Mayor oI Makati City
even iI the private respondent be ultimately disqualiIied by Iinal and executory
judgment.
This assumes that at the time intervention was sought, there had already been a
proclamation oI the election results Ior the vice-mayoralty elections when in Iact,
there has
not been such a proclamation. Certainly, the petitioner had, and still has an interest
in ousting private respondent Irom the race when he sought to intervene. The rule
in Labo v. COMELEC only applies when the election oI the respondent is
contested, and the question is WON the second placer may be declared winner. II
Mamaril was competent to bring action, so was Mercado, being a rival candidate.

38


eLlLloner has rlghL Lo lnLervene even lf he flled Lhe moLlon on May 20 1998
when lL was shown LhaL Lhe prlvaLe respondenL had Lhe mosL voLes LlecLoral
8eforms Law of 1987 provldes LhaL lnLervenLlon may be allowed ln proceedlngs
for dlsquallflcaLlon even afLer elecLlon lf Lhere has been no flnal [udgmenL
rendered lallure of CCMLLLC en banc Lo resolve peLlLloner's moLlon for
lnLervenLlon was LanLamounL Lo denlal of Lhe moLlon [usLlfylng Lhls peLlLlon for
cerLlorarl
2 lnvoklng Lhe maxlm dura lex sed lex peLlLloner conLends LhaL Lhrough Sec40(d) of
Lhe Local CovernmenL Code (whlch declares as dlsquallfled from runnlng for
elecLlve local poslLlon 1hose wlLh dualclLlzenshlp") Congress has commanded
ln expllclL Lerms Lhe lnellglblllLy of persons possesslng dual alleglance Lo hold
elecLlve offlce"
Dual citizenship is diIIerent Irom dual allegiance. Dual citizenship is involuntary;
it arises out oI circumstances oI birth or marriage, where a person is recognized to
be a national by two or more states. Dual allegiance is a result oI a person`s
volition; it is a situation wherein a person simultaneously owes, by some positive
act, loyalty to two or more states. Dual citizenship is an issue because a person
who has this raises a question oI which state`s law must apply to him/her, thereIore
posting a threat to a country`s sovereignty. In Sec.5 Article IV oI the Constitution
on Citizenship, the concern was not with dual citizenship per se, but with
naturalized citizens who maintain allegiance to their countries oI origin even aIter
naturalization. Hence, 'dual citizenship in the aIorementioned disqualiIication
clause must
mean 'dual allegiance. ThereIore, persons with mere dual citizenship do not Iall
under this disqualiIication.
It should suIIice that upon Iiling oI certiIicates Ior candidacy, such persons with
dual citizenships have elected their Philippine citizenship to terminate their dual
citizenship. In private respondent`s certiIicate oI candidacy, he made these
statements under oath on March 27, 1998: 'I am a Filipino citizen.Natural-born.
'I am not a permanent resident oI , or immigrant to , a Ioreign country. 'I am
eligible Ior the oIIice I seek to be elected. I will support and deIend the
Constitution oI the Philippines and will maintain true Iaith and allegiance
thereto. The Iiling oI such certiIicate oI candidacy suIIiced to renounce his

39

Amerlcan clLlzenshlp effecLlvely removlng any dlsquallflcaLlon he mlghL have as a
dualclLlzen ln lrlvaldo v CCMLLLC lL was held LhaL 8y laws of Lhe unlLed
SLaLes lrlvaldo losL hls Amerlcan clLlzenshlp when he Look hls oaLh of alleglance
Lo Lhe hlllpplne
CovernmenL when he ran for Covernor ln 1988 ln 1992 and ln 1993 Lvery
cerLlflcaLe of candldacy conLalns an oaLh of alleglance Lo Lhe hlllpplne
CovernmenL" 1herefore peLlLloner
Mercado`s contention that the oath oI allegiance contained in private respondent`s
certiIicate oI candidacy is insuIIicient to constitute his renunciation oI his
American citizenship. Also, equally without merit is his contention that, to be
eIIective, such renunciation should have been made upon reaching the age oI
majority since no law requires the election oI Philippine citizenship to be made
upon majority age.

Plus, the Iact that Manzano admitted that he was registered as an American citizen
with the Philippine Bureau oI Immigration and Deportation and that he holds an
American passport which he used Ior his last travel to the US dated April 22,
1997should not be such a big deal. At the time oI said travel, the use oI an
American passport was simply an assertion oI his American nationality beIore the
termination oI his American citizenship. Admitting that he was a registered alien
does not mean that he is not still a Filipino (Aznar v. COMELEC).
Manzano`s oath oI allegiance, together with the Iact he has spent his liIe here,
received his education here, and practiced his proIession here, and has taken part in
past Philippine elections, leaves no doubt oI his election oI Philippine citizenship.
WPL8LlC8L peLlLlon for cerLlorarl ulSMlSSLu *lnellglblllLy refers Lo lack of
quallflcaLlons prescrlbed








40

C8 no 83820 May 23 1990
!CSL 8 AZnA8 peLlLlonervsCCMMlSSlCn Cn LLLC1lCnS and
LMlLlC MA8lC 8LnnL8 CSMLRA respondenLsonenLe
A8AS
!eLlLloner Aznar r provlnclal chalrman of u Laban ln Cebu

8espondenL
CCMLLLC and Csmena r candldaLe for provlnclal governor of
CebulAC1S1)

Cn november 19 1987 prlvaLe respondenL Lmlllo LlLo Csmena
flled hls cerLlflcaLe of candldacy wlLh LheCCMLLLC for Lhe poslLlon of
rovlnclal Covernor of Cebu rovlnce ln Lhe !anuary 18 1988 local
elecLlons2)
Cn !anuary 22 1988 peLlLloner !ose 8 Aznar ln hls capaclLy as lLs
lncumbenL rovlnclal Chalrman flled wlLh LheCCMLLLC a peLlLlon for
Lhe dlsquallflcaLlon of prlvaLe respondenL on Lhe ground LhaL he ls
allegedly noL a llllplnoclLlzen belng a clLlzen of Lhe unlLed SLaLes of
Amerlca3)
Cn !anuary 27 1988 peLlLloner flled a lormal ManlfesLaLlon submlLLlng a
CerLlflcaLe lssued by Lhe LhenlmmlgraLlon and ueporLaLlon
Commlssloner Mlrlam uefensor SanLlago cerLlfylng LhaL prlvaLe
respondenL ls anAmerlcan and ls a holder of Allen CerLlflcaLe of
8eglsLraLlon (AC8) no 821448 and lmmlgranL CerLlflcaLe
of 8esldence (lC8) no 133911 lssued aL Manlla on March 27 and
28 1938 respecLlvely (Annex 81)4)


41

uurlng Lhe hearlng aL Lhe CCMLLLC rlvaLe respondenL malnLalned
LhaL he ls a llllplno clLlzen alleglng LhaL hels Lhe leglLlmaLe chlld of ur
Lmlllo u Csmena a llllplno and son of Lhe laLe resldenL Serglo Csmena
Sr LhaL hels a holder of a valld and subslsLlng hlllpplne assporL
no 0833103 lssued on March 23 1987 LhaL he has beenconLlnuously
resldlng ln Lhe hlllpplnes slnce blrLh and has noL gone ouL of Lhe counLry for
more Lhan slx monLhsand LhaL he has been a reglsLered voLer ln Lhe
hlllpplnes slnce 19 633)
1hereafLer on !une 11 1988 CCMLLLC (llrsL ulvlslon) dlsmlssed
Lhe peLlLlon for dlsquallflcaLlon for noL havlngbeen Llmely flled and
for lack of sufflclenL proof LhaL prlvaLe respondenL ls noL a llllplno
clLlzen Pence LhepeLlLlon for CerLlorarllSSuLWheLher or noL
respondenL Csmena ls no longer a llllplno clLlzen by acqulrlng dual
clLlzenshlp?PLLuSC dlsmlssed peLlLlon for cerLlorarl upholdlng
CCMLLLCrs declslon 1he peLlLloner falled Lo presenL dlrecL proof
LhaL prlvaLerespondenL had losL hls llllplno clLlzenshlp by any of Lhe
modes provlded for under CA no 63 Lhese are (1) bynaLurallzaLlon
ln a forelgn counLry (2) by express renunclaLlon of clLlzenshlp and (3) by
subscrlblng Lo an oaLh of allegla nceLo supporL Lhe ConsLlLuLlon or laws
of a forelgn counLry lrom Lhe evl dence lL ls clear LhaL prlvaLe
respondenL Csmena dldnoL lose hls hlllpplne clLlzenshlp by any of
Lhe Lhree menLloned herelnabove or by any oLher mode of loslng
hlllpplneclLlzenshlpln Lhe lnsLanL case prlvaLe respondenL
vehemenLly denles havlng Laken Lhe oaLh of alleglance of Lhe unlLed
SLaLes Pe ls aholder of a valld and subslsLlng hlllpplne passporL and has
conLlnuously parLlclpaLed ln Lhe elecLoral process ln LhlscounLry slnce
1963 up Lo Lhe presenL boLh as a voLer and as a candldaLe 1hus
prlvaLe respondenL remalns a llllplno andLhe loss of hls hlllpplne
clLlzenshlp cannoL be presumedConslderlng Lhe facL LhaL admlLLedly
Csmena was boLh a llllplno and an Amerlcan Lhe mere facL LhaL he

42

has a CerLlflcaLesLaLlng he ls an Amerlcan does noL mean LhaL he ls
noL sLlll a llllplno ln Lhe case of Csmena Lhe CerLlflcaLlon LhaL he ls
anAmerlcan does noL mean LhaL he ls noL sLlll a llllplno possessed
as he ls of boLh naLlonallLles or clLlzenshlps lndeed Lh erels no
express renunclaLlon here of hlllpplne clLlzenshlp LruLh Lo Lell
Lhere ls even no lmplled renunclaLlon of saldclLlzenshlp When we
conslder LhaL Lhe renunclaLlon needed Lo lose hlllpplne clLlzenshlp
musL be express lL sLands Loreason LhaL Lhere can be no such loss
of hlllpplne clLlzenshlp
when Lhere ls no renunclaLlon elLher express or lmplled














43

Va||es vs Come|ec
Date August 9 2000
et|t|oner C|r||o Va||es
kespondents Come|ec and kosa||nd basco Lopez
onente ur|s|ma

lacLs
8osallnd ?basco Lopez was born on May 16 1934 ln napler 1errace
8roome WesLernAusLralla Lo Lhe spouses 1elesforo ?basco (llllplno) and
1heresa Marquez (AusLrallan) ln 1949aL Lhe age of flfLeen she lefL AusLralla
and came Lo seLLle ln Lhe hlllpplnes ln 1932 she was marrled Lo Leopoldo
Lopez a llllplno clLlzen aL Lhe MalaLe CaLhollc Church ln Manlla Slnce Lhen
she has conLlnuously parLlclpaLed ln Lhe elecLoral process noL only as a voLer
buL as a candldaLe as well She served as rovlnclal 8oard Member of Lhe
Sanggunlang anlalawlgan of uavao CrlenLal ln 1992 she ran for and was
elecLed governor of uavao CrlenLal Per elecLlon was conLesLed by her
opponenL Cll 1ao[o !r ln a peLlLlon for quo warranLo alleglng as ground
Lherefor her alleged AusLrallan clLlzenshlp Powever flndlng no sufflclenL
proof LhaL respondenL had renounced her hlllpplne clLlzenshlp Lhe
Comelec en banc dlsmlssed Lhe peLlLlon

ln Lhe 1993 local elecLlons 8osallnd Lopez ran for reelecLlon as governor of
uavao CrlenLal Per opponenL lranclsco 8abaL flled a peLlLlon for
dlsquallflcaLlon before Lhe CCMLLLC llrsL ulvlslon conLesLlng her llllplno
clLlzenshlp buL Lhe sald peLlLlon was llkewlse dlsmlssed by Lhe CCMLLLC
1he clLlzenshlp of prlvaLe respondenL was once agaln ralsed as an lssue
when she ran for reelecLlon as governor of uavao CrlenLal ln Lhe May 11
1998 elecLlons Per candldacy was
quesLloned by Lhe hereln peLlLloner Clrllo valles Lhe CCMLLLC's llrsL
ulvlslon came ouL wlLh a 8esoluLlon dlsmlsslng Lhe peLlLlon
1he Commlsslon on LlecLlons ruled LhaL prlvaLe respondenL 8osallnd ?basco
Lopez ls a llllplno clLlzen and Lherefore quallfled Lo run for a publlc offlce
because (1) her faLher 1elesforo ?basco ls a llllplno clLlzen and by vlrLue of
Lhe prlnclple of [us sangulnls she was a llllplno clLlzen under Lhe 1987
hlllpplne ConsLlLuLlon (2) she was marrled Lo a llllplno Lhereby maklng

44

her also a llllplno clLlzen lpso [ure under Sec 4 of CA 473 (3) and LhaL she
renounced her
AusLrallan clLlzenshlp on !anuary 13 1992 before Lhe ueparLmenL of
lmmlgraLlon and LLhnlc Affalrs of AusLralla and her AusLrallan passporL was
accordlngly cancelled as cerLlfled Lo by Lhe
AusLrallan Lmbassy ln Manlla and (4) furLhermore Lhere are Lhe CCMLLLC
8esoluLlons declarlng her a llllplno clLlzen duly quallfled Lo run for Lhe
elecLlve poslLlon of uavao CrlenLal governor eLlLloner on Lhe oLher hand
malnLalns LhaL Lhe prlvaLe respondenL ls an AusLrallan clLlzen placlng
rellance on Lhe admlLLed facLs LhaL (a) ln 1988 prlvaLe respondenL
reglsLered herself wlLh Lhe 8ureau of lmmlgraLlon as an AusLrallan naLlonal
and was lssued Allen CerLlflcaLe of 8eglsLraLlon no 404693 daLed
SepLember 19 1988 (b) Cn even daLe she applled for Lhe lssuance of an
lmmlgranL CerLlflcaLe of 8esldence (lC8) and (c) She was lssued AusLrallan
assporL no P700888 on March 3 1988

lssue WCn 8osallnd Lopez ls a llllplno clLlzen and Lherefore quallfled Lo run
for publlc offlce

Peld ?es

8aLlo 1he hlllpplne law on clLlzenshlp adheres Lo Lhe prlnclple of [us
sangulnls 1hereunder a chlld follows Lhe naLlonallLy or clLlzenshlp of Lhe
parenLs regardless of Lhe place of hls/her blrLh as opposed Lo Lhe docLrlne
of [us soll whlch deLermlnes naLlonallLy or clLlzenshlp on Lhe basls of place of
blrLh 8osallnd Lopez was born on May 16 1934 ln napler 1errace 8roome
WesLern AusLralla Lo Lhe spouses 1elesforo ?basco a llllplno clLlzen and
naLlve of uaeL Camarlnes
norLe and 1heresa Marquez an AusLrallan PlsLorlcally Lhls was a year
before Lhe 1933 ConsLlLuLlon Look lnLo effecL and aL LhaL Llme whaL served
as Lhe ConsLlLuLlon of Lhe hlllpplnes were Lhe prlnclpal organlc acLs by
whlch Lhe unlLed SLaLes governed Lhe counLry 1hese were Lhe hlllpplne 8lll
of !uly 1 1902 and Lhe hlllpplne AuLonomy AcL of AugusL 29 1916 also
known as Lhe !ones Law Among oLhers Lhese laws deflned who were
deemed Lo be clLlzens of Lhe hlllpplne

43

lslands 1he hlllpplne 8lll of 1902 deflned hlllpplne clLlzens as
SLC 4 xxx all lnhablLanLs of Lhe hlllpplne lslands conLlnulng Lo reslde
Lhereln who were Spanlsh sub[ecLs on Lhe elevenLh day of Aprll elghLeen
hundred and nlneLynlne and Lhen reslded ln Lhe hlllpplne lslands and
Lhelr chlldren born subsequenL LhereLo shall be deemed and held Lo be
clLlzens of Lhe hlllpplne lslands and as such enLlLled Lo Lhe proLecLlon of Lhe
unlLed SLaLes
excepL such as shall have elecLed Lo preserve Lhelr alleglance Lo Lhe Crown
of Spaln ln accordance wlLh Lhe provlslons of Lhe LreaLy of peace beLween
Lhe unlLed SLaLes and Spaln slgned aL arls uecember LenLh elghLeen
hundred and nlneLyelghL
under boLh organlc acLs all lnhablLanLs of Lhe hlllpplnes who were Spanlsh
sub[ecLs onAprll 11 1899 and reslded Lhereln lncludlng Lhelr chlldren are
deemed rlvaLe respondenL's faLher 1elesforo ?basco was born on !anuary
3 1879 ln uaeL Camarlnes norLe a facL duly evldenced by a cerLlfled Lrue
copy of an enLry ln Lhe 8eglsLry of 8lrLhs 1hus under Lhe hlllpplne 8lll of
1902 and Lhe !ones Law 1elesforo ?basco was deemed Lo be a hlllpplne
clLlzen 8y vlrLue of Lhe same laws whlch were Lhe laws ln force aL Lhe Llme
of her blrLh 1elesforo's daughLer hereln prlvaLe respondenL 8osallnd
?basco Lopez ls llkewlse a clLlzen
of Lhe hlllpplnes 1he slgnlng lnLo law of Lhe 1933 hlllpplne ConsLlLuLlon
has esLabllshed Lhe prlnclple of[ us sangulnls as basls for Lhe acqulslLlon of
hlllpplne clLlzenshlp Lo wlL

(1) 1hose who are clLlzens of Lhe hlllpplne lslands aL Lhe Llme of Lhe
adopLlon of Lhls ConsLlLuLlon
(2) 1hose born ln Lhe hlllpplne lslands of forelgn parenLs who before Lhe
adopLlon of Lhls ConsLlLuLlon had been elecLed Lo publlc offlce ln Lhe
hlllpplne lslands
(3) 1hose whose faLhers are clLlzens of Lhe hlllpplnes
(4) 1hose whose moLhers are clLlzens of Lhe hlllpplnes and upon reachlng
Lhe age of ma[orlLy elecL hlllpplne clLlzenshlp
(3) 1hose who are naLurallzed ln accordance wlLh law
So also Lhe prlnclple of [us sangulnls whlch confers clLlzenshlp by vlrLue of
blood

46

relaLlonshlp was subsequenLly reLalned under Lhe 1973 and 1987
ConsLlLuLlons
1hus Lhehereln prlvaLe respondenL 8osallnd ?basco Lopez ls a llllplno
clLlzen havlng been born Lo a llllplno faLher 1he facL of her belng born ln
AusLralla ls noL LanLamounL Lo her loslng her hlllpplne clLlzenshlp lf
AusLralla follows Lhe prlnclple of [us soll Lhen aL mosL prlvaLe respondenL
can also clalm AusLrallan clLlzenshlp resulLlng Lo her possesslon of dual
clLlzenshlp eLlLloner also conLends LhaL even on Lhe assumpLlon LhaL Lhe
prlvaLe respondenL ls a
llllplno clLlzen she has noneLheless renounced her hlllpplne clLlzenshlp 1o
buLLress Lhls conLenLlon peLlLloner clLed prlvaLe respondenL's appllcaLlon
for an Allen CerLlflcaLe of 8eglsLraLlon (AC8) and lmmlgranL CerLlflcaLe of
8esldence (lC8) on SepLember 19 1988 and Lhe lssuance Lo her of an
AusLrallan passporL on March 3 1988 under CommonwealLh AcL no 63 a
llllplno clLlzen may lose hls clLlzenshlp

(1) 8y naLurallzaLlon ln a forelgn counLry
(2) 8y express renunclaLlon of clLlzenshlp
(3) 8y subscrlblng Lo an oaLh of alleglance Lo supporL Lhe consLlLuLlon or
laws of a forelgn counLry upon aLLalnlng LwenLyone years of age or more

(4) 8y accepLlng commlsslon ln Lhe mlllLary naval or alr servlce of a forelgn
counLry
(3) 8y cancellaLlon of Lhe cerLlflcaLe of naLurallzaLlon
(6) 8y havlng been declared by compeLenL auLhorlLy a deserLer of Lhe
hlllpplne armed forces ln Llme of war unless subsequenLly a plenary
pardon or amnesLy has been granLed and
(7) ln case of a woman upon her marrlage Lo a forelgner lf by vlrLue of Lhe
laws ln force ln her husband's counLry she acqulres hls naLlonallLy
ln order LhaL clLlzenshlp may be losL by renunclaLlon such renunclaLlon
musL be express eLlLloner's conLenLlon LhaL Lhe appllcaLlon of prlvaLe
respondenL for an allen cerLlflcaLe of reglsLraLlon and her AusLrallan
passporL ls berefL of merlL 1hls lssue was puL Lo resL ln Lhe case of Aznar vs
CCMLLLC and ln Lhe more recenL case of Mercado vs Manzano and
CCMLLLC ln Lhe case of Aznar Lhe CourL ruled LhaL Lhe mere facL LhaL

47

respondenL Csmena was a holder of a cerLlflcaLe sLaLlng LhaL he ls an
Amerlcan dld noL mean LhaL he ls no longer a llllplno and LhaL an
appllcaLlon for an allen cerLlflcaLe of reglsLraLlon was noL LanLamounL Lo
renunclaLlon of hls hlllpplne clLlzenshlp And ln Mercado vs Manzano and
CCMLLLC lL was held LhaL Lhe facL LhaL respondenL Manzano was reglsLered
as an Amerlcan clLlzen ln Lhe 8ureau of lmmlgraLlon and
ueporLaLlon and was holdlng an Amerlcan passporL on Aprll 22 1997 only a
year before he flled a cerLlflcaLe of candldacy for vlcemayor of MakaLl were
[usL asserLlons of hls Amerlcan naLlonallLy before Lhe LermlnaLlon of hls
Amerlcan clLlzenshlp
1hus Lhe mere facL LhaL 8osallnd Lopez was a holder of an AusLrallan
passporL and had an allen cerLlflcaLe of reglsLraLlon are noL acLs consLlLuLlng
an effecLlve renunclaLlon of clLlzenshlp and do noL mlllLaLe agalnsL her clalm
of llllplno clLlzenshlp lor renunclaLlon Lo effecLlvely resulL ln Lhe loss of
clLlzenshlp Lhe same musL be express As held by Lhls courL ln Lhe case of
Aznar
an appllcaLlon for an allen cerLlflcaLe of reglsLraLlon does noL amounL Lo an
express renunclaLlon or repudlaLlon of one's clLlzenshlp 1he appllcaLlon of
Lhe hereln prlvaLe respondenL for an allen cerLlflcaLe of reglsLraLlon and her
holdlng of an AusLrallan passporL as ln Lhe case of

Mercado vs Manzano were mere acLs of asserLlon of her AusLrallan
clLlzenshlp before she effecLlvely renounced Lhe same 1hus aL Lhe mosL
prlvaLe respondenL had dual clLlzenshlp she was an AusLrallan and a
llllplno as well
Moreover under CommonwealLh AcL 63 Lhe facL LhaL a chlld of llllplno
parenL/s was bornln anoLher counLry has noL been lncluded as a ground for
loslng one's hlllpplne clLlzenshlpSlnce prlvaLe respondenL dld noL lose or
renounce her hlllpplne clLlzenshlp peLlLloner's clalmLhaL respondenL musL
go Lhrough Lhe process of repaLrlaLlon does noL hold waLer eLlLloner also
malnLalns LhaL even on Lhe assumpLlon LhaL Lhe prlvaLe respondenL had dual
clLlzenshlp sLlll she ls dlsquallfled Lo run for governor of uavao CrlenLal
clLlng SecLlon 40
of 8epubllc AcL 7160 oLherwlse known as Lhe Local CovernmenL Code of
1991 ln Lhe case ofMercado vs Manzano Lhe CourL clarlfled dual

48

clLlzenshlp" as used ln Lhe Local CovernmenL Code and reconclled Lhe same
wlLh ArLlcle lv SecLlon 3 of Lhe 1987 ConsLlLuLlon on dual alleglance
8ecognlzlng slLuaLlons ln whlch a llllplno clLlzen may wlLhouL performlng
any acL and as an lnvolunLary consequence of Lhe confllcLlng laws of
dlfferenL counLrles be also a clLlzen
of anoLher sLaLe Lhe CourL explalned LhaL dual clLlzenshlp as a
dlsquallflcaLlon musL refer LoclLlzens wlLh dual alleglance

1hus Lhe facL LhaL Lhe prlvaLe respondenL had dual clLlzenshlp dld noL
auLomaLlcally dlsquallfy her from runnlng for a publlc offlce lurLhermore lL
was ruled LhaL for candldaLes wlLh dual clLlzenshlp lL ls enough LhaL Lhey
elecL hlllpplne clLlzenshlp upon Lhe flllng of Lhelr cerLlflcaLe of candldacy Lo
LermlnaLe Lhelr sLaLus as persons wlLh dual clLlzenshlp 1he flllng of a
cerLlflcaLe of candldacy sufflced Lo renounce forelgn clLlzenshlp effecLlvely
removlng any
dlsquallflcaLlon as a dual clLlzen 1hls ls so because ln Lhe cerLlflcaLe of
candldacy one declares LhaL he/she ls a llllplno clLlzen and LhaL he/she wlll
supporL and defend Lhe ConsLlLuLlon of Lhe hlllpplnes and wlll malnLaln
Lrue falLh and alleglance LhereLo Such declaraLlon whlch ls under oaLh
operaLes as an effecLlve renunclaLlon of forelgn clLlzenshlp 1herefore when
Lhe hereln prlvaLe respondenL flled her cerLlflcaLe of candldacy ln 1992 such
facL alone LermlnaLed her AusLrallan clLlzenshlp
1hen Loo lL ls slgnlflcanL Lo noLe LhaL on !anuary 13 1992 prlvaLe
respondenL execuLed a ueclaraLlon of 8enunclaLlon of AusLrallan
ClLlzenshlp duly reglsLered ln Lhe ueparLmenL of lmmlgraLlon and LLhnlc
Affalrs of AusLralla on May 12 1992 And as a resulL on lebruary 11 1992
Lhe AusLrallan passporL of prlvaLe respondenL was cancelled as cerLlfled Lo
by Second
SecreLary 8lchard l Munro of Lhe Lmbassy of AusLralla ln Manlla As apLly
appreclaLed by Lhe CCMLLLC Lhe aforesald acLs were enough Lo seLLle Lhe
lssue of Lhe alleged dual clLlzenshlp of 8osallnd ?basco Lopez Slnce her
renunclaLlon was effecLlve peLlLloner's clalm LhaL prlvaLe respondenL musL
go Lhrough Lhe whole process of repaLrlaLlon holds no waLer
eLlLloner malnLalns furLher LhaL when clLlzenshlp ls ralsed as an lssue ln
[udlclal or admlnlsLraLlve proceedlngs Lhe resoluLlon or declslon Lhereon ls

49

generally noL consldered res [udlcaLa ln any subsequenL proceedlng
challenglng Lhe same clLlng Lhe case of Moy ?a Llm ?ao vs Commlssloner of
lmmlgraLlon Pe lnslsLs LhaL Lhe same lssue of clLlzenshlp may be Lhreshed
ouL anew
eLlLloner ls correcL lnsofar as Lhe general rule ls concernedle Lhe
prlnclple of res [udlcaLa generally does noL apply ln cases hlnglng on Lhe
lssue of clLlzenshlp Powever ln Lhe case of 8urca vs 8epubllc an excepLlon
Lo Lhls general rule was recognlzed 1he CourL ruled ln LhaL case LhaL ln
order LhaL Lhe docLrlne of res [udlcaLa may be applled ln cases of clLlzenshlp
Lhe followlng musL be presenL

1) a person's clLlzenshlp be ralsed as a maLerlal lssue ln a conLroversy where
sald person ls a parLy
2) Lhe SollclLor Ceneral or hls auLhorlzed represenLaLlve Look acLlve parL ln
Lhe resoluLlon Lhereof and
3) Lhe flndlng on clLlzenshlp ls afflrmed by Lhls CourL
AlLhough Lhe general rule was seL forLh ln Lhe case of Moy ?a Llm ?ao Lhe
case dld noLforeclose Lhe welghL of prlor rullngs on clLlzenshlp lL elucldaLed
LhaL rellance may somehow beplaced on Lhese anLecedenL offlclal flndlngs
Lhough noL really blndlng Lo make Lhe efforL easleror slmpler lndeed Lhere
appears sufflclenL basls Lo rely on Lhe prlor rullngs of Lhe Commlsslon on
LlecLlons ln SA no 93066 and LC 9234 whlch resolved Lhe lssue of
clLlzenshlp ln favor of Lhe hereln prlvaLe respondenL 1he evldence adduced
by peLlLloner ls subsLanLlally Lhe same evldence presenLed ln Lhese Lwo prlor
cases eLlLloner falled Lo show any new evldence or supervenlng evenL Lo
warranL a reversal of such prlor resoluLlons Powever Lhe procedural lssue
noLwlLhsLandlng consldered on Lhe merlLs Lhe peLlLlon cannoL prosper