Jurisdictional Facts

Republic of the Philippines

Court of Appeals Manila SPECIAL THIRD DIVISION IN RE: PETITION TO CORRECT ENTRY IN THE RECORD OF BIRTH/CERTIFICTE OF !I"E BIRT BIRTH H# CHN CHN$E $E OF $EN $ENDER/ DER/ %E& OF 'ENNY PODC TN FROM (F( )FEM!E* TO (M( )M!E*

CA-G.R. CV NO. 852!

"ENN# APODACA TAN$ Petitione,-ppellee.

Me+be,s:

-)ersus LOCAL+CIT# CIVIL REGISTRAR O, LEGA'PI CIT#$ Responent.

VAS%&E'$ (R.$ Chairman DE G&IA-SALVADOR$ * an VELOSO$ JJ.

P,o+ul0ate:

REP&LIC O, THE PHILIPPINES$    Opposito,-ppellant1 / ----------------------------------------------- /

DECISION VELOSO$ J.:

The essential requisite for allowing substantial corrections of entries in the civil registry is that the true facts be established in an appropriate adversarial proceeding.1

*

Per Office Order No. 201-06 RTR dated August 9, 2006. Barco vs. Court of Appeals, 420 SCRA 162, 172 2004!.

1

CA-G.R. CV NO. 852! DECISION 000000000000000000

2

The Case

On appeal b2 the Republic of the Philippines. th,ou0h the Office of the %olicito, $ene,al )O%$*. is the O,e, 3 ate Ma,ch 4. 3556 of the Re0ional T,ial Cou,t of !e0a7pi Cit2 8 in Spec. Proc. No. 1!! . the ispositi9e po,tion of hich ,eas:

(ACCORDINGL#. the !ocal Ci9il Re0ist,a, of the Cit2 of !e0a7pi is he,eb2 o,e,e to co,,ect the ent,2 ;Fe+ale; to Male in the ,eco, of bi,th of "e11 Apo3a4a Ta1 1 %e,9e a cop2 of this o,e, to the !ocal Ci9il Re0ist,a, of !e0a7pi Cit21 %O ORDERED1(

The Facts

"e11 Apo3a4a Ta1 is a le0iti+ate chil of Nesto, Tan an Ma,il2n poaca1 Bo,n on > in the Cit2 of !e0a7pi. his Ce,tificate of !i9e Bi,th? ,e9eals a ,e6ale 7, 0ene,1

On

Feb,ua,2 =>. 355?. he file a Petition 6 ith the Re0ional T,ial Cou,t of !e0a7pi Cit2 p,a2in0 that the !ocal Ci9il Re0ist,a, be i,ecte to co,,ect the ent,2 appea,in0 in his bi,th ce,tificate. such that his 9e13er+se/ s:all appear as ;ale 7; <1stea3 of ,e6ale 7,.

2

Rollo, page "9. Bra#c$ ". 4 Records, page ". % Ibid , pages 1&2. "


=

In an O,e, @ ate Feb,ua,2 =A. 355?. the t,ial cou,t. tain0 co0ni7ance of the case. set it fo, hea,in0 on Ma2 3@. 355?1 The Ci9il Re0ist,a, an all those clai+in0 to ha9e inte,est in the case e,e i,ecte to file thei, opposition ithin =6 a2s f,o+ notice of the petition. o, f,o+ the last a2 of publication of sai notice1 Finall2. the cou,t i,ecte petitione, to cause the publication of sai O,e, an to sen a cop2 of the petition. ith its annees. to the %olicito, $ene,al1

On the a2 set fo, hea,in0. no opposition as ,eco,e b2 the cou,t1 Petitione, thus p,esente the folloin0 ocu+ents to establish the u,isictional facts:

(Ehibit ;; Ehibit ;B;

- Petition - !e0al Fees Fo,+ shoin0 pa2+ent of ocet/filin0 fees Ehibit ;C; - O,e, ate Feb,ua,2 =A. 355? Ehibit ;D; - Notice of hea,in0 Ehibit ;E; - Ce,tificate of Postin0 Ehibit ;F; - Notice of ppea,ance of the %olicito, $ene,al Ehibit ;$; - utho,i7ation of the %olicito, $ene,al to the Cit2 P,osecuto, to appea, in this case1 Ehibit ;H; - Issue of the Bicol Re0ional eel2 Di0est ate Feb,ua,2 34. 355? Ehibit ;I; - Issue of the Bicol Re0ional eel2 Di0est ate Ma,ch >. 355? Ehibit ;<; Issue of the Bicol Re0ional eel2 Di0est Ehibit ;'; - ffia9it of Publication( >

T,ial ensue ith the p,esentation of the testi+onies of petitione, hi+self. his +othe, Ma,il2n poeca Tan. an D,1 %a,ah Bon0ao-"asue71 To p,o9e that he is a +ale. petitione, auce his 6 7

Records, page 9. Ibid., page 1'.


>

SSS Personal "ecord# $oter%s "egistration "ecord# Community Ta& Certificate# Passport 'pplication an the (edical Certificate issue b2 D,1 "asue71A

fte,hich. petitione, +ae his fo,+al offe, of

e9ience an ,este his case1 hen ase b2 the cou,t if it intens to p,esent an2 cont,o9e,tin0 e9ience. the %tate. th,ou0h the eputi7e Cit2 P,osecuto, of !e0a7pi Cit2. anse,e in the ne0ati9e1

The Ruling of the Trial Court

Finin0 the petition fo, co,,ection of 0ene, to be in o,e,. the t,ial cou,t 0,ante sai petition on Ma,ch 4. 35561 Thus:

(fte, hea,in0. ha9in0 co+plie ith the notice ,eui,e b2 la )Ehs1 C. D. E. H. I. < an '* an finin0 the e9ience p,esente clea, an con9incin0 that petitione,;s se is M!E an the ent,2 ;fe+ale; in his ,eco, of bi,th is e,,oneous )Ehs1 !. M. N. O. P an G# T%N of 'enn2 poaca Tan. u0ust 3?. 355?# T%N of Ma,il2n poaca Tan. Octobe, 6. 355?# T%N of D,1 %a,ah Bon0ao"asue7.
the Petition is GRANTED.(4

He14e$ t:
'

See( )older of ocu+e#tar -$//ts, pages %4&%'. Rollo, page "9. 10 Ibid ., 20&"'. 9


5

Issue:

In fine. e shall ,esol9e the sole issue of:

HETHER OR NOT THE TRI! CORT ERRED IN $RNTIN$ THE PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF $ENDER1

OUR RULING

Clai+in0 that it as not se,9e a cop2 of the petition an its annees. appellant posits that the %tate as ep,i9e of oppo,tunit2 to oppose 'enn2 poaca Tan;s petition fo, co,,ection of ent,2 of 0ene, in his bi,th ce,tificate1 ppellant lieise assails the O,e, 0,antin0 the instant petition. fo, it faile to state the facts an la upon hich the t,ial cou,t;s conclusions e,e base1 e 3o 1ot a9ree.

The essential ,euisite fo, alloin0 substantial co,,ections of ent,ies in the ci9il ,e0ist,2 is that the t,ue facts be establishe in an app,op,iate a9e,sa,ial p,oceein01== Rule =5A of the Re9ise Rules of Cou,t p,o9ies the p,oceu,e fo, cancellation o, co,,ection of ent,ies in the ci9il ,e0ist,2. vi).: (%EC1 ?1 Notice and publication. * pon the filin0 of the petition. the cou,t shall. b2 an o,e,. fi the ti+e an place fo, the hea,in0 of the sa+e. an cause ,easonable notice the,eof to be 0i9en to the pe,sons na+e in the petition1 The cou,t shall also cause the o,e, to be publishe once a ee fo, th,ee )8* 11

ote 1, supra.




consecuti9e ees in a nespape, of 0ene,al ci,culation in the p,o9ince1 %EC1 61 +pposition. * The ci9il ,e0ist,a, an an2 pe,son ha9in0 o, clai+in0 an2 inte,est une, the ent,2 hose cancellation o, co,,ection is sou0ht +a2. ithin fifteen )=6* a2s f,o+ notice of the petition. o, f,o+ the last ate of publication o, such notice. file his opposition the,eto1(

Hence. upon the filin0 of the petition. it beco+es the ut2 of the cou,t to: )=* issue an o,e, fiin0 the ti+e an place fo, the hea,in0 of the petition. an )3* cause the o,e, fo, hea,in0 to be publishe once a ee. fo, th,ee )8* consecuti9e ees in a nespape, of 0ene,al ci,culation in the p,o9ince1=3

In this case. the fo,e0oin0 p,oceu,es e,e co+plie ith the,eb2 ustif2in0 the t,ial cou,t;s 0,ant of the petition1 Reco,s sho that upon ,eceipt of the petition. the t,ial cou,t issue a notice of hea,in0=8 settin0 the hea,in0 on Ma2 3@. 355? at A:85 o;cloc in the +o,nin01

%ai notice of hea,in0 as publishe on Feb,ua,2 34.

Ma,ch > an =?. 355? issues of ,The -icol "egional ee/ly 0igest#( a nespape, eite an issue at !e0a7pi Cit2 an of 0ene,al ci,culation in the Bicol Re0ion. the %a+a, P,o9inces an the Philippines1=?

 cop2 of the notice of hea,in0 as lieise poste in

th,ee conspicuous places at the Cit2 Hall. !e0a7pi Cit2. P,o9incial Capitol of lba2. !e0a7pi Cit2 an OCC Bulletin Boa,. Rais. !e0a7pi Cit2 on Ma,ch 8=. 355?1=6 The notice of hea,in0 state that 12

-leos/da vs. ocal C/v/l Reg/strar of 3ueo# C/t, "'2 SCRA 22, 2' 2002!. Records, page 10. 14 See( Aff/dav/t of Pul/cat/o#, )older of ocu+e#tar -$//ts, page 49. 1% See( Cert/f/cate of Post/#g, Records, page 11. 1"


!

(any person having or claiming any interest under which correction is sought may# within 1 days from notice of the petition or from the last day of publication of such notice# file an opposition to the petition., 12 The %olicito, $ene,al an the !ocal Ci9il Re0ist,a, of !e0a7pi Cit2 e,e fu,nishe a cop2 of the notice of hea,in01

The fo,e0oin0.

the,efo,e. satisf2 all the ,eui,e+ents of Rule =5A1

ppellant;s clai+ that the %tate as ep,i9e of an oppo,tunit2 to oppose the petition is ithout +e,it1  petition fo, co,,ection is an action in rem# an action a0ainst a thin0 an not a0ainst a pe,son1 n in rem p,oceein0 is 9aliate essentiall2 th,ou0h pul<4at
Inte,estin0l2. the %olicito, $ene,al

eputi7e P,osecuto, %olon %ison to assist an ,ep,esent the %tate in the hea,in0 fo, this case1

P,osecuto, %ison. in fact. acti9el2

pa,ticipate in the p,oceein0s belo b2 asin0 appellee an his itnesses uestions u,in0 c,oss-ea+ination1=A

It is clea,l2

inco,,ect fo, one to clai+ that appellant as ep,i9e of an oppo,tunit2 to oppose the petition1

Instea. hat e ha9e is a

situation he,e appellant faile to sho cont,o9e,tin0 e9ience neee to p,o9e that the co,,ection of ent,2 f,o+ (fe+ale( to (+ale( is una,,ante an ill p,euice the 0o9e,n+ent1 "e,il2. the t,ial cou,t co++itte no ,e9e,sible e,,o, in 0,antin0 the instant petition1

16

See( "rd 5-R-AS clause, )older of ocu+e#tar -$//ts, page 10. ote 1, ibid., at page 17". 1' S, August 24, 2004, pages 11&1%8 S, ctoer %, 2004, pages 9&11. 17


8

lso. appellant;s asse,tion that the ecision faile to state the facts an the la upon hich the ecision as base. is unt,ue1 ll that is ,eui,e of the uicia,2 is that the ecision ,ene,e +aes clea, h2 eithe, pa,t2 p,e9aile une, the la as applie to the facts that ha9e been establishe1=4 The,e is no ,i0i fo,+ula on the lan0ua0e that +a2 be e+plo2e to satisf2 the ,eui,e+ents of cla,it2 an istinctness1 The isc,etion of the pa,ticula, u0e in this ,espect. hile not unli+ite. is necessa,il2 b,oa1 The,e is no sac,a+ental fo,+ of o,s hich he +ust use une, pain of bein0 consie,e as ha9in0 faile to abie b2 hat the Constitution i,ects1 35

The p,esent case is a si+ple action fo, co,,ection of ent,2 in 'enn2 poaca Tan;s Ce,tificate of !i9e Bi,th1 fte, consie,in0 the o,al an ocu+enta,2 e9ience auce b2 appellee. the t,ial cou,t foun that the 0ene, of 'enn2 poaca Tan is (+ale( an not (fe+ale.( as e,,oneousl2 inicate in his bi,th ce,tificate1 s the fact of bein0 a (+ale( as co+petentl2 establishe b2 appellee th,ou0h the p,esentation of ocu+enta,2 e9ience )SSS Personal "ecord# $oter%s "egistration "ecord# Community Ta& Certificate# Passport 'pplication an the (edical Certificate issue b2 D,1 "asue7* an testi+onies of itnesses )Ma,il2n poaca Tan an D,1 %a,ah Bon0ao-"asue7*. the O,e, ate Ma,ch 4. 3556. vi).:

(fte, hea,in0. ha9in0 co+plie ith the notice ,eui,e b2 la )Ehs1 C. D. E. H. I. < an '* an finin0 the e9ience p,esente clea, an con9incin0 that petitione,;s se is M!E an 19 20

:ose vs. Sa#tos, "% SCRA %"', %4" ;1970<. =e#doa vs. C)> of 3ueo#, %1 SCRA "69, "7% ;197"<.


F

the ent,2 ;fe+ale; in his ,eco, of bi,th is e,,oneous )Ehs1 !. M. N. O. P an G# T%N of 'enn2 poaca Tan. u0ust 3?. 355?# T%N of Ma,il2n poaca Tan. Octobe, 6. 355?# T%N of D,1 %a,ah Bon0ao"asue7.
the Petition is $RNTED1( 3=.

coul ha9e the,efo,e onl2 been p,ope,1 HERE,ORE. the instant appeal is DIS;ISSED1 The assaile O,e, ate Ma,ch 4. 3556 is A,,IR;ED1 %O ORDERED1

VICENTE S.E. VELOSO

ssociate
E CONCR:

CONRADO ;. VAS%&E'$ (R. ssociate
21

Rollo, page "9.

REECCA DE-G&IA SALVADOR ssociate

?

CERTIFICATION

Pu,suant to ,ticle "III. %ection =8 of the Constitution. it is he,eb2 ce,tifie that the conclusions in the abo9e Decision e,e ,eache in consultation befo,e the case as assi0ne to the ,ite, of the opinion of the Cou,t1

CONRADO M. VASQUEZ, JR. ssociate

Jurisdictional Facts

Recommend Documents