Republic of the Philippines Republic of the Philippines
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals
Manila Manila
SPECIAL THIRD DIVISION SPECIAL THIRD DIVISION
IN RE:
IN RE: PETITION TO CORRECTPETITION TO CORRECT CA-G.R. CV NO. 852!CA-G.R. CV NO. 852! ENTRY IN THE RECORD OF
ENTRY IN THE RECORD OF BIRTH/CERTIFICTE OF !I"E BIRTH/CERTIFICTE OF !I"E BI
BIRTRTHH# # CHCHNN$E $E OF OF $E$ENNDEDER/R/ %E& OF 'ENNY PODC %E& OF 'ENNY PODC TN FROM (F( )FEM!E* TO TN FROM (F( )FEM!E* TO (M( )M!E*
(M( )M!E* "
"EENNNN# # AAPPOODDAACCA A TTAANN$$ Me+be,s:Me+be,s: Petitione,-ppellee.
Petitione,-ppellee.
VAS%&E'$
VAS%&E'$ (R.$(R.$ ChairmanChairman -
- ) ) e e r r s s u u s s - - DDE E GG&&IIAA--SSAALLVVAADDOORR$$** anan
VELOSO$
VELOSO$ JJ.JJ. LOCAL+CIT# CIVIL REGISTRAR
LOCAL+CIT# CIVIL REGISTRAR O, LEGA'PI CIT#$
O, LEGA'PI CIT#$ R
Reessppoonneenntt. . PP,,oo++uull00aattee:: REP&LIC
REP&LIC O, O, THE THE PHILIPPINES$ PHILIPPINES$ Opposito,-ppellant1 Opposito,-ppellant1 / / - - - //
DECISION
DECISION
VELOSO$ VELOSO$ J.:J.:The essential requisite for allowing substantial corrections of The essential requisite for allowing substantial corrections of entries in the civil registry is that the true facts be established in an entries in the civil registry is that the true facts be established in an appropriate adversarial proceeding.
appropriate adversarial proceeding.11
*
*PerPer Office Order No. 201-06 Office Order No. 201-06 RTRRTR dated August 9, 2006.dated August 9, 2006. 1
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 Cit28 in Spec. Proc. No. 1!! . the
ispositi9e po,tion of hich ,eas:
(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 Ta11
%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 poaca1 Bo,n on <ul2 8. =4>> in the Cit2 of !e0a7pi. his Ce,tificate of !i9e Bi,th? ,e9eals a ,e6ale 7, 0ene,1 On
Feb,ua,2 =>. 355?. he file a Petition6 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.
CA-G.R. CV NO. 852! =
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In an O,e, @ ate Feb,ua,2 =A. 355?. the t,ial cou,t. tain0
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 annees. 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 folloin0 ocu+ents to establish the u,isictional facts:
(Ehibit ;; - Petition
Ehibit ;B; - !e0al Fees Fo,+ shoin0 pa2+ent of ocet/filin0 fees
Ehibit ;C; - O,e, ate Feb,ua,2 =A. 355? Ehibit ;D; - Notice of hea,in0
Ehibit ;E; - Ce,tificate of Postin0
Ehibit ;F; - Notice of ppea,ance of the %olicito, $ene,al Ehibit ;$; - utho,i7ation of the %olicito, $ene,al to the
Cit2 P,osecuto, to appea, in this case1 Ehibit ;H; - Issue of the Bicol Re0ional eel2 Di0est
ate Feb,ua,2 34. 355?
Ehibit ;I; - Issue of the Bicol Re0ional eel2 Di0est ate Ma,ch >. 355?
Ehibit ;<; - Issue of the Bicol Re0ional eel2 Di0est Ehibit ;'; - ffia9it of Publication(>
T,ial ensue ith the p,esentation of the testi+onies of petitione, hi+self. his +othe, Ma,il2n poeca Tan. an D,1 %a,ah Bon0ao-"asue71 To p,o9e that he is a +ale. petitione, auce his
6 Records, page 9. 7 Ibid., page 1'.
SSS Personal "ecord# $oter%s "egistration "ecord# Community Ta& Certificate# Passport 'pplication an the (edical Certificate issue b2 D,1 "asue71A fte,hich. petitione, +ae his fo,+al offe, of
e9ience an ,este his case1 hen ase b2 the cou,t if it intens to p,esent an2 cont,o9e,tin0 e9ience. the %tate. th,ou0h the eputi7e Cit2 P,osecuto, of !e0a7pi Cit2. anse,e in the ne0ati9e1
The Ruling of the Trial Court
Finin0 the petition fo, co,,ection of 0ene, to be in o,e,. the t,ial cou,t 0,ante sai petition on Ma,ch 4. 35561 Thus:
(fte, hea,in0. ha9in0 co+plie ith the notice ,eui,e b2 la )Ehs1 C. D. E. H. I. < an '* an finin0 the e9ience p,esente clea, an con9incin0 that petitione,;s se is M!E an the ent,2 ;fe+ale; in his ,eco, of bi,th is e,,oneous )Ehs1 !. M. N. O. P an G# T%N of 'enn2 poaca Tan. u0ust 3?. 355?# T%N of Ma,il2n poaca Tan. Octobe, 6. 355?# T%N of D,1 %a,ah Bon0ao-"asue7. <anua,2 36. 3556*. an the,e bein0
---? No oppos<t<o1 @as e1tere3 a1 perso1 or partB 2 No oe4t<o1 o1 t:e part of t:e Lo4al C<)<l Re9<strarB a13
= No 4o1trar e)<3e14e @as prese1te3 t:e state
the Petition is GRANTED.(4
He14e$ t:<s appeal.=5
' See( )older of ocu+e#tar -$//ts, pages %4&%'. 9 Rollo, page "9.
CA-G.R. CV NO. 852! 5
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Issue:
In fine. e shall ,esol9e the sole issue of:
HETHER OR NOT THE TRI! CORT ERRED IN $RNTIN$ THE PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF $ENDER1
OUR RULING
Clai+in0 that it as not se,9e a cop2 of the petition an its annees. appellant posits that the %tate as ep,i9e of oppo,tunit2 to oppose 'enn2 poaca Tan;s petition fo, co,,ection of ent,2 of 0ene, in his bi,th ce,tificate1 ppellant lieise 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 base1
e 3o 1ot a9ree.
The essential ,euisite fo, alloin0 substantial co,,ections of ent,ies in the ci9il ,e0ist,2 is that the t,ue facts be establishe in an app,op,iate a9e,sa,ial p,oceein01== Rule =5A of the Re9ise Rules
of Cou,t p,o9ies the p,oceu,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*
consecuti9e ees in a nespape, 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 une, 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, fiin0 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 ees in a nespape, of 0ene,al ci,culation in the p,o9ince1=3
In this case. the fo,e0oin0 p,oceu,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 nespape, eite 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 lieise poste in
th,ee conspicuous places at the Cit2 Hall. !e0a7pi Cit2. P,o9incial Capitol of lba2. !e0a7pi Cit2 an OCC Bulletin Boa,. Rais. !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 3ueo# C/t, "'2 SCRA 22, 2' 2002!. 1" Records, page 10.
14 See( Aff/dav/t of Pul/cat/o#, )older of ocu+e#tar -$//ts, page 49. 1% See( Cert/f/cate of Post/#g, Records, page 11.
CA-G.R. CV NO. 852! !
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(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 ,eui,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,oceein0 is 9aliate essentiall2 th,ou0h pul<4at<o1.13
hen the notice of hea,in0 as o,e,e publishe b2 the t,ial cou,t. it containe a i,ecti9e fo, all inte,este pa,ties to file thei, opposition ithin a p,esc,ibe pe,io1 Inte,estin0l2. the %olicito, $ene,al eputi7e P,osecuto, %olon %ison to assist an ,ep,esent the %tate in the hea,in0 fo, this case1 P,osecuto, %ison. in fact. acti9el2 pa,ticipate in the p,oceein0s belo b2 asin0 appellee an his itnesses uestions u,in0 c,oss-ea+ination1=A It is clea,l2
inco,,ect fo, one to clai+ that appellant as ep,i9e of an oppo,tunit2 to oppose the petition1 Instea. hat e ha9e is a situation he,e appellant faile to sho cont,o9e,tin0 e9ience neee to p,o9e that the co,,ection of ent,2 f,o+ (fe+ale( to (+ale( is una,,ante an ill p,euice the 0o9e,n+ent1 "e,il2. the t,ial cou,t co++itte no ,e9e,sible e,,o, in 0,antin0 the instant petition1
16 See( "rd 5-R-AS clause, )older of ocu+e#tar -$//ts, page 10. 17 ote 1, ibid., at page 17".
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 ,eui,e of the uicia,2 is that the ecision ,ene,e +aes clea, h2 eithe, pa,t2 p,e9aile une, the la as applie to the facts that ha9e been establishe1=4 The,e is no ,i0i fo,+ula on the
lan0ua0e that +a2 be e+plo2e to satisf2 the ,eui,e+ents of cla,it2 an istinctness1 The isc,etion of the pa,ticula, u0e in this ,espect. hile not unli+ite. is necessa,il2 b,oa1 The,e is no sac,a+ental fo,+ of o,s hich he +ust use une, pain of bein0 consie,e as ha9in0 faile to abie b2 hat the Constitution i,ects135
The p,esent case is a si+ple action fo, co,,ection of ent,2 in 'enn2 poaca Tan;s Ce,tificate of !i9e Bi,th1 fte, consie,in0 the o,al an ocu+enta,2 e9ience auce b2 appellee. the t,ial cou,t foun that the 0ene, of 'enn2 poaca Tan is (+ale( an not (fe+ale.( as e,,oneousl2 inicate 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 e9ience )SSS Personal "ecord# $oter%s "egistration "ecord# Community Ta& Certificate# Passport 'pplication an the (edical Certificate issue b2 D,1 "asue7* an testi+onies of itnesses )Ma,il2n poaca Tan an D,1 %a,ah Bon0ao-"asue7*. the O,e, ate Ma,ch 4. 3556. vi).:
(fte, hea,in0. ha9in0 co+plie ith the notice ,eui,e b2 la )Ehs1 C. D. E. H. I. < an '* an finin0 the e9ience p,esente clea, an con9incin0 that petitione,;s se is M!E an
19 :ose vs. Sa#tos, "% SCRA %"', %4" ;1970<.
CA-G.R. CV NO. 852! F
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the ent,2 ;fe+ale; in his ,eco, of bi,th is e,,oneous )Ehs1 !. M. N. O. P an G# T%N of 'enn2 poaca Tan. u0ust 3?. 355?# T%N of Ma,il2n poaca Tan. Octobe, 6. 355?# T%N of D,1 %a,ah Bon0ao-"asue7. <anua,2 36. 3556*. an the,e bein0
---? No oppos<t<o1 @as e1tere3 a1 perso1 or partB 2 No oe4t<o1 o1 t:e part of t:e Lo4al C<)<l Re9<strarB a13
= No 4o1trar e)<3e14e @as prese1te3 t:e state
the Petition is $RNTED1(3=.
coul ha9e the,efo,e onl2 been p,ope,1
HERE,ORE. the instant appeal is DIS;ISSED1 The assaile O,e, ate Ma,ch 4. 3556 is A,,IR;ED1
%O ORDERED1
VICENTE S.E. VELOSO
ssociate <ustice
E CONCR:
CONRADO ;. VAS%&E'$ (R. REECCA DE-G&IA SALVADOR ssociate <ustice ssociate <ustice
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 <ustice
