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PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

FIRST DIVISION

[G.R. No. L-10202. January 8, 1958. ]

In the matter of the petition for naturalization of SY CHHUT alias TAN BING TIONG, Petitioner-Appellant, v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Oppositor-Appellee.

De la Cruz & De la Cruz for Appellant.

Solicitor Gereral Ambrosio Padilla and Solicitor Isidro C. Borromeo for Appellee.


SYLLABUS


1. citizenship; false STATEMENTS IN THE DECLARATION AND PETITION; PETITIONER’S IRREPROACHABLE CONDUCT. –In his declaration of intention to become citizen of the Philippines, petitioner stated that he had not been convicted of any crime and, in paragraph 13 of his petition for naturalization he alleged that he had conducted himself "in a proper and irreproachable manner" during the entire period of his residence in the Philippines in his relations with the constituted government. Yet the record shows that petitioner had violated a building municipal ordinance, for which reason he was charged criminally with a violation thereof, convicted therefore, and sentenced to pay a fine of P20. In vie of this false statement on materials he made in the declaration of intention and the petition for naturalization, both of which are sworn to, petitioner’s conduct has not been irreproachable.

2. ID.; APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION MUST BE SUPPORTED BY AFFIDAVIT. Where the period of residence required for a petitioner for naturalization is 10 years (Section 2, commonwealth Act 473) the supporting affidavit of character witness must show that the latter had known the petitioner at least 10 years prior to the filing of petition, otherwise the petition is fatally defective and does not copy with the requirement of the law which provides that petition for naturalization should be supported "by affidavit of at least two credible persons, stating that they . . . personally know the petitioner to be a resident of the Philippines, for a period of time required by this Act . . . ." (Sec. 7 of Commonwealth Act 473)

3. ID.; WHERE THE PETITIONER’S CHILDREN STUDY IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS; EVIDENCE OF RECOGNITION NECESSARY. – Where the petitioner’s children are enrolled in private schools, it is recognized by our Government and that Philippine history, government and civics are taught therein as part of the curriculum as required in section 2, paragraph 6 of the Revised Naturalization Law.


D E C I S I O N


CONCEPCION, J.:


Petitioner Sy Chhut alias Tan Bin Tiong seeks a review of an order of the Court of First Instance of Manila denying his petition for naturalization as citizen of the Philippines.

It appears that in his declaration of intention to become such citizen, appellant stated that he had not been convicted of any crime and that, in paragraph 13 of his petition for naturalization, appellant alleged that he had conducted himself "in a proper and irreproachable manner", during the entire period of his residence in the Philippines, in his relations with the constituted government. However, the record shows that petitioner had ordered the construction of a two story building, in the City of Manila, without securing the building permit required by a municipal ordinance, for which reason he was charged criminally with a violation thereof, convicted therefor, and sentenced to pay a fine of P20, which was paid on August 21, 1951. Hence, he made in the declaration of intention and the petition for naturalization, both of which are sworn to, false statements on material matters. Apart from thus indicating that appellant’s conduct has not been irreproachable, the foregoing reflects against his moral character.

Appellant would have us believe now that said false statements were unintentional, for he was unaware of his prosecution and conviction, and of the fine imposed upon him, and that the same was paid, without his knowledge or consent, by Inocencio Tan, a building contractor who undertook the construction of said building, according to a motion for new trial filed by appellant and the affidavit of said Inocencio Tan, attached to said motion, which was denied by the lower court. Appellant’s brief shows, however, that Inocencio Tan was not a building contractor. Besides, being the defendant in said criminal case, appellant is presumed to have been served with the corresponding notice, and, on the witness stand, he did not deny receipt thereof. Again, appellant admitted on the witness stand his prosecution and conviction, but he testified that the fine imposed was P10 only. This is another circumstance that reflects his lack of veracity and poor moral character.

Apart from this, appellant’s petition does not comply with section 7 of our Revised Naturalization Law, which provides that:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

". . . The petition must be filed by the applicant in his own hand writing and be supported by affidavit of at least two credible persons, stating that they are citizens of the Philippines and personally know the petitioner to be a resident of the Philippines for a period of time required by this Act and a person of good repute and morally irrephoachable . . ."cralaw virtua1aw library

The period of residence required for appellant herein is ten (10) years (section 2, Commonwealth Act No. 473). Yet, the affidavit of witness Arcebal, attached to appellant’s application, states that the former had known the latter since 1946, or less than ten (10) years prior to February 13, 1954, when said petition was filed. Hence, said petition is fatally defective. (Robert Cu v. Republic, 1 G. R. No. L- 3018, July 18, 1951, and Awad v. Republic, 2 G. R. No. L-7685, September 23, 1955.) It is true, that, testifying for appellant herein, Arcebal said that the year 1946 must have been written in his affidavit due to a "clerical or typographical" mistake. But, regardless of the veracity of this explanation, the law requires that the petition for naturalization be supported "by affidavit of at least two credible persons, stating that they . . . personally know the petitioner to be a resident of the Philippines for a period of time required by this Act . . . ." (Sec. 7.) This requirement has not been fulfilled.

Lastly, appellant testified that his daughter Marcela Sy is enrolled in the Chiang Kai Shek High School, and his children Manuel Sy and Juanita Sy are studying in the Chinese Republic School. There is no evidence that these private schools are recognized by our Government and that Philippine history, government and civics are taught therein as part of the curriculum. Hence, compliance with section 2, paragraph 6, of the Revised Naturalization Law has not been established.

Wherefore, the order appealed from is hereby affirmed, with costs against the petitioner. It is so ordered.

Paras, C.J., Bengzon, Padilla, Montemayor, Reyes, A. Bautista Angelo, Reyes, J. B. L., Endencia and Felix, JJ., concur.

Endnotes:



1. 89 Phil., 473.

2. 97 Phil., 569.

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