SECOND DIVISION
[G.R. No. L-37074. May 31, 1982.]
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF BENITO LEE TO BE ADMITTED A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, BENITO LEE, Petitioner-Appellee, v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Oppositor-Appellant.
Esteban T. Caparillo for Petitioner-Appellee.
Solicitor General Estelito P. Mendoza, Assistant Solicitor General Octavio R. Ramirez and Solicitor Guillermo C. Nakar, Jr. for Oppositor-Appellant.
SYNOPSIS
Petitioner applied for Philippine citizenship with the trial court under the provisions of Republic Act 535 and was admitted citizen of the Philippines after trial. Pending appeal by the State, petitioner filed an application for naturalization under Letter of Instructions No. 270. Upon the recommendation of the Special Committee on Naturalization, petitioner was granted Philippine citizenship pursuant to Presidential Decree No 923.
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal which has been rendered moot and academic thru the grant of Philippine citizenship to petitioner under PD. 923.
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal which has been rendered moot and academic thru the grant of Philippine citizenship to petitioner under PD. 923.
SYLLABUS
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW; CITIZENSHIP; NATURALIZATION; GRANT OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP UNDER P.D. 923 DURING PENDENCY OF APPEAL FROM THE DECISION OF THE TRIAL COURT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP UNDER RA 535; APPEAL RENDERED MOOT AND ACADEMIC. — The grant of Philippine citizenship to petitioner under PD 923 during the pendency of an appeal opposing the decision of the trial court granting him Filipino citizenship under the provisions of RA 535 warrants the dismissal of the appeal which has been rendered moot and academic.
R E S O L U T I O N
BARREDO, J.:
Appeal by the Republic of the Philippines from a decision of the lower court dated September 25, 1972, the dispositive part of which reads as follows:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
"WHEREFORE, the said petition of Benito Lee to be admitted a citizen of the Philippines is hereby granted, and let the proper naturalization certificate be issued in his favor and the registration thereof in the proper court registry, this decision to become executory in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of Republic Act No. 535."cralaw virtua1aw library
Although the oppositor-appellant has already filed its brief, the petitioner-appellee failed to file the same and so the Court resolved to consider this case submitted for decision without appellee’s brief.
On March 24, 1982, an Ex-Parte Manifestation and Motion was filed by the Office of the Solicitor General where it alleged the following:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"1. The Republic of the Philippines has appealed to this Honorable Court the decision of the Court of First Instance of Manila (Branch XV) dated October 3, 1972 granting Philippine citizenship to Benito Lee;
"2. During the pendency of the appeal, said Benito Lee filed an application for naturalization under Letter of Instructions No. 270, and upon recommendation of the Special Committee on Naturalization, he was granted Philippine Citizenship on April 20, 1976 pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 923. Copies of his Oath of Allegiance and Certificate of Naturalization are hereto attached as Annexes ‘1’ and ‘2’, respectively."cralaw virtua1aw library
as a consequence of which it is prayed that this case be dismissed for being moot and academic.
WHEREFORE, this case is dismissed for being moot and academic. No costs.
Aquino, Guerrero, Abad Santos, De Castro and Escolin, JJ., concur.
Concepcion, Jr., J., is on leave.
"WHEREFORE, the said petition of Benito Lee to be admitted a citizen of the Philippines is hereby granted, and let the proper naturalization certificate be issued in his favor and the registration thereof in the proper court registry, this decision to become executory in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of Republic Act No. 535."cralaw virtua1aw library
Although the oppositor-appellant has already filed its brief, the petitioner-appellee failed to file the same and so the Court resolved to consider this case submitted for decision without appellee’s brief.
On March 24, 1982, an Ex-Parte Manifestation and Motion was filed by the Office of the Solicitor General where it alleged the following:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"1. The Republic of the Philippines has appealed to this Honorable Court the decision of the Court of First Instance of Manila (Branch XV) dated October 3, 1972 granting Philippine citizenship to Benito Lee;
"2. During the pendency of the appeal, said Benito Lee filed an application for naturalization under Letter of Instructions No. 270, and upon recommendation of the Special Committee on Naturalization, he was granted Philippine Citizenship on April 20, 1976 pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 923. Copies of his Oath of Allegiance and Certificate of Naturalization are hereto attached as Annexes ‘1’ and ‘2’, respectively."cralaw virtua1aw library
as a consequence of which it is prayed that this case be dismissed for being moot and academic.
WHEREFORE, this case is dismissed for being moot and academic. No costs.
Aquino, Guerrero, Abad Santos, De Castro and Escolin, JJ., concur.
Concepcion, Jr., J., is on leave.
