Cueto v Catolico

8/21/2019 Cueto v Catolico

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Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

G.R. Nos. L-!"# an$ L-!%& 'anua() *+ %&,"

UETO alias TAN UETO+ PERS/0NG TAN UETO1+ ET AL.+ petitione(s+

2s.

/ON. AL3RE4O CATOL0CO+ 'u$5e of the Cou(t of 3i(st 0nstance of Misa6is

Occi$ental+ (espon$ent. REPUBL0C O3 T/E P/0L0PP0NES+ inte(2eno(.

7ale(iano S. 8aa6i9o fo( petitione(s.

O:ce of the Solicito( Gene(al Antonio P. Ba((e$o an$ Solicito( Cefe(ino S.

Ga$$i fo( inte(2eno(.

/on. 'u$5e Alf(e$o Catolico in his o;n.

MA8AL0NTAL+ '.<

0n the annals of Philippine 'u(isp(u$ence the(e has been no case =uite li>e theone no; befo(e us+ ;he(e o2e( ?ft) natu(ali@e$ citi@ens ;e(e hale$ into cou(t

b) o:ciousness on the pa(t of a 'u$5e+ an$ one of the6+ as if b) ;a) of

ea6ple+ ;as unnecessa(il) subecte$ to o2e(bea(in5 an$ abusi2e 2e(bal

t(eat6ent f(o6 the bench. The ti6e ;aste$ in the p(ocee$in5s belo;+ an$

he(e as a (esult of the petition fo( p(ohibition ;hich ha$ to be ?le$ in o($e( to

co((ect the6+ coul$ ha2e been e6plo)e$ 6o(e p(o?tabl) in 6e(ito(ious cases

instea$ of a55(a2atin5 the al(ea$) $o55e$ cou(t $oc>ets.

The instant petition fo( p(ohibition% ;as ?le$ on Octobe( + %&! in behalf of

thi(t)-se2en of those natu(ali@e$ citi@ens+ in ;hose fa2o( the co((espon$in5ce(ti?cates of natu(ali@ation ha$ been issue$ on $iDe(ent $ates+ the ea(liest

of ;hich ;as Au5ust ,+ %&%+ an$ the latest+ 'une + %&#.

The p(ocee$in5s co6plaine$ of be5an ;hen+ un$e( $ate of Octobe( !+ %&!+

each one of those aDecte$ ;as se(2e$ ;ith a unifo(6l) ;o($e$

6i6eo5(aphe$ notice f(o6 the Cle(> of the Cou(t of 3i(st 0nstance of Misa6is

Occi$ental+ p(esi$e$ b) he(ein (espon$ent 'u$5e Alf(e$o Catolico+ as follo;s<



Actin5 in acco($ance ;ith the inst(uctions (ecei2e$ f(o6 the Eecuti2e 'u$5e

of the Cou(t of 3i(st 0nstance of this $ist(ict+ an$ in acco($ance fu(the( ;ith

the (eco($s of the natu(ali@ation cases in this Cou(t+ )ou a(e he(eb) noti?e$

that )ou a(e one a6on5 those ;ho ha2e ta>en oath of alle5iance to the

Republic of the Philippines ;he(e the p(ocee$in5s in connection the(e;ith;e(e null an$ 2oi$+ ab initio+ in the li5ht of the (ecent $ecisions of the

Sup(e6e Cou(t on natu(ali@ation.

B) autho(it) 5(ante$ 6e b) the Eecuti2e 'u$5e+ )ou a(e he(eb) o($e(e$ to

appea( befo(e hi6 on Octobe( %!+ %&!+ at &<"" in the 6o(nin5+ at the

Session /all+ B(anch 0+ at O(o=uieta+ Misa6is Occi$ental+ ;ith )ou( counsel+

fo( the pu(pose of $iscussin5 the ;a)s an$ 6eans of ho; to a2oi$ fu(the( ill

use of )ou( p(eten$e$ Philippine Citi@enship eithe( b) ac=ui(in5 (eal

p(ope(ties ;hich is p(ohibite$ b) the Constitution to aliens li>e )ou+ o(

ee(cisin5 the (i5ht of suD(a5e.

On Octobe( %!+ %&! (espon$ent 'u$5e calle$ the cases fo( hea(in5+ to

th(esh out+ in the lan5ua5e of the o($e( he issue$ on the sa6e $ate+ the

best p(oce$u(e to follo; ten$in5 to sta2e oD the i66inent $ecla(ation of

nullit) of the oath ta>in5 an$ conse=uent issuance of the ce(ti?cate of

natu(ali@ation to the applicants in the abo2e-na6e$ cases as a natu(al

conse=uence of the nullit) of the p(ocee$in5s ha$ in connection ;ith the

afo(ecite$ le5all) $efecti2e oath ta>in5 fo( lac> of noti?cation to the Solicito(

Gene(al ;ho is the onl) counsel of (eco($ of the State.

As thus spelle$ out+ the 'u$5e too> it upon hi6self to su66on he(einpetitione(s+ a6on5 6an) othe(s+ fo( a $iscussion of ;hat to $o in connection

;ith the nullit) of thei( natu(ali@ation F a 6atte( he ha$ e2i$entl) al(ea$)

p(e-u$5e$+ on the 5(oun$+ acco($in5 to hi6+ that sai$ petitione(s ;e(e

allo;e$ to ta>e thei( (especti2e oaths of alle5iance ;ithout p(e2ious notices

of the Solicito( Gene(al+ the notices to the p(o2incial an$o( cit) ?scals ;ho

actuall) appea(e$ in the natu(ali@ation p(ocee$in5s bein5 ineDecti2e.

At the hea(in5 on Octobe( %!+ %&! the 'u$5e (e2eal that the action he too>

;as the (esult of a lette( of Chua Tuan+ alias Li6 Tian Hu+ th(ou5h his counsel+

as>in5 the Cle(> of Cou(t to fu(nish hi6 ;ith copies of his ce(ti?cate ofnatu(ali@ation an$ oath of alle5iance+ ;hich ;e(e nee$e$ in connection ;ith

ce(tain (e=ui(e6ents of the Bu(eau of Lan$s. The 'u$5e (e6a(>e$ that he $i$

not >no; Chua Tuan at all but coul$ not i5no(e his acti2ities. /e then

p(ocee$e$ to $eli2e( in open cou(t a len5th) $isse(tation (eIectin5 on the

honest) an$ inte5(it) of p(o2incial an$ cit) ?scals appea(in5 in natu(ali@ation

cases+ an$ 2entin5 his spleen pa(ticula(l) on Chua Tuan+ (efe((e$ to hi6 as a

Chinese ;ho ha$ beco6e a 6ulti-6illionai(e b) 6a>in5 o2e(ship6ents of



cop(a+ ;ho ;as untouchable because he coul$ bu) his ;a) out in

Malaca9an5+ in the A(6)+ in the 3o(ei5n ADai(s+ in the 066i5(ation+ in the

Bu(eau of 0nte(nal Re2enue an$ in the Cou(ts of 'ustice. Of all these thin5s+

the 'u$5e sai$+ he ;oul$ ta>e u$icial notice. Othe( epithets ;e(e use$ b) hi6

to casti5ate the obect of his ti(a$e balasubasJ in5(ateJ hu6bu5J

ani6alisticJ a $an5e( an$ a $is5(ace to the co66unit)J a $ishono( to the3ilipino people.

The lette(-(e=uest of Chua Tuan elicite$ the follo;in5 ;(itten (epl) f(o6 the

Cou(t<

0n 2ie; of the inhe(ent nullit) of the p(ocee$in5s abo2e pointe$ out lea$in5 to

)ou( ac=uisition of Philippine citi@enship+ )ou $i$ not ac=ui(e a 2ali$ 3ilipino

citi@enshipJ an$ the(efo(e )ou+ fo( all le5al pu(poses+ a(e still an alien

p(ohibite$ b) the Constitution to ac=ui(e lan$s in the Philippines.

Thus+ at one st(o>e+ ;ithout an) petition f(o6 the Solicito( Gene(al an$

;ithout hea(in5+ (espon$ent 'u$5e in eDect nulli?e$ all the p(e2ious

p(ocee$in5s F petition+ publication+ t(ial u$56ent+ oath ta>in5 an$ issuance

of the ce(ti?cate of natu(ali@ation. An$ follo;in5 the ea6ple of Chua Tuan

the othe( petitione(s he(ein ;e(e calle$ to hea( the sa6e fate+ althou5h ;ith

(espect to the6 the 'u$5e+ afte( sa)in5 that he ;as 5oin5 to $ecla(e all of

the6 aliens+ ep(esse$ his (ea$iness to hea( thei( a(5u6ents.

To the c(e$it of the la;)e(s ;ho appea(e$ befo(e hi6+ the 6anne( in ;hich

the) a(5ue$ thei( cases ;as a lesson in hu6ilit)+ $eco(u6 an$ fo(bea(ance.

0n (espectful lan5ua5e the) pointe$ out+ a6on5 othe( thin5s+ that the p(ope(p(oce$u(e that shoul$ ha2e been pu(sue$ a5ainst each of thei( clients ;as

th(ou5h cancellation of the natu(ali@ation ce(ti?cate b) the cou(t upon

6otion 6a$e in the p(ope( p(ocee$in5s b) the Solicito( Gene(al o( his

(ep(esentati2es+ o( b) the p(ope( p(o2incial ?scal ... a1 if it is sho;n that

san$ natu(ali@ation ce(ti?cate ;as obtaine$ f(au$ulentl) o( ille5all)+ as

p(o2i$e$ in Co66on;ealth Act No. #,*+ Section %KJ that (espon$ent 'u$5e

ha$ no u(is$iction to act 6otu p(opio an$ $ecla(e that he(ein petitione(s ha$

not ac=ui(e$ 3ilipino citi@enship b) 2i(tue of thei( natu(ali@ationJ an$ that such

$ecla(ation ;as a(bit(a() an$ 2oi$.

Respon$ent 'u$5e+ ho;e2e(+ 6a$e sho(t sh(ift of the a(5u6ents b) sa)in5

that since the petitione(s ha$ not beco6e 3ilipino citi@ens because thei( oath

ta>in5 ;as 2oi$ fo( lac> of notice to the Solicito( Gene(al+ the(e ;e(e no

natu(ali@ation ce(ti?cates to be cancelle$ pu(suant to the le5al p(o2ision

afo(e6entione$. Ne2e(theless+ actin5 on counsels 6otion fo( continuance in

o($e( to a;ait the a$2ice al(ea$) (e=ueste$ b) the6 f(o6 the Solicito(

Gene(al+ (espon$ent 'u$5e 5(ante$ the sa6e an$ set the hea(in5 ane; fo(



No2e6be( %+ %&!. /o;e2e(+ the) ?le$ the instant petition on Octobe( +

%&!+ to stop sai$ (espon$ent f(o6 ta>in5 fu(the( action in the p(ocee$in5s

initiate$ b) hi6. As p(a)e$ fo( b) the petitione(s this Cou(t issue$ a ;(it of

p(eli6ina() inunction on No2e6be( *+ %&!.

Since then thi(t)-?2e of the thi(t)-se2en petitione(s ha2e ;ith$(a;n as such+alle5in5 that the) ;oul$ ?le the p(ope( petitions in the Cou(t belo; to (e6o2e

;hate2e( clou$ the(e 6i5ht be in thei( status as natu(ali@e$ 3ilipino citi@ensJ

an$ the co((espon$in5 6otions fo( ;ith$(a;al ha2e been 5(ante$ b) this

Cou(t. Onl) t;o petitione(s still (e6ain+ na6el)+ Chua Tuan Li6 Tian Su

C30 No. ,!+ G.R. No. L-!"#1J an$ Pepito Go C30 No. **+ G.R. No. L- !%&1.

On 4ece6be( K+ %&! the Solicito( Gene(al ?le$ a 6otion to inte(2ene in this

p(ocee$in5+ ;hich 6otion ;as $ul) 5(ante$ b) (esolution of this Cou(t $ate$

4ece6be( %!+ %&!. The case ;as set fo( hea(in5 on Ap(il %K+ %&+ on ;hich

$ate counsel fo( the (e6ainin5 petitione(s an$ a (ep(esentati2e of the

Solicito( Gene(al appea(e$ an$ 6o2e$ that the) be allo;e$ to ?le

6e6o(an$a in lieu of o(al a(5u6ent. The 6e6o(an$u6 fo( the petitione(s

;as ?le$ in $ue ti6e+ but none ;as sub6itte$ b) the Solicito( Gene(al.

The issue is ;hethe( o( not (espon$ent 'u$5e+ 6otu p(op(io+ ha$ u(is$iction

to (eopen an$ (e2ie;+ o( puttin5 it 6o(e accu(atel) in this case+ to $ecla(e

null an$ 2oi$ the 5(ant of citi@enship to the petitione(s pu(suant to ?nal

u$56ents of co6petent cou(ts an$ afte( the oaths of alle5iance ha$ been

ta>en an$ the co((espon$in5 ce(ti?cates of natu(ali@ation issue$. 0t 6a) be

t(ue+ as alle5e$ b) sai$ (espon$ent+ that the p(ocee$in5s fo( natu(ali@ation

;e(e tainte$ ;ith ce(tain in?(6ities+ fatal o( othe(;ise+ but that is besi$e thepoint in this case. The u(is$iction of the cou(t to in=ui(e into an$ (ule upon

such in?(6ities 6ust be p(ope(l) in2o>e$ in acco($ance ;ith the p(oce$u(e

lai$ $o;n b) la;. Such p(oce$u(e is b) cancellation of the natu(ali@ation

ce(ti?cate Sec. % !1+ Co66on;ealth Act No. *+ in the 6anne( ?e$ in

Section %K of Co66on;ealth Act No. #,*+ he(einbefo(e =uote$+ na6el)+

upon 6otion 6a$e in the p(ope( p(ocee$in5s b) the Solicito( Gene(al o( his

(ep(esentati2es+ o( b) the p(ope( p(o2incial ?scal. 0n othe( ;o($s+ the

initiati2e 6ust co6e f(o6 these o:ce(s+ p(esu6abl) afte( p(e2ious

in2esti5ation in each pa(ticula( case.

As a 5ene(al (ule a cou(t p(ocee$in5 in ou( u$icial set-up is accusato(ial o(

a$2e(sa() an$ not in=uisito(ial in natu(e. 0t conte6plates t;o conten$in5

pa(ties befo(e the cou(t+ ;hich hea(s the6 i6pa(tiall) an$ (en$e(s u$56ent

onl) afte( t(ial. This basic philosoph) ;oul$ be 2iolate$ if a u$5e ;e(e

pe(6itte$ to act as in=uisito( pu(sue his o;n in$epen$ent in2esti5ation+

a((i2e at a conclusion e-pa(te+ an$ then su66on the pa(t) aDecte$ so as to

enable hi6+ if that ;e(e still possible+ to sho; that the conclusion thus



a((i2e$ at is ;ithout usti?cation. The $an5e( in all this is 6ost fo(cefull)

$e6onst(ate$ in the p(esent case+ ;he(e (espon$ent 'u$5e too> u$icial

notice+ to use his o;n ;o($s+ of ne;s $e(o5ato() to one of the petitione(s+

the(eb) ele2atin5 (u6o(s an$ 5ossip to the le2el of incont(o2e(tible p(oof J

an$ ;o(se+ ;he(e p(eu$56ent+ not to sa) p(eu$ice+ on the pa(t of sai$

(espon$ent ;as so blatantl) sho;n b) the abusi2e epithets he use$ in(efe((in5 to the sa6e petitione( befo(e he ha$ an) chance to be hea($.

'u$5es+ in thei( @eal to uphol$ the la;+ shoul$ not lose the p(ope( u$icial

pe(specti2e+ an$ shoul$ see to it that in the eecution of thei( s;o(n $uties

the) $o not o2e(step the li6itations of thei( po;e( as lai$ $o;n b) statute

an$ b) the (ules of p(oce$u(e. 0f the) a((o5ate unto the6sel2es the autho(it)

allocate$ to othe( o:cials+ the(e can be no conse=uence but confusion in the

a$6inist(ation of ustice an$+ in 6an) instances+ opp(essi2e $is(e5a($ of the

basic (e=ui(e6ents of $ue p(ocess.

/ERE3ORE+ the ;(it p(a)e$ fo( is 5(ante$+ an$ the inunction he(etofo(e

issue$ b) this Cou(t is 6a$e pe(6anent. The Solicito( Gene(al is+ of cou(se+

not p(eclu$e$ f(o6 ta>in5 such steps as 6a) be ;a((ante$ in connection ;ith

the natu(ali@ation cases of the petitione(s.

Let a cop) of this $ecision be fu(nishe$ to the /ono(able the Sec(eta() of

'ustice.

Re)es+ '.B.L.+ 4i@on+ Qal$i2a(+ Sanche@+ Cast(o+ 3e(nan$o an$ Teehan>ee+ ''.+

concu(.

Concepcion+ C.'.+ an$ Ba((e$o+ '.+ too> no pa(t.

Cueto v Catolico

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