PD  603    THE  CHILD  AND  YOUTH  WELFARE  CODE  

Article   5.   Commencement   of   Civil   Personality.   -­‐   The   civil   personality   of   the   child   shall  commence   from  the   time  of  his  conception,   for  all  purposes   favorable   to  him,  subject   to   the  requirements  of  Article  41  of  the  Civil  Code.  

RA  6809  AN  ACT  LOWERING  THE  AGE  OF  MAJORITY  FROM  TWENTY-­‐ONE  TO  EIGHTEEN  YEARS,  AMENDING  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  EXECUTIVE  ORDER  NUMBERED  TWO  HUNDRED  NINE,  AND  FOR  OTHER  PURPOSES  Be   it   enacted   by   the   Senate   and   House   of   Representatives   of   the   Philippines   in   Congress  assembled::  Section   1.   Article   234   of   Executive   Order   No.   209,   the   Family   Code   of   the   Philippines,   is  hereby  amended  to  read  as  follows:  

"Art.   234.   Emancipation   takes   place   by   the   attainment   of  majority.   Unless   otherwise  provided,  majority  commences  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years."  

Section  2.  Articles  235  and  237  of  the  same  Code  are  hereby  repealed.  Section  3.  Article  236  of  the  same  Code  is  also  hereby  amended  to  read  as  follows:  

"Art.   236.   Emancipation   shall   terminate   parental   authority   over   the   person   and  property  of  the  child  who  shall  then  be  qualiRied  and  responsible  for  all  acts  of  civil  life,  save  the  exceptions  established  by  existing  laws  in  special  cases.  "Contracting  marriage  shall  require  parental  consent  until  the  age  of  twenty-­‐one.  "Nothing  in  this  Code  shall  be  construed  to  derogate  from  the  duty  or  responsibility  of  parents   and   guardians   for   children   and   wards   below   twenty-­‐one   years   of   age  mentioned  in  the  second  and  third  paragraphs  of  Article  2180  of  the  Civil  Code."  

Section   4.   Upon   the   effectivity   of   this   Act,   existing   wills,   bequests,   donations,   grants,  insurance  policies  and  similar  instruments  containing  references  and  provisions  favorable  to  minors  will  not  retroact  to  their  prejudice.  Section   5.   This   Act   shall   take   effect   upon   completion   of   its   publication   in   at   least   two   (2)  newspapers  of  general  circulation.  Approved:  December  13,  1989  

RA  9344  AN  ACT  ESTABLISHING  A  COMPREHENSIVE  JUVENILE  JUSTICE  AND  WELFARE  SYSTEM,  CREATING  THE  JUVENILE  JUSTICE  AND  WELFARE  COUNCIL  UNDER  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  JUSTICE,  APPROPRIATING  FUNDS  THEREFOR  AND  FOR  OTHER  PURPOSES  SEC.  6.  Minimum  Age  of  Criminal  Responsibility.  -­‐  A  child  Rifteen  (15)  years  of  age  or  under  at  the  time  of  the  commission  of  the  offense  shall  be  exempt  from  criminal  liability.  However,  the  child  shall  be  subjected  to  an  intervention  program  pursuant  to  Section  20  of  this  Act.  

A  child  above  Rifteen  (15)  years  but  below  eighteen  (18)  years  of  age  shall  likewise  be  exempt  from  criminal  liability  and  be  subjected  to  an  intervention  program,  unless  he/she  has  acted  with  discernment,  in  which  case,  such  child  shall  be  subjected  to  the  appropriate  proceedings  in  accordance  with  this  Act.  

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The   exemption   from   criminal   liability   herein   established   does   not   include   exemption   from  civil  liability,  which  shall  be  enforced  in  accordance  with  existing  laws.  

SEC.  7.  Determination  of  Age.  -­‐  The  child  in  conRlict  with  the  law  shall  enjoy  the  presumption  of  minority.  He/She  shall  enjoy  all  the  rights  of  a  child  in  conRlict  with  the  law  until  he/she  is  proven  to  be  eighteen  (18)  years  old  or  older.  The  age  of  a  child  may  be  determined  from  the  child's  birth  certiRicate,  baptismal  certiRicate  or  any  other  pertinent  documents.  In  the  absence  of   these   documents,   age   may   be   based   on   information   from   the   child   himself/herself,  testimonies  of  other  persons,  the  physical  appearance  of  the  child  and  other  relevant  evidence.  In  case  of  doubt  as  to  the  age  of  the  child,  it  shall  be  resolved  in  his/her  favor.  

Any  person   contesting   the   age  of   the   child   in   conRlict  with   the   law  prior   to   the   Riling  of   the  information   in   any   appropriate   court   may   Rile   a   case   in   a   summary   proceeding   for   the  determination  of  age  before  the  Family  Court  which  shall  decide  the  case  within  twenty-­‐four  (24)  hours  from  receipt  of  the  appropriate  pleadings  of  all  interested  parties.  

If   a   case   has   been   Riied   against   the   child   in   conRlict   with   the   law   and   is   pending   in   the  appropriate  court,  the  person  shall  Rile  a  motion  to  determine  the  age  of  the  child  in  the  same  court  where  the  case  is  pending.  Pending  hearing  on  the  said  motion,  proceedings  on  the  main  case  shall  be  suspended.  

In   all   proceedings,   law   enforcement   ofRicers,   prosecutors,   judges   and   other   government  ofRicials  concerned  shall  exert  all  efforts  at  determining  the  age  of  the  child  in  conRlict  with  the  law.  

TITLE  IV TREATMENT  OF  CHILDREN  BELOW  THE  AGE  OF  CRIMINAL  RESPONSIBILITY  SEC.  20.  Children  Below  the  Age  of  Criminal  Responsibility.  -­‐  If  it  has  been  determined  that  the  child  taken  into  custody  is  Rifteen  (15)  years  old  or  below,  the  authority  which  will  have  an  initial  contact  with   the  child  has   the  duty   to   immediately  release   the  child   to   the  custody  of  his/her   parents   or   guardian,   or   in   the   absence   thereof,   the   child's   nearest   relative.   Said  authority   shall   give   notice   to   the   local   social   welfare   and   development   ofRicer   who   will  determine  the  appropriate  programs  in  consultation  with  the  child  and  to  the  person  having  custody  over   the  child.   If   the  parents,  guardians  or  nearest   relatives  cannot  be   located,  or   if  they  refuse  to  take  custody,  the  child  may  be  released  to  any  of  the  following:  a  duly  registered  nongovernmental  or  religious  organization;  a  barangay  ofRicial  or  a  member  of  the  Barangay  Council  for  the  Protection  of  Children  (BCPC);  a  local  social  welfare  and  development  ofRicer;  or  when  and  where  appropriate,  the  DSWD.  If  the  child  referred  to  herein  has  been  found  by  the  Local  Social  Welfare  and  Development  OfRice  to  be  abandoned,  neglected  or  abused  by  his  parents,   or   in   the   event   that   the   parents  will   not   comply  with   the   prevention   program,   the  proper   petition   for   involuntary   commitment   shall   be   Riled   by   the  DSWD  or   the   Local   Social  Welfare  and  Development  OfRice  pursuant   to  Presidential  Decree  No.  603,  otherwise   ,known  as  "The  Child  and  Youth  Welfare  Code”.  

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TITLE  VII GENERAL  PROVISIONS  CHAPTER  1 EXEMPTING  PROVISIONS  SEC.   57.   Status   Offenees.   -­‐   Any   conduct   not   considered   an   offense   or   not   penalized   if  committed   by   an   adult   shall   not   be   considered   an   offense   and   shall   not   be   punished   if  committed  by  a  child.  SEC.  58.  Offenses  Not  Applicable  to  Children.  -­‐  Persons  below  eighteen  (18)  years  of  age  shall  be  exempt  from  prosecution  for  the  crime  of  vagrancy  and  prostitution  under  Section  202  of  the  Revised  Penal   Code,   of  mendicancy   under  Presidential  Decree  No.   1563,   and   snifRing   of  rugby   under   Presidential   Decree   No.   1619,   such   prosecution   being   inconsistent   with   the  United   Nations   Convention   on   the   Rights   of   the   Child:   Provided,   That   said   persons   shall  undergo  appropriate  counseling  and  treatment  program.  SEC.  59.  Exemption  from  the  Application  of  Death  Penalty.  -­‐  The  provisions  of  the  Revised  Penal   Code,   as   amended,   Republic   Act   No.   9165,   otherwise   known   as   the   Comprehensive  Dangerous  Drugs  Act  of  2002,  and  other  special  laws  notwithstanding,  no  death  penalty  shall  be  imposed  upon  children  in  conRlict  with  the  law.  

RA  8371  AN  ACT  TO  RECOGNIZE,  PROTECT  AND  PROMOTE  THE  RIGHTS  OF  INDIGENOUS  CULTURAL  COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS  PEOPLES,  CREATING  A  NATIONAL  COMMISSION  ON  INDIGENOUS  PEOPLES,  ESTABLISHING  IMPLEMENTING  MECHANISMS,  APPROPRIATING  FUNDS  THEREFOR,  AND  FOR  OTHER  PURPOSES  

2   (c).   The   State   shall   recognize,   respect   and   protect   the   rights   of   ICCs/IPs   to   preserve   and  develop   their   cultures,   traditions   and   institutions.   It   shall   consider   these   rights   in   the  formulation  of  national  laws  and  policies;  

SECTION  29.                  Protection  of  Indigenous  Culture,  Traditions  and  Institutions.  —  The  State  shall  respect,  recognize  and  protect  the  right  of  ICCs/IPs  to  preserve  and  protect  their  culture,  traditions  and  institutions.  It  shall  consider  these  rights  in  the  formulation  and  application  of  national  plans  and  policies.  

SECTION  32.                  Community  Intellectual  Rights.  —  ICCs/IPs  have  the  right  to  practice  and  revitalize   their   own   cultural   traditions   and   customs.   The   State   shall   preserve,   protect   and  develop  the  past,  present  and  future  manifestations  of  their  cultures  as  well  as  the  right  to  the  restitution   of   cultural,   intellectual,   religious,   and   spiritual   property   taken  without   their   free  and  prior  informed  consent  or  in  violation  of  their  laws,  traditions  and  customs.  

RA  9048  AN  ACT  AUTHORIZING  THE  CITY  OR  MUNICIPAL  CIVIL  REGISTRAR  OR  THE  CONSUL  GENERAL  TO  CORRECT  A  CLERICAL  OR  TYPOGRAPHICAL  ERROR  IN  AN  ENTRY  AND/OR  CHANGE  OF  FIRST  NAME  OR  NICKNAME  IN  THE  CIVIL  REGISTER  WITHOUT  NEED  OF  A  JUDICIAL  ORDER,  AMENDING  FOR  THIS  PURPOSE  ARTICLES  376  AND  412  OF  THE  CIVIL  CODE  OF  THE  PHILIPPINES  

Section  2.  De?inition  of  Terms  –  As  used  in  this  Act,  the  following  terms  shall  mean:  Page � of �3 9

(1)  "City  or  Municipal  civil  registrar"  refers  to  the  head  of  the  local  civil  registry  ofRice  of  the  city  or  municipality,  as  the  case  may  be,  who  is  appointed  as  such  by  the  city  or  municipal  mayor  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  existing  laws.  (2)   "Petitioner"   refers   to   a   natural   person   Riling   the  petition   and  who  has  direct   and  personal   interest   in   the   correction  of   a   clerical   or   typographical   error   in   an   entry  or  change  of  Rirst  name  or  nickname  in  the  civil  register.  (3)  "Clerical  or  typographical  error"  refers  to  a  mistake  committed  in  the  performance  of  clerical  work  in  writing,  copying,  transcribing  or  typing  an  entry  in  the  civil  register  that  is  harmless  and  innocuous,  such  as  misspelled  name  or  misspelled  place  of  birth  or   the   like,  which   is   visible   to   the   eyes   or   obvious   to   the   understanding,   and   can   be  corrected   or   changed   only   by   reference   to   other   existing   record   or   records:Provided,  however,  That  no  correction  must  involve  the  change  of  nationality,  age,  status  or  sex  of  the  petitioner.  (4)   "Civil   Register"   refers   to   the   various   registry   books   and   related   certiRicates   and  documents  kept  in  the  archives  of  the  local  civil  registry  ofRices,  Philippine  Consulates  and  of  the  OfRice  of  the  Civil  Registrar  General.  (5)  "Civil  registrar  general"  refers  to  the  Administrator  of  the  National  Statistics  OfRice  which  is  the  agency  mandated  to  carry  out  and  administer  the  provision  of  laws  on  civil  registration.  (6)  "First  name"  refers  to  a  name  or  nickname  given  to  a  person  which  may  consist  of  one  or  more  names  in  addition  to  the  middle  and  last  names.  

Section   3.  Who  May   File   the   Petition   and  Where.   –  Any   person   having   direct   and   personal  interest  in  the  correction  of  a  clerical  or  typographical  error  in  an  entry  and/or  change  of  Rirst  name  or  nickname  in  the  civil  register  may  Rile,  in  person,  a  veriRied  petition  with  the  local  civil  registry   ofRice   of   the   city   or  municipality  where   the   record  being   sought   to   be   corrected   or  changed  is  kept.  

In  case  the  petitioner  has  already  migrated  to  another  place  in  the  country  and  it  would  not  be  practical   for   such   party,   in   terms   of   transportation   expenses,   time   and   effort   to   appear   in  person  before  the  local  civil  registrar  keeping  the  documents  to  be  corrected  or  changed,  the  petition  may  be  Riled,  in  person,  with  the  local  civil  registrar  of  the  place  where  the  interested  party  is  presently  residing  or  domiciled.  The  two  (2)  local  civil  registrars  concerned  will  then  communicate  to  facilitate  the  processing  of  the  petition.  

Citizens  of   the  Philippines  who  are  presently  residing  or  domiciled   in   foreign  countries  may  Rile  their  petition,  in  person,  with  the  nearest  Philippine  Consulates.  

The   petitions   Riled   with   the   city   or   municipal   civil   registrar   or   the   consul   general   shall   be  processed  in  accordance  with  this  Act  and  its  implementing  rules  and  regulations.  

All   petitions   for   the   clerical   or   typographical   errors   and/or   change   of   Rirst   names   or  nicknames  may  be  availed  of  only  once.  

Section  4.  Grounds   for  Change  of  First  Name  or  Nickname.  –  The  petition   for   change  of   Rirst  name  or  nickname  may  be  allowed  in  any  of  the  following  cases:  

(1)   The   petitioner   Rinds   the   Rirst   name   or   nickname   to   be   ridiculous,   tainted   with  dishonor  or  extremely  difRicult  to  write  or  pronounce.  

(2)  The  new  Rirst  name  or  nickname  has  been  habitually  and  continuously  used  by  the  petitioner  and  he  has  been  publicly  known  by  that  by  that   Rirst  name  or  nickname  in  the  community:  or  

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(3)  The  change  will  avoid  confusion.  

Section  5.  Form  and  Contents  of  the  Petition.  –  The  petition  shall  be  in  the  form  of  an  afRidavit,  subscribed  and   sworn   to  before  any  person  authorized  by   the   law   to  administer  oaths.  The  afRidavit  shall  set   forth  facts  necessary  to  establish  the  merits  of  the  petition  and  shall  show  afRirmatively   that   the  petitioner   is  competent   to   testify   to   the  matters  stated.  The  petitioner  shall  state  the  particular  erroneous  entry  or  entries,  which  are  sought  to  be  corrected  and/or  the  change  sought  to  be  made.  

The  petition  shall  be  supported  with  the  following  documents:  

(1)  A  certiRied  true  machine  copy  of  the  certiRicate  or  of  the  page  of  the  registry  book  containing  the  entry  or  entries  sought  to  be  corrected  or  changed.  

(2)  At   least  two  (2)  public  or  private  documents  showing  the  correct  entry  or  entries  upon  which  the  correction  or  change  shall  be  based;  and  

(3)  Other  documents  which  the  petitioner  or  the  city  or  municipal  civil  registrar  or  the  consul  general  may  consider  relevant  and  necessary  for  the  approval  of  the  petition.  

In  case  of  change  of  Rirst  name  or  nickname,  the  petition  shall  likewise  be  supported  with  the  documents  mentioned  in  the  immediately  preceding  paragraph.  In  addition,  the  petition  shall  be  published  at   least  once  a  week   for   two  (2)  consecutive  weeks   in  a  newspaper  of  general  circulation.  Furthermore,  the  petitioner  shall  submit  a  certiRication  from  the  appropriate  law  enforcement  agencies  that  he  has  no  pending  case  or  no  criminal  record.  

The  petition  and   its  supporting  papers  shall  be   Riled   in   three  (3)  copies   to  be  distributed  as  follows:   Rirst   copy   to   the   concerned   city   or  municipal   civil   registrar,   or   the   consul   general;  second  copy  to  the  OfRice  of  the  Civil  Registrar  General;  and  third  copy  to  the  petitioner.  

Section  6.  Duties  of   the  City  or  Municipal  Civil  Registrar  or   the  Consul  General.   –  The  city  or  municipal  civil  registrar  or  the  consul  general  to  whom  the  petition  is  presented  shall  examine  the  petition  and   its  supporting  documents.  He  shall  post   the  petition   in  a  conspicuous  place  provided   for   that   purpose   for   ten   (10)   consecutive   days   after   he   Rinds   the   petition   and   its  supporting  documents  sufRicient  in  form  and  substance.  

The  city  or  municipal  civil   registrar  or   the  consul  general   shall  act  on   the  petition  and  shall  render  a  decision  not  later  than  Rive  (5)  working  days  after  the  completion  of  the  posting  and/or  publication  requirement.  He  shall  transmit  a  copy  of  his  decision  together  with  the  records  of   the   proceedings   to   the   OfRice   of   the   Civil   Registrar   General  within   Rive   (5)  working   days  from  the  date  of  the  decision.  

Section  7.  Duties  and  Powers  of  the  Civil  Registrar  General.  –  The  civil  registrar  general  shall,  within   ten   (10)  working   days   from   receipt   of   the   decision   granting   a   petition,   exercise   the  power  to  impugn  such  decision  by  way  of  an  objection  based  on  the  following  grounds:  

(1)  The  error  is  not  clerical  or  typographical;  

(2)   The   correction   of   an   entry   or   entries   in   the   civil   register   is   substantial   or  controversial  as  it  affects  the  civil  status  of  a  person;  or  

(3)  The  basis   used   in   changing   the   Rirst   name  or  nickname  of   a   person  does  not   fall  under  Section  4.  

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The  civil  registrar  general  shall  immediately  notify  the  city  or  municipal  civil  registrar  or  the  consul  general  of  the  action  taken  on  the  decision.  Upon  receipt  of  the  notice  thereof,  the  city  or  municipal  civil  registrar  or  the  consul  general  shall  notify  the  petitioner  of  such  action.  

The  petitioner  may  seek  reconsideration  with  the  civil  registrar  general  or  Rile  the  appropriate  petition  with  the  proper  court.  

If   the  civil   registrar  general   fails   to  exercise  his  power   to   impugn   the  decision  of   the  city  or  municipal   civil   registrar   or   of   the   consul   general  within   the   period   prescribed   herein,   such  decision  shall  become  Rinal  and  executory.  

Where  the  petition  is  denied  by  the  city  or  municipal  civil  registrar  or  the  consul  general,  the  petitioner  may  either  appeal  the  decision  to  the  civil  registrar  general  or  Rile  the  appropriate  petition  with  the  proper  court.  

PD  1083  A  DECREE  TO  ORDAIN  AND  PROMULGATE  A  CODE  RECOGNIZING  THE  SYSTEM  OF  FILIPINO  MUSLIM  LAWS,  CODIFYING  MUSLIM  PERSONAL  LAWS,  AND  PROVIDING  FOR  ITS  ADMINISTRATION  AND  FOR  OTHER  PURPOSES  Article  16.  Capacity  to  contract  marriage.  

(1)  Any  Muslim  male  at  least  Rifteen  years  of  age  and  any  Muslim  female  of  the  age  of  puberty  or  upwards   and  not   suffering   from  any   impediment  under   the  provisions  of  this  Code  may  contract  marriage.  A  female  is  presumed  to  have  attained  puberty  upon  reaching  the  age  of  Rifteen.  

(2)  However,   the  Shari'a  District  Court  may,  upon  petition  of  a  proper  wali,  order  the  solemnization  of  the  marriage  of  a  female  who  though  less  than  Rifteen  but  not  below  twelve  years  of  age,  has  attained  puberty.  

(3)  Marriage  through  a  wali  by  a  minor  below  the  prescribed  ages  shall  be  regarded  as  betrothal  and  may  be  annulled  upon  the  petition  of  either  party  within  four  years  after  attaining   the  age  of  puberty,  provided  no  voluntary  cohabitation  has   taken  place  and  the   wali   who   contracted   the   marriage   was   other   than   the   father   or   paternal  grandfather.  

Article  17.  Marriage  ceremony.  No  particular  form  of  marriage  ceremony  is  required  but  the  ijab   and   the   gabul   in   marriage   shall   be   declared   publicly   in   the   presence   of   the   person  solemnizing  the  marriage  and  two  competent  witnesses.  This  declaration  shall  be  set  forth  in  an   instrument   in   triplicate,   signed  or  marked  by   the  contracting  parties  and  said  witnesses,  and   attested   by   the   person   solemnizing   the   marriage.   One   copy   shall   be   given   to   the  contracting  parties  and  another  sent   to   the  Circuit  Registrar  by   the  solemnizing  ofRicer  who  shall  keep  the  third.  

Article  18.  Authority  to  solemnize  marriage.  Marriage  may  be  solemnized:  

(a)  By  the  proper  wali  of  the  woman  to  be  wedded;  

(b)  Upon  authority  of  the  proper  wali,  by  any  person  who  is  competent  under  Muslim  law  to  solemnize  marriage;  or  

(c)   By   the   judge   of   the   Shari'a   District   Court   of   Shari'a   Circuit   Court   or   any   person  designated   by   the   judge,   should   the   proper  wali   refuse  without   justiRiable   reason,   to  authorize  the  solemnization.  

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RULES  OF  COURT  131  SEC  3  

(jj)   That   except   for   purposes   of   succession,   when   two   persons   perish   in   the   same  calamity,  such  as  wreck,  battle,  or  conRlagration,  and  it  is  not  shown  who  died  Rirst,  and  there  are  no  particular  circumstances  from  which  it  can  be  inferred,  the  survivorship  is  determined  from  the  probabilities  resulting  from  the  strength  and  the  age  of  the  sexes,  according  to  the  following  rules:  

1.   If   both   were   under   the   age   of   Rifteen   years,   the   older   is   deemed   to   have  survived;  2.  If  both  were  above  the  age  sixty,  the  younger  is  deemed  to  have  survived;  3.  If  one  is  under  Rifteen  and  the  other  above  sixty,  the  former  is  deemed  to  have  survived;  4.   If  both  be  over   Rifteen  and  under  sixty,  and   the  sex  be  different,   the  male   is  deemed  to  have  survived,  if  the  sex  be  the  same,  the  older;  5.   If  one  be  under   Rifteen  or  over   sixty,   and   the  other  between   those  ages,   the  latter  is  deemed  to  have  survived.  

92  SEC  2  Section   2.   Meaning   of   word   "incompetent."   —   Under   this   rule,   the   word   "incompetent"  includes   persons   suffering   the   penalty   of   civil   interdiction   or   who   are   hospitalized   lepers,  prodigals,  deaf  and  dumb  who  are  unable  to  read  and  write,  those  who  are  of  unsound  mind,  even  though  they  have  lucid  intervals,  and  persons  not  being  of  unsound  mind,  but  by  reason  of  age,  disease,  weak  mind,  and  other  similar  causes,  cannot,  without  outside  aid,  take  care  of  themselves   and   manage   their   property,   becoming   thereby   an   easy   prey   for   deceit   and  exploitation.  

103  Change  of  Name  Section  1.  Venue.  —  A  person  desiring   to   change  his  name  shall  present   the  petition   to   the  Court   of   First   Instance   of   the   province   in  which   he   resides,   or,   in   the   City   of  Manila,   to   the  Juvenile  and  Domestic  Relations  Court.  Section  2.  Contents  of  petition.  —  A  petition  for  change  of  name  shall  be  signed  and  veriRied  by  the  person  desiring  his  name  changed,  or  some  other  person  on  his  behalf,  and  shall  set  forth:  

(a)  That  the  petitioner  has  been  a  bona  ?ide  resident  of  the  province  where  the  petition  is  Riled  for  at  least  three  (3)  years  prior  to  the  date  of  such  Riling;  (b)  The  cause  for  which  the  change  of  the  petitioner's  name  is  sought;  (c)  The  name  asked  for.  

Section  3.  Order   for   hearing.  —   If   the  petition   Riled   is   sufRicient   in   form  and   substance,   the  court,  by  an  order  reciting  the  purpose  of  the  petition,  shall  Rix  a  date  and  place  for  the  hearing  thereof,  and  shall  direct  that  a  copy  of  the  order  be  published  before  the  hearing  at  least  once  a  week  for  three  (3)  successive  weeks  in  some  newspaper  of  general  circulation  published  in  the  province,   as   the   court   shall   deem  best.   The  date   set   for   the  hearing   shall   not   be  within  thirty  (30)  days  prior  to  an  election  nor  within  four  (4)  month  after  the  last  publication  of  the  notice.  

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Section   4.   Hearing.   —   Any   interested   person   may   appear   at   the   hearing   and   oppose   the  petition.  The  Solicitor  General  or  the  proper  provincial  or  city  Riscal  shall  appear  on  behalf  of  the  Government  of  the  Republic.  Section  5.  Judgment.  —  Upon  satisfactory  proof  in  open  court  on  the  date  Rixed  in  the  order  that  such  order  has  been  published  as  directed  and  that  the  allegations  of  the  petition  are  true,  the   court   shall,   if   proper   and   reasonable   cause   appears   for   changing   the   name   of   the  petitioner,  adjudge  that  such  name  be  changed  in  accordance  with  the  prayer  of  the  petition.  Section  6.  Service  of  judgment.  —  Judgments  or  orders  rendered  in  connection  with  this  rule  shall   be   furnished   the   civil   registrar   of   the  municipality   or   city  where   the   court   issuing   the  same  is  situated,  who  shall  forthwith  enter  the  same  in  the  civil  register.  

108  Cancellation  Or  Correction  Of  Entries  In  The  Civil  Registry  Section  1.  Who  may  ?ile  petition.  —  Any  person  interested  in  any  act,  event,  order  or  decree  concerning  the  civil  status  of  persons  which  has  been  recorded  in  the  civil  register,  may  Rile  a  veriRied  petition  for  the  cancellation  or  correction  of  any  entry  relating  thereto,  with  the  Court  of  First  Instance  of  the  province  where  the  corresponding  civil  registry  is  located.  

Section  2.  Entries   subject   to  cancellation  or  correction.  —  Upon  good  and  valid  grounds,   the  following  entries  in  the  civil  register  may  be  cancelled  or  corrected:  (a)  births:  (b)  marriage;  (c)   deaths;   (d)   legal   separations;   (e)   judgments   of   annulments   of   marriage;   (f)   judgments  declaring   marriages   void   from   the   beginning;   (g)   legitimations;   (h)   adoptions;   (i)  acknowledgments   of   natural   children;   (j)   naturalization;   (k)   election,   loss   or   recovery   of  citizenship;   (l)   civil   interdiction;   (m)   judicial   determination   of   Riliation;   (n)   voluntary  emancipation  of  a  minor;  and  (o)  changes  of  name.  

Section   3.   Parties.   —   When   cancellation   or   correction   of   an   entry   in   the   civil   register   is  sought,   the   civil   registrar   and   all   persons   who   have   or   claim   any   interest   which   would   be  affected  thereby  shall  be  made  parties  to  the  proceeding.  

Section   4.  Notice   and   publication.  —   Upon   the   Riling   of   the   petition,   the   court   shall,   by   an  order,  Rix  the  time  and  place  for  the  hearing  of  the  same,  and  cause  reasonable  notice  thereof  to  be  given   to   the  persons  named   in   the  petition.  The  court  shall  also  cause   the  order   to  be  published  once  a  week  for  three  (3)  consecutive  weeks  in  a  newspaper  of  general  circulation  in  the  province.  

Section  5.  Opposition.  —  The  civil   registrar  and  any  person  having  or   claiming  any   interest  under  the  entry  whose  cancellation  or  correction  is  sought  may,  within  Rifteen  (15)  days  from  notice  of   the  petition,  or   from   the   last  date  of  publication  of   such  notice,   Rile  his  opposition  thereto.  

Section  6.  Expediting  proceedings.  —  The  court  in  which  the  proceeding  is  brought  may  make  orders   expediting   the   proceedings,   and   may   also   grant   preliminary   injunction   for   the  preservation  of  the  rights  of  the  parties  pending  such  proceedings.  

Section  7.  Order.  —  After  hearing,  the  court  may  either  dismiss  the  petition  or  issue  an  order  granting   the   cancellation   or   correction   prayed   for.   In   either   case,   a   certiRied   copy   of   the  judgment  shall  be  served  upon  the  civil  registrar  concerned  who  shall  annotated  the  same  in  his  record.  

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1987  CONSTITUTION  ARTICLE  IIDECLARATION  OF  PRINCIPLES  AND  STATE  POLICIES  PRINCIPLES  Section  12.  The  State  recognizes  the  sanctity  of  family  life  and  shall  protect  and  strengthen  the  family  as  a  basic  autonomous  social  institution.  It  shall  equally  protect  the  life  of  the  mother  and  the  life  of  the  unborn  from  conception.  The  natural  and  primary  right  and  duty  of  parents  in  the  rearing  of  the  youth  for  civic  efRiciency  and  the  development  of  moral  character  shall  receive  the  support  of  the  Government.  

Section  14.  The  State  recognizes  the  role  of  women  in  nation-­‐building,  and  shall  ensure  the  fundamental  equality  before  the  law  of  women  and  men.  

ARTICLE  IIIBILL  OF  RIGHTS  Section  1.  No  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property  without  due  process  of  law,  nor  shall  any  person  be  denied  the  equal  protection  of  the  laws.  

ARTICLE  XVTHE  FAMILY  Section   1.   The   State   recognizes   the   Filipino   family   as   the   foundation   of   the   nation.  Accordingly,  it  shall  strengthen  its  solidarity  and  actively  promote  its  total  development.  

Section  2.  Marriage,  as  an  inviolable  social  institution,  is  the  foundation  of  the  family  and  shall  be  protected  by  the  State.  

Section  3.  The  State  shall  defend:  

1.   The   right  of   spouses   to   found  a   family   in   accordance  with   their   religious   convictions        and  the  demands  of  responsible  parenthood;  

2.   The   right   of   children   to   assistance,   including   proper   care   and   nutrition,   and   special        protection   from  all   forms  of  neglect,  abuse,  cruelty,  exploitation  and  other  conditions  prejudicial  to  their  development;  

The  right  of  the  family  to  a  family  living  wage  and  income;  and  

3.   The   right   of   families   or   family   associations   to   participate   in   the   planning   and        implementation  of  policies  and  programs  that  affect  them.  

Section  4.  The  family  has  the  duty  to  care  for  its  elderly  members  but  the  State  may  also  do  so  through  just  programs  of  social  security.  

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