ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | Enero 11, 2024
Dear Chief Acosta,
Ako ay volunteer sa isang orphanage. Nitong nakaraang linggo ay mayroong dinalang bata sa amin. Sa ngayon ay hindi namin matukoy kung sino ang mga magulang ng nasabing bata at kung saan siya nanggaling, ngunit, ang nasabing bata ay parang tisay at mukhang may lahing Westerner. Kung hindi mahanap ang kanyang mga magulang, ano ang magiging citizenship ng nasabing bata? - Albert
Dear Albert,
Para sa iyong kaalaman, ang batas na nakasasaklaw sa iyong katanungan ay ang Sections 3 at 5 ng Republic Act No. 11767 o mas kilala sa tawag na Foundling Recognition and Protection Act, kung saan nakasaad na:
“Section 3. Definition of Foundling. - For purposes of this Act, s foundling shall be a deserted or abandoned child or infant with unknown facts of birth and parentage. his shall also include those who have been duly registered as a foundling during her or his infant childhood, but have reached the age of majority without benefitting from adoption procedures upon the passage of this law. xxx
Section 5. Citizenship Status of a Foundling Found in the Philippines and/or in Philippine Embassies, Consulates and Territories Abroad. - A foundling found in the Philippines and/or in Philippine embassies, consulates and territories abroad is presumed a natural-born Filipino citizen regardless of the status or circumstances of birth. As a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a foundling is accorded with rights and protections at the moment of birth equivalent to those belonging to such class of citizens whose citizenship does not need perfection or any further act.
The presumption of natural-born status of a foundling may not be impugned in any proceeding unless substantial proof of foreign parentage is shown. The natural-born status of a foundling shall not also be affected by the fact that the birth certificate was simulated, or that there was absence of a legal adoption process, or that there was inaction or delay in reporting, documenting, or registering a foundling.”
Samakatuwid, ang isang batang iniwan o inabandona at hindi alam kung saan siya nagmula o sino ang kanyang mga magulang ay tinatawag na foundling. Kung ang nasabing foundling na nakita sa Pilipinas ay itinuturing na isang natural-born Filipino citizen, at siyang bibigyan ng lahat ng mga karapatan at proteksyon na nararapat para sa nasabing klasipikasyon ng pagka-Pilipino. Ang naturang presumption o pagpapalagay na ito ay hindi maaaring kuwestiyunin sa kahit na anong kaso, maliban na lamang kung mayroong maipapakitang substantial proof ng foreign parentage.
Ibig sabihin, ang batang dinala sa inyo ay makokonsiderang foundling. Bilang foundling, siya ay ituturing na natural-born Filipino citizen, at ang presumption na ito ay hindi mababago, maliban na lamang kung may maipapakitang substantial proof ng kanyang foreign parentage.
Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay.
Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.
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