Republic of the Philippines

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

Ninth Judicial Region
Branch 15
Zamboanga City

IN RE: IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTION OF

MINOR MARLOU ROJAS AND CHANGE OF
NAME TO CLIFFORDSANTIAGO
SPECIAL PROCEEDING
NO. 8977

SPS. ABRAHAM D. SANTIAGO and ESTER

A. SANTIAGO,
Petitioners.

x--------------------------------------------------------------x

PETITION

COMES, NOW, THE PETITIONERS, thru their counsel, and unto this
Honorable Court, most respectfully allege the following, to wit:

1. That petitioners are both of legal age, Filipinos, married to each

other, and residents of #54 Lacandalo Drive, Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City;

2. That they desire to adopt the minor child named MARLOU

ROJAS, who is male, three years of age, Filipino, and likewise residing at
#54 Lacandalo Drive, Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City;

3. That herein subject minor, was born at Zamboanga City Medical Formatted: Justified, Indent: Left: 0.5", First line: 0.5",
Space Before: 12 pt
Center on December 5, 2012 to MARILOU ROJAS, unmarried, which proof
of birth was duly registered in the Register of Births of the Office of the

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Civil Registrar of Zamboanga City, for which a Certificate of Live Birth was
issued. A machine copy of it is herewith attached asAnnex A;

4. That the minor child was admitted to the proper care and
custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD
for brevity) by his biological mother together with referring social
worker, SARAH LIM of DWSD-Crisis Intervention Unit located in Sta.
Barbara, Zamboanga City on December 8, 2012. Subject child was
referred to their office by the Medical Social Worker of Zamboanga City
Medical Center (ZCMC for brevity) after being initially assessed that the
mother cannot support the child with all his needs due to economic and
health reasons;

5. That MARLOU was only 2 days old when he was brought for
admission at the center. He was born through normal delivery and
assisted by DR. PIA CENTENO, Medical Officer III of Zamboanga City
Medical Center;

6. That during the interview of the childs mother, it was found

that the subject childs mother worked as a Guest Relation Officer (GRO)
in Fantacy KTV bar along MCLL Highway, Guiwan, this city, and his father
could not be identified. No further details regarding his family
background was established due to the mothers inconsistent answers to
the questions. Moreover, the referring social worker, MS. SARAH LIM
worked out to submit childs mother for assessment by psychiatrist but
the mother refused as she insisted to be mentally stable and healthy. Per
collateral review on the given address, it was found that the mother has
several men whom she does not want to identify. She has no relative
living in the city.

7. That during the childs admission in the center, the mother, was
informed of the placement status of the child and the centers programs
and services. She was also advised to come and visit her son to
determine her readiness to assume the role of parenting. Unfortunately,
the mother failed to fulfill such agreement. In fact, it was her first and
last visit to her child has been deprived of the love, care and attention

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from his biological mother since he was two (2) days old up to the
present;

8. That as per Child Study report, the DSWD has evaluated and
recommended that the minor child can be legally adopted to spouses
ABRAHAM D. SANTIAGO and ESTER A. SANTIAGO for the childs best
interest and welfare. A copy of said DSWD Child Study Report is herein
attached as Annex B;

9. THAT, MOREOVER, Petitioner is qualified to adopt the minor

child above-named under Articles 183-186 of the Family Code of the
Philippines, as amended by the provisions of Republic Act No. 9552, the
Domestic Adoption of 1998;

10. That, in addition, the adoptive applicants have been married

since June 16, 2007 but they remain childless. The spouses decided to
foster a child to whom they can give their love, care and affection. On
January 10, 2014, Marlou Rojas from the Child Reception and Study
Center for Children at Talon-Talon, this city, was placed under their
custody as foster child. Attached herewith is a copy of the spouses
Marriage Contract as Annex C;

11. That the DSWD in fact made a Child Study Report on the case of
the subject minor child and in that study report i.e. social diagnosis the
minor deprived of parental love and care. They maintained that it was
the present custodian, who unselfishly provided them love and the best
opportunities to make the child fully accepted and loved by the family
resulting to a positive parent-child relationship;

12. That, on September 30, 2015, the subject minor was formally
matched to Spouses ABRAHAM and ESTER SANTIAGO. Last October 15,
2015, the corresponding AFFIDAVIT OF CONSENT TO ADOPTION by
DSWD was issued and herein attached and form part of the petition as
Annex D;

13. That herein petitioners has the capability and ability to extend
to said minor the kind of financial support that a parent can give to his

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child. ABRAHAM SANTIAGO is an Accounts Officer in the Land Bank of
the Philippines while the wife ESTER is a pre-school teacher at Ateneo de
Zamboanga University Grade School. Attached hereto are the
employment identification cards of petitioners as Annex E and E-1;

9. Thatit is for the best interest of said minor if they would be

considered as child of herein petitioners because his financial, spiritual,
and emotional needs would be taken care of and his future would be
safeguarded. In fact, the couple owns a house located a safe
neighborhood in Sta. Maria. They also hired a nanny to take care of the
subject minor while they are at work. Moreover, the mother of Abraham
lives with the spouses who loves the child as much as the spouses. With
that, the DSWD, in its Home Study Report, has strongly evaluated and
recommended that the Honorable Court approve the adoption of minor
Marlou Rojas to Spouse Abraham Santiago and Ester A. Santiago. A copy
of the Home Study Report is herein attached as Annex F;

10. That the spouses are of good character, hasno derogatory

record whatsoever can be attributed to them, are emotionally and
psychologically capable of caring for the child, are more than sixteen (16)
years older that the subject minor sought to be adopted, are in position
to support and care said child in keeping with the means of the family.
Attached herewith are copies of their Police clearances as statements as
Annexes G and G-1;

11. That, at present, the subject minor is now three (3) years old
and has been with the petitioners for two (2) years now. He has adjusted
well in the atmosphere and environment of his foster family. He is
observed to be an active, healthy, sociable and affectionate child.
Generally speaking, his total growth and development is within the
normal level which could be attributed to the positive, alternative, and
stimulating activities given by the foster family.

12. That the minor sought to be adopted does not own any real,
personal, tangible and intangible property; and

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 13. That this adoption is for the best interest and security of the
said minor if he would be considered as true and legal child of herein
petitioners and it will make his life normal, productive, and good persons
in the community;

PRAYER
WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this
Honorable Court to grant this petition of Spouses Abraham and Ester Santiago
for the adoption of Marlou Rojas and for the change of the childs name to
Clifford A. Santiago.

Such other reliefs which the Honorable Court may deem just and
equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.

City of Zamboanga, Philippines, January 7, 2016.

FATIMA SARPINA P. HINAY

Counsel for the Petitioners
MP Tower, Buenavista St.
Zamboanga City
ROLL NO. 87221 5-16-10
IBP NO. 896989 1-04-16
PTR No. 0927798 1-04-16

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(Republic of the Philippines)
(City of Zamboanga ) S.S.
X- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - )

VERIFICATION AND CERITIFICATION

We, Spouses ABRAHAM D. SANTIAGO and ESTER A. SANTIAGO, both of

legal age, Filipino citizens, and residents of #54 Lacandalo Drive, Sta. Maria,
Zamboanga City, under oath, depose and state:

1. That we are the Petitioners in the above-mentioned case;

2. That we have caused the preparation of this Petition;
3. That we have read and understood its contents and affirm that they
are true and correct to our personal knowledge and based on
authentic records; and,
4. That we hereby certify that there is no other case or special
proceeding commenced or pending before any court involving the
same parties and the same issue and that should we learn of such a
case or special proceeding, we shall notify the court within five (5)
days from our notice.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have signed this instrument on the 7thday of

January 2016, in the City of Zamboanga, Philippines.

ABRAHAM D. SANTIAGO ESTER A. SANTIAGO

Affiant Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 7thday of January 2016, in

the City of Zamboanga, Philippines.
Doc. No. ___
FATIMA SARPINA P. HINAY
Page No. ___ Notary Public
Book N0. ___ MP Tower, Buenavista St.
Series of 2016 Zamboanga City

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ROLL NO. 87221 5-16-10
IBP NO. 896989 1-04-16

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