REPUBLIC VS DELA ROSA

G.R. No. 104654, 6 June 1994 [Citizenship; Naturalization; Naturalization Proceedings; C.A. No. 473]

FACTS:

September 20, 1991 - Frivaldo filed a petition for naturalization under the Commonwealth Act No. 63
before the RTC Manila.

October 7, 1991 - Judge dela Rosa set the petition for hearing on March 16, 1992, and directed the
publication of the said order and petition in the Official Gazette and a newspaper of general circulation,
for 3 consecutive weeks, the last publication of which should be at least 6 months before the date of the
said hearing.

January 14, 1992 - Frivaldo asked the Judge to cancel the March 16 hearing and move it to January 24,
1992, citing his intention to run for public office in the May 1992 elections. Judge granted the motion and
the hearing was moved to February 21. No publication or copy was issued about the order.

February 21, 1992 - the hearing proceeded.

February 27, 1992 - Judge rendered the assailed Decision and held that Frivaldo is readmitted as a citizen
of the Republic of the Philippines by naturalization.

Republic of the Philippines filed a petition for Certiorari under Rule 45 of the Revised Rules of Court in
relation to R.A. No. 5440 and Section 25 of the Interim Rules, to annul the decision made on February 27,
1992 and to nullify the oath of allegiance taken by Frivaldo on same date.

ISSUE:

Whether or not Frivaldo was duly re-admitted to his citizenship as a Filipino.

RULING:
No. The supreme court ruled that Private respondent is declared NOT a citizen of the Philippines and
therefore disqualified from continuing to serve as governor of the Province of Sorsogon. He is ordered to
vacate his office and to surrender the same to the Vice-Governor of the Province of Sorsogon once this
decision becomes final and executory. The proceedings of the trial court was marred by the following
irregularities:

(1) the hearing of the petition was set ahead of the scheduled date of hearing, without a publication of
the order advancing the date of hearing, and the petition itself;

(2) the petition was heard within six months from the last publication of the petition;

(3) petitioner was allowed to take his oath of allegiance before the finality of the judgment; and

(4) petitioner took his oath of allegiance without observing the two-year waiting period.