IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF DELFIN LIMTAO, TO BE ADMITTED A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES. DELFIN LIMTAO, PETITIONER AND APPELLEE, VS. THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, OPPOSIT…

This is an appeal by the Government from a decision of the
Court of First Instance of Bulacan, granting the petition for naturalization of
the petitioner-appellee, Delfin Limtao.

The only contention raised by the Solicitor General is that the
appellee lacks one of the qualifications prescribed in section 2, paragraph 4,
of the Revised Naturalization Law, namely, that “he must own real estate in the
Philippines worth not less than five thousand pesos, Philippine currency, or
must have some known lucrative trade, profession, or lawful occupation.” This
contention is well taken, it appearing that the appealed decision expressly
finds that the appellee actually lives with his parents who support him, that he
does not own any property or business, and that he is a student in the Far
Eastern University under the support of his parents. Counsel for appellee argues
that the latter helps in his father’s grocery store, and that although the
appellee does not receive any salary for his work, the support given by his
father may well be considered as regular compensation. It is obvious that in the
very nature of things, regardless of the help rendered by the appellee, his
parents with whom he lives and who know that he has no independent income, are
morally bound to support him; and there is no showing that, if the appellee does
not help his father in the latter’s grocery store, he would not be
supported.

As the appellee does not possess all the qualifications
prescribed by law for the acquisition of Philippine citizenship, the appealed
decision will be as it is hereby reversed and his petition for naturalization
denied. So ordered.

Pablo, Bengzon, Padilla, Montemayor, Jugo, Bautista Angelo, and
Labrador, JJ., concur.