Pagtatama sa maling proseso ng pag-aampon

Dr. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta / Magtanong Kay Attorney

Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman na mayroong mga taong mabubuti ang kalooban na nag-aampon ng mga bata at itinuturing nilang anak o itinatala nila sila bilang kanilang mga anak sa Civil Registry kahit hindi dumaan sa legal na proseso ng “adoption” o pag-aampon.

Isa sa malimit na ginagawa ay ang tinatawag na “simulation of birth”. Ang simulation of birth ay pagkukunwaring ariing anak ang bata at itala itong sariling anak sa birth certificate nito kahit ang nasabing bata ay hindi nanggaling sa kanyang sinapupunan o ito ay anak ng ibang tao.

Ang “simulation of birth” ay isang uri ng krimen sa ilalim ng Act No. 3815 kung saan nakasaad ang mga sumusunod:

“Article 347. Simulation of births, substitution of one child for another and concealment or abandonment of a legitimate child. - The simulation of births and the substitution of one child for another shall be punished by prision mayor and a fine of not exceeding 1,000 pesos.

xxx xxx xxx

Any physician or surgeon or public officer who, in violation of the duties of his profession or office, shall cooperate in the execution of any of the crimes mentioned in the two next preceding paragraphs, shall suffer the penalties therein prescribed and also the penalty of temporary special disqualification.”

Nitong nakaraang taon ay ipinasa ang Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11222 na pinamagatang

“An Act Allowing the Rectification of Simulated Birth Records and Prescribing Administrative Adoption Proceedings for the Purpose” upang maitama ang pagkakamaling nagawa at ang mga taong nagsagawa nito, maging ang lahat ng taong may kinalaman sa simulation of birth ay hindi makakasuhan ng kasong administratibo, sibil o kriminal.

Ang mga layunin ng batas na ito ay ang mga sumusunod:

a) To grant amnesty and allow the rectification of the simulated birth of a child where the simulation was made for the best interest of the child, and that such child has been consistently considered and treated by the person or persons who simulated such birth as her, his, or their own daughter or son;

b) To fix the status and filiation of a child whose birth was simulated by giving such child all the benefits of adoption and ensuring that the child shall be entitled to all the rights provided by law to legally adopted children, without any discrimination of any kind, as well as to love, guidance, and support from the child’s adoptive family;

c) To exempt from criminal, civil, and administrative liability those who simulated the birth record of a child prior to the effectivity of this Act: Provided, That a petition for adoption with an application for the rectification of the simulated birth record is filed within ten (10) years from the effectivity of this Act;

d) To provide for and allow a simpler and less costly administrative adoption proceeding where the child has been living with the person or persons who simulated her or his birth record for at least three (3) years before the effectivity of this Act; and

e) To educate and inform the public about the rectification of simulated births, and to encourage people to avail of the benefits of this Act.”

Makikita sa mga nabanggit na probisyon na binibigyan ng estado ng pagkakataon ang mga nagsagawa ng “simulation of birth” na itama ang kanilang kamaliang ginawa kung ang nasabing simulation ay para sa pinakamabuting interes ng bata at ang huli ay itinuring ng mga taong nagsagawa ng simulation ng kanyang kapanganakan bilang kanilang anak. Kinakailangan lamang na sila ay maghain ng “Petition for adoption with an application for the rectification of the simulated birth record” sa loob ng sampung taon mula nang naging epektibo ang batas (Section 4, R.A. No. 11222).

Ang “administrative adoption and rectification” ay maaaring ihain kapag ang bata ay may tatlong taon nang nakatira sa poder ng taong nagsagawa ng simulation of birth bago naging epektibo ang batas na ito at mayroong “Certificate declaring the child legally available for adoption (CDCLAA)” na inilabas ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) (Section 5, Id.).

Ang nasabing petition ay nararapat na umayon sa mga sumusunod na patakaran:

“Section 9. Petition. - The petition for adoption with an application for rectification of simulated birth record shall be in the form of an affidavit and shall be subscribed and sworn to by the petitioner or petitioners before any person authorized by law to administer affirmations and oaths. It shall state the facts necessary to establish the merits of the petition, and the circumstances surrounding the simulation of the birth of the child. The petition shall be supported by the following:

(a) A copy of simulated birth or foundling certificate of the child;

(b) Affidavit of admission if the simulation of birth was done by a third person;

(c) Certification issued and signed by the punong barangay attesting that the petitioner or petitioners is a resident or are residents of the barangay, and that the child has been living with the petitioner or petitioners for at least three (3) years prior to the effectivity of this Act;

(d) Affidavits of at least two (2) disinterested persons, who reside in the same barangay where the child resides, attesting that the child has been living with the petitioner for at least three (3) years prior to the effectivity of this Act;

(e) CDCLAA issued by the DSWD; and

(f) Photographs of the child and the petitioner or petitioners taken within the last three (3) months prior to the filing of the petition.” (Section 9, Id.).

Subalit, ang CDCLAA ay hindi na kailangan kapag ang aampunin ay isa nang adult o kamag-anak ng mag-aampon hanggang sa 4th civil degree of consanguinity o affinity. (Ibid.)