Ibig sabihin ng “substitute parental authority”

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta - @Magtanong Kay Attorney | May 20, 2021

Dear Chief Acosta,

Mayroon akong nag-iisang apo na siyam na taong gulang at nasa pangangalaga ng aking manugang. Namatay ang anak kong lalaki noong nakaraang taon at nais ko sanang ako na lamang ang maging legal na tagapangalaga ng aking nag-iisang apo. Maaari ba iyon? Hindi ko kasi kasundo ang manugang ko at taliwas ang aming paniniwala sa pagpapalaki ng aking apo. – Venny

Dear Venny,

Ang mga magulang ang mayroong karapatan na mangalaga sa kanilang mga anak. Ito ay alinsunod sa Family Code of the Philippines:

“Art. 211. The father and the mother shall jointly exercise parental authority over the persons of their common children. In case of disagreement, the father's decision shall prevail, unless there is a judicial order to the contrary.

Children shall always observe respect and reverence towards their parents and are obliged to obey them as long as the children are under parental authority.”

Kung sakaling pumanaw ang isa sa mga magulang, iniaatang ng batas sa magulang na nabubuhay pa ang karapatan na patuloy na pangalagaan ang kanilang anak. Ang mga lolo at lola, bagaman sila ay kinikilala bilang ascendants ng kanilang mga apo ay mabibigyan lamang ng karapatan na pangalagaan ang huli kung pumanaw na ang kapwa mga magulang nito o kung ang mga nasabing magulang ay wala o hindi angkop para sila ay pangalagaan. Malinaw na nakasaad sa nabanggit na batas ang sumusunod:

“Art. 212. In case of absence or death of either parent, the parent present shall continue exercising parental authority. x x x

x x x

Art. 214. In case of death, absence or unsuitability of the parents, substitute parental authority shall be exercised by the surviving grandparent. In case several survive, the one designated by the court, taking into account the same consideration mentioned in the preceding article, shall exercise the authority.”

Sa sitwasyon na inyong nabanggit, tila hindi sapat na dahilan ang hindi ninyo pagkakasundo ng inyong manugang o ang pagiging taliwas ng inyong paniniwala sa pagpapalaki ng inyong apo upang mapagkalooban kayo ng karapatan na maging legal na tagapangalaga ng huli. Mahalaga na mapatunayan ninyo sa hukuman ang unsuitability ng inyong manugang upang kayo ay mabigyan ng substitute parental authority sa inyong nag-iisang apo.

Ipinaliwanag ng ating Korte Suprema sa kasong Vancil vs. Belmes (G.R. No. 132223, June 19, 2001, Ponente: Honorable former Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez), ang sumusunod:

“In Santos, Sr. vs. Court of Appeals, this Court ruled:

“The law vests on the father and mother joint parental authority over the persons of their common children. In case of absence or death of either parent, the parent present shall continue exercising parental authority. Only in case of the parents’ death, absence or unsuitability may substitute parental authority be exercised by the surviving grandparent."

Petitioner, as the surviving grandparent, can exercise substitute parental authority only in case of death, absence or unsuitability of respondent. Considering that respondent is very much alive and has exercised continuously parental authority over Vincent, petitioner has to prove, in asserting her right to be the minor’s guardian, respondent’s unsuitability. Petitioner, however, has not proffered convincing evidence showing that respondent is not suited to be the guardian of Vincent.” (Binigyang-diin)

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang inyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa impormasyon na inyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng inyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.