Karapatan at tungkulin ng ama sa anak

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | June 24, 2024

Dear Chief Acosta,

May 3 taong gulang na anak kami ng dati kong live-in partner. Matapos ang anim na taong relasyon ay naghiwalay kami. Hindi naging maganda ang paghihiwalay namin. Simula noon, kahit anong subok at pakiusap ko, hindi ako pinapayagan ng dati kong live-in partner na makita o makasama ang aking anak. Ano ba ang mga karapatan ko sa aking anak? -- Anton

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Dear Anton,

Ang mga magulang ay may likas na karapatan, na may kaakibat na moral at legal na tungkulin na pangalagaan ang kanilang mga anak, siguraduhin ang kanilang tamang pagpapalaki, at pangalagaan ang kanilang pinakamahusay na interes at kapakanan. Ang awtoridad at responsibilidad na ito ay hindi maaaring ipagkait sa mga magulang. Hindi rin nila maaaring talikuran ang mga ito. Kahit na ang mga magulang ay hiwalay at ang kanilang pagmamahal sa isa’t isa ay nawala na, ang damdamin para sa kanilang mga anak ay nananatili at hindi nagbabago. Hindi pinapayagan ng batas o ng mga korte na magdusa ang pagkakaugnay na ito sa pagitan ng magulang at anak nang walang anumang tunay, seryoso, at napipintong banta sa kapakanan ng bata.

Kaugnay nito, sa kasong Carlitos E. Silva vs. Hon. Court of Appeals and Suzanne T. Gonzales, G.R. No. 114742, 17 July 1997, sa panulat ni Kagalang-galang na Kasamang Mahistrado Jose C. Vitug, tinalakay ng Kagalang-galang na Korte Suprema ang likas na karapatan at tungkulin ng mga magulang sa kanilang anak, tulad ng panatilihin ang mga bata sa kanilang piling at bigyan sila ng pagmamahal, payo at pang-unawa:

“The issue before us is not really a question of child custody; instead, the case merely concerns the visitation right of a parent over his children which the trial court has adjudged in favor of petitioner by holding that he shall have ‘visitorial rights to his children during Saturdays and/or Sundays, but in no case (could) he take out the children without the written consent of the mother . . . .’  The visitation right referred to is the right of access of a noncustodial parent to his or her child or children.

There is, despite a dearth of specific legal provisions, enough recognition on the inherent and natural right of parents over their children. Article 150 of the Family Code expresses that ‘(f)amily relations include those . . . (2) (b)etween parents and children; . . . .’ Article 209, in relation to Article 220, of the Code states that it is the natural right and duty of parents and those exercising parental authority to, among other things, keep children in their company and to give them love and affection, advice and counsel, companionship and understanding. The Constitution itself speaks in terms of the ‘natural and primary rights’ of parents in the rearing of the youth. There is nothing conclusive to indicate that these provisions are meant to solely address themselves to legitimate relationships. Indeed, although in varying degrees, the laws on support and successional rights, by way of examples, clearly go beyond the legitimate members of the family and so explicitly encompass illegitimate relationships as well. Then, too, and most importantly, in the declaration of nullity of marriages, a situation that presupposes a void or inexistent marriage, Article 49 of the Family Code provides for appropriate visitation rights to parents who are not given custody of their children.

There is no doubt that in all cases involving a child, his interest and welfare is always the paramount consideration. The Court shares the view of the Solicitor General, who has recommended due course to the petition, that a few hours spent by petitioner with the children, however, could not all be that detrimental to the children.  xxx

The Court appreciates the apprehensions of private respondent and their well-meant concern for the children; nevertheless, it seems unlikely that petitioner would have ulterior motives or undue designs more than a parent’s natural desire to be able to call on, even if it were only on brief visits, his own children. The trial court, in any case, has seen it fit to understandably provide this precautionary measure, i.e., “in no case (can petitioner) take out the children without the written consent of the mother.”

Sa kasong nabanggit, ibinahagi ng ating Korte Suprema na ang ilang oras na paggugol ng ama kasama ang kanyang anak ay hindi nakapipinsala sa bata. Bagama’t naiintindihan ng Korte Suprema ang mga pangamba ng ina, ito ay naniniwala na mas nananaig ang pagnanais ng isang ama na makatawag o mabisita, kahit sandali lamang, ang kanyang sariling anak. Kung kaya, sa iyong sitwasyon, bilang ama ng bata, maaari mong igiit sa dati mong live-in partner ang iyong karapatan na makita at mabisita ang iyong anak. 

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

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.