Nanay ang may "K" sa anak kapag hindi kasal sa ama ng bata

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | Enero 12, 2023

Dear Chief Acosta,

Ang limang taong pagsasama namin ng dati kong live-in partner ay nagbunga ng supling. Subalit nauwi sa hiwalayan ang aming relasyon dahil sa madalas naming pagtatalo at pag-aaway noon. Mula noon, hindi na siya nagpakita sa amin at hindi siya nagbigay ng sustento. Pagkatapos nang halos dalawang taon, nakatanggap ako ng tawag mula sa tatay ng anak ko. Humihingi siya ng tawad at gusto diumano niyang makabawi sa aming anak. Hinihingi rin niya na maghati kami sa kustodiya ng anak namin, pero hindi ako sang-ayon. Maaari bang ipilit niya ang gusto niya? - Cherie

Dear Cherie,

Ang iyong katanungan ay nasagot ng Kagalang-galang na Korte Suprema sa kasong Joey D. Briones vs. Maricel P. Miguel, et. al., G.R. No. 156343, 18 October 2004, na isinulat ni Honorable Retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban (na noon ay associate justice), kung saan pinasiyahan ang mga sumusunod:

“Having been born outside a valid marriage, the minor is deemed an illegitimate child of petitioner and Respondent Loreta. Article 176 of the Family Code of the Philippines explicitly provides that ‘illegitimate children shall use the surname and shall be under the parental authority of their mother, and shall be entitled to support in conformity with this Code.’ This is the rule regardless of whether the father admits paternity.x xx

Obviously, Michael is a natural (“illegitimate,” under the Family Code) child, as there is nothing in the records showing that his parents were suffering from a legal impediment to marry at the time of his birth. Both acknowledge that Michael is their son. As earlier explained and pursuant to Article 176, parental authority over him resides in his mother, Respondent Loreta, notwithstanding his father’s recognition of him.

David v. Court of Appeals held that the recognition of an illegitimate child by the father could be a ground for ordering the latter to give support to, but not custody of, the child. The law explicitly confers to the mother sole parental authority over an illegitimate child; it follows that only if she defaults can the father assume custody and authority over the minor. Of course, the putative father may adopt his own illegitimate child; in such a case, the child shall be considered a legitimate child of the adoptive parent.

There is thus no question that Respondent Loreta, being the mother of and having sole parental authority over the minor, is entitled to have custody of him. She has the right to keep him in her company. She cannot be deprived of that right, and she may not even renounce or transfer it “except in the cases authorized by law.” xxx

We likewise affirm the visitorial right granted by the CA to petitioner. In Silva v. Court of Appeals, the Court sustained the visitorial right of an illegitimate father over his children in view of the constitutionally protected inherent and natural right of parents over their children. Even when the parents are estranged and their affection for each other is lost, their attachment to and feeling for their offspring remain unchanged. Neither the law nor the courts allow this affinity to suffer, absent any real, grave or imminent threat to the well-being of the child.” (Binigyang-diin)

Ayon sa nasabing kaso, ang anak na ipinanganak sa labas ng balidong kasal ay itinuturing na illegitimate o nonmarital child. Alinsunod sa batas, ang nasabing anak ay nasa ilalim ng sole parental authority ng kanyang ina. Sa paggamit ng nasabing awtoridad, siya ay may karapatang panatilihin ang bata sa kanyang kustodiya. Hindi aalisin ng korte sa kanya ang karapatan ng kustodiya sa kanyang anak, kung walang anumang mahalaga o balidong dahilan na nagpapakita na siya ay hindi karapat-dapat na patuloy pang pangalagaan ang kanyang anak.

Samakatwid, dahil hindi kayo kasal ng dati mong live-in partner at bilang ina, ikaw ang may sole parental authority o karapatan sa kustodiya ng inyong anak, hindi alintana kung kinilala siya ng kanyang ama bilang anak.

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

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.