Pagtatama sa ginawang pag-aampon na ‘di dumaan sa legal na proseso

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | July 9, 2023

Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman na mayroong mga taong mabubuti ang loob na nag-aampon ng bata na itinuturing nilang anak at itinatala bilang kanilang anak sa Civil Registry na 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 isang bata at pagtala rito bilang sariling anak sa sertipikasyon ng kapanganakan (birth certificate), kahit na ang nasabing bata ay hindi nanggaling sa kanyang sinapupunan at ito ay anak ng ibang tao.

Ang simulation of birth ay isang uri ng krimen sa ilalim ng Act No. 3815 o mas kilala sa tawag na Revised Penal Code (RPC) 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.

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.

Subalit kalaunan ay ipinasa ang Republic Act No. 11222 na pinamagatang “Simulated Birth Rectification Act,” upang maitama ang pagkakamaling nagawa, at ang mga taong nagsagawa nito at iba pang may kinalaman sa simulation of birth ay hindi na makasuhan pa ng administratibo, sibil o kriminal.

Ayon sa Section 2 ng batas, ang mga layunin nito 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;

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 taong nagsagawa ng simulation of birth upang maitama ang kanilang kamaliang nagawa kung ang nasabing simulation ay para sa pinakamabuting interes ng bata at ang huli ay itinuring ng taong nagsagawa ng simulation bilang kanyang sariling anak. Kinakailangan lamang na sila ay maghain ng isang “petition for adoption with an application for the rectification of the simulated birth record” sa loob ng 10 taon mula nang naging epektibo ang batas. (Section 4)

Ang petisyon ay maaaring ihain kapag ang bata ay may 3 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)

Ang CDCLAA ay hindi na kailangan kung ang aampunin ay nasa tamang edad na o kung siya ay kamag-anak ng mag-aampon sa loob ng 4th civil degree of consanguinity or affinity. (Section 9)

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;

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