[G.R. No. L-21198. January 22, 1966.

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF LIM CHO KUAN KNOWN ALSO MARIANO LIM, TO BE ADMITTED A
CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES. LIM CHO KUAN alias MARIANO, Petitioner-Appellee, v. REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES, Oppositor-Appellant.

Solicitor General for the oppositor and Appellant.

J. A. Uy for the petitioner and appellee.

SYLLABUS

1. NATURALIZATION; EXEMPTION FROM FILING OF DECLARATION OF INTENTION TO BECOME A FILIPINO

CITIZEN; REQUISITES. — For an applicant born in the Philippines to be exempt from filing a declaration of
intention, he should have received his primary and secondary education in public schools or those
recognized by the Government and not limited to any race or nationality (Sec. 6, Revised Naturalization
Law). That the school where applicant finished his elementary education is not limited to any race or
nationality must be proved by him and cannot be presumed from the fact that the school is recognized by
the Government. The deficiency is fatal to his claim for exemption.

2. ID.; FILING OF DECLARATION OF INTENTION MANDATORY. — The filing of a declaration of intention is

mandatory and can only be dispensed with if the applicant is exempt therefrom. (Tan v. Republic 89 Phil.
624). This requirement not haying been complied with, the petition for naturalization has to be denied.

3. ID.; GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AND PROPER AND IRREPROACHABLE CONDUCT MUST BE PROVED
SEPARATELY. — Section 2 of the Revised Naturalization Law requires (1) that the applicant must be of
good moral character and believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution; and (2) he must
have conducted himself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of his residence
in the Philippines in his relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which
he is living. The first part speaks of the personal quality and belief of the applicant; whereas, the second
part speaks of his public and social conduct. Stated otherwise, a person’s conduct in relation to the
constituted government and the community at large may be irreproachable but his private life or dealings
with a particular individual may be such as to render his moral character objectionable. For this reason,
the law mentions the aforesaid requisites separately. It follows that good moral character and proper and
irreproachable conduct should be alleged and proved separately.

DECISION

BENGZON, J. P., J.:

Not satisfied with the judgment of the Court of First Instance of Manila, rendered February 8, 1962,
granting the petition for naturalization filed by Lim Cho Kuan alias Mariano Lim, the Solicitor General has
appealed.

Lim Cho Kuan was born in the Philippines on December 23, 1936 of Chinese parents. He completed his
elementary education in 1953 at the Philippine Chinese High School and secondary education in 1957 at
the Lyceum of the Philippines.

On November 7, 1960 he filed a petition for naturalization claiming therein exemption from the filing of a
declaration of intention on the ground that he was born in the Philippines and completed his elementary
and secondary education in schools "duly recognized by the Republic of the Philippines." The petition did
not alleged that applicant is "of good moral character."

In the hearing of the petition for naturalization no evidence was presented to prove that the Philippine
Chinese High School is not limited to any race or nationality.

The Solicitor General, therefore, raises the following issues:chanrob1es virtual 1aw library

(1) Is Lim Cho Kuan exempted from filing a declaration of intention?

(2) Is failure to allege in the petition for naturalization that applicant is of good moral character fatal?
Applicant did not file the declaration of intention required in Section 5 of the Revised Naturalization Law
on the ground, as stated, that he is exempt from filing the same. For an applicant born in the Philippines
to be exempt from filing a declaration of intention, he should have received his primary and secondary
education in public schools or those recognized by the Government and not limited to any race or
nationality (Sec. 6, Revised Naturalization Law).

The records of this case bear no evidence showing that the Philippine Chinese High School where Lim Cho
Kuan finished his elementary education is not limited to any race or nationality. Such point must be
proved by applicant and cannot be presumed from the fact that the school is recognized by the
Government. The deficiency is fatal to his claim for exemption.

The filing of a declaration of intention is mandatory and can only be dispensed with if the applicant is
exempt therefrom. 1 This requirement not having been complied with, the petition for naturalization has
to be denied.

Appellant further contends that the petition for naturalization should not have been granted on the
ground that it did not allege that Lim Cho Kuan is a person of good moral character. On the other hand,
applicant argues that the same is necessarily included in the following allegation in paragraph 12 of his
Petition. "I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my
residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted authorities as well as with the community
in which I am living."cralaw virtua1aw library

Section 2 of the Revised Naturalization Law provides:

"SEC. 2. Qualifications. — Subject to section four of this Act, any person having the following qualifications
may become a citizen of the Philippines by naturalization:

x x x

"Third. He must be of good moral character and believe in the principles underlying the Philippine
Constitution, and must have conducted himself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire
period of his residence in the Philippines in his relation with the constituted government as well as with
the community in which he is living."

The above-quoted provision contains two part: (1) That the applicant must be of good moral character
and believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution; and (2) he must have conducted
himself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of his residence in the Philippines
in his relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which he is living. The
first part speaks of the personal quality and belief of the applicant; whereas, the second part speaks of his
public and social conduct. Stated otherwise, a person’s conduct in relation to the constituted government
and the community at large may be irreproachable but his private life or dealings with a particular
individual may be such as to render his moral character objectionable. For this reason, the Law mentions
the aforesaid requisites separately and even puts a comma between them. It follows that good moral
character and proper and irreproachable conduct should be alleged and proved separately. Otherwise,
the Legislature would have omitted the phrases "he must be of good moral character . . ." if the same is
necessarily included in the phrase "must have conducted himself in a proper and irreproachable manner
during the entire period of his residence in the Philippines in his relation with the constituted government
as well as the community in which he is living."

Provisions of the Revised Naturalization Law are strictly construed and non-compliance therewith, as in
this case calls for denial of the application for naturalization. 2

Wherefore, the decision appealed from is hereby reversed. Petition for naturalization denied, with costs
against petitioner. So ordered.

Bengzon, C.J., Bautista Angelo, Concepcion, Reyes, J.B.L., Barrera, Regala and Zaldivar, JJ., concur.

Dizon and Makalintal, JJ., took no part.