Co v. Republic
REITERATIONFacts
The Antecedents: Antonio L. Co, a citizen of Nationalist China born in Pampanga in 1947, applied for naturalization in the Court of First Instance of Pampanga. Procedural History: The Court of First Instance of Pampanga found him qualified and granted his application. The Petition: The Solicitor General appealed the decision, arguing that the applicant did not fulfill the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation.
Issue(s)
Whether the applicant's income of P200.00 a month as assistant manager of his parents' sugar cane farm is considered lucrative for purposes of naturalization.
Ruling
The decision of the Court of First Instance is reversed, and the petition for naturalization is dismissed.
Ratio Decidendi
On the issue of lucrative trade or occupation: The Supreme Court held that the applicant's income of P200.00 a month, received as assistant manager of his parents' sugar cane farm, cannot be considered lucrative for the purposes of naturalization. The Court noted that its ruling on this matter has been laid down in so many recent decisions. The Court found that in other respects, the applicant's qualifications adequately met the legal requirements for naturalization. He had lived in the Philippines continuously, except for a four-month visit to Amoy with his parents in 1947. He received his elementary and secondary education in the Guagua National Colleges, Pampanga, and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the East, Manila. His conduct, moral character, association with Filipinos, and desire to embrace native customs, ideals, and traditions were duly vouched for and established by the evidence. His political convictions and sympathies, knowledge of the principles underlying the Constitution, lack of criminal record, physical and mental health, and sincerity and good faith in desiring Philippine citizenship were also established. However, the appeal by the Solicitor General on the ground of insufficient income was sustained. Therefore, the decision appealed from was reversed, and the petition for naturalization was dismissed.
Main Doctrine
An income of P200.00 a month, received as assistant manager of a parents' sugar cane farm, cannot be considered lucrative for purposes of naturalization.