Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lucas Vs Lucas
Lucas Vs Lucas
_______________
* SECOND DIVISION.
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 1 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
668
669
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 2 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
670
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 3 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
when the parties have presented their respective evidence. They are
matters of evidence that cannot be determined at this initial stage
of the proceedings, when only the petition to establish filiation has
been filed. The CAÊs observation that petitioner failed to establish a
prima facie case·the first procedural aspect in a paternity case·is
therefore misplaced. A prima facie case is built by a partyÊs evidence
and not by mere allegations in the initiatory pleading. Clearly then,
it was also not the opportune time to discuss the lack of a prima
facie case vis-à-vis the motion for DNA testing since no evidence
has, as yet, been presented by petitioner. More essentially, it is
premature to discuss whether, under the circumstances, a DNA
testing order is warranted considering that no such order has yet
been issued by the trial court. In fact, the latter has just set the said
case for hearing.
Same; Same; Same; Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Testing;
Paternity; Searches and Seizures; In some foreign states, a court
order for blood testing is considered a „search,‰ which, under their
Constitutions (as in ours), must be preceded by a finding of probable
cause in order to be valid, hence, the requirement of a prima facie
case, or reasonable possibility, was imposed in civil actions as a
counterpart of a finding of probable cause; The same condition
precedent should be applied in our jurisdiction to protect the
putative father from mere harassment suits·thus, during the
hearing on the motion for Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing, the
petitioner must present prima facie evidence or establish a
reasonable possibility of paternity.·In some states, to warrant the
issuance of the DNA testing order, there must be a show cause
hearing wherein the applicant must first present sufficient evidence
to establish a prima facie case or a reasonable possibility of
paternity or „good cause‰ for the holding of the test. In these states,
a court order for blood testing is considered a „search,‰ which, under
their Constitutions (as in ours), must be preceded by a finding of
probable cause in order to be valid. Hence, the requirement of a
prima facie case, or reasonable possibility, was imposed in civil
actions as a counterpart of a finding of probable cause. The
Supreme Court of Louisiana eloquently explained·Although a
paternity action is civil, not criminal, the constitutional prohibition
against unreasonable searches and seizures is still applicable, and a
proper showing of sufficient justification under the particular
factual circumstances of the case must be made before a court may
order a compulsory blood test. Courts in various jurisdictions have
differed regarding the kind of procedures which are re-
671
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 4 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
NACHURA, J.:
Is a prima facie showing necessary before a court can
issue a DNA testing order? In this petition for review on
certiorari, we address this question to guide the Bench and
the Bar in dealing with a relatively new evidentiary tool.
Assailed in this petition are the Court of Appeals (CA)
Decision1 dated September 25, 2009 and Resolution dated
December 17, 2009.
The antecedents of the case are, as follows:
_______________
672
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 5 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
673
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 6 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
the Order and the petition in order that he may appear and
represent the State in the case.
On September 4, 2007, unaware of the issuance of the
September 3, 2007 Order, respondent filed a Special
Appearance and Comment. He manifested inter alia that:
(1) he did not receive the summons and a copy of the
petition; (2) the petition was adversarial in nature and
therefore summons should be served on him as respondent;
(3) should the court agree that summons was required, he
was waiving service of summons and making a voluntary
appearance; and (4) notice by publication of the petition
and the hearing was improper because of the
confidentiality of the subject matter.4
On September 14, 2007, respondent also filed a
Manifestation and Comment on PetitionerÊs Very Urgent
Motion to Try and Hear the Case. Respondent reiterated
that the petition for recognition is adversarial in nature;
hence, he should be served with summons.
After learning of the September 3, 2007 Order,
respondent filed a motion for reconsideration.5 Respondent
averred that the petition was not in due form and
substance because petitioner could not have personally
known the matters that were alleged therein. He argued
that DNA testing cannot be had on
_______________
674
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 7 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
6 Penned by Acting Presiding Judge Ma. Belen Ringpis-Liban; id., at pp. 61-
64.
7 499 Phil. 185; 460 SCRA 197 (2005).
675
SO ORDERED.‰8
This time, the RTC held that the ruling on the grounds
relied upon by petitioner for filing the petition is premature
considering that a full-blown trial has not yet taken place.
The court stressed that the petition was sufficient in form
and substance. It was verified, it included a certification
against forum shopping, and it contained a plain, concise,
and direct statement of the ultimate facts on which
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 8 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
8 Rollo, p. 64.
9 Penned by Judge Nancy Rivas-Palmones; id., at pp. 65-69.
10 Id., at p. 69.
11 A.M. No. 06-11-5-SC, October 15, 2007.
676
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 9 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
12 Rollo, p. 161.
13 Id., at p. 71.
14 Id., at p. 46.
677
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 10 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
678
I.
WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED WHEN
IT RESOLVED THE ISSUE OF LACK OF JURISDICTION OVER
THE PERSON OF HEREIN RESPONDENT ALBEIT THE SAME
WAS NEVER RAISED IN THE PETITION FOR CERTIORARI.
I.A
WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED
WHEN IT RULED THAT JURISDICTION WAS NOT
ACQUIRED OVER THE PERSON OF THE RESPONDENT.
I.B
WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED
WHEN IT FAILED TO REALIZE THAT THE RESPONDENT
HAD ALREADY SUBMITTED VOLUNTARILY TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE COURT A QUO.
I.C
WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED
WHEN IT ESSENTIALLY RULED THAT THE TITLE OF A
PLEADING, RATHER THAN ITS BODY, IS
CONTROLLING.
II.
WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED WHEN
IT ORDERED THE DISMISSAL OF THE PETITION BY REASON
OF THE MOTION (FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE
COURT A QUO) FOR THE CONDUCT OF DNA TESTING.
II.A
WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED
WHEN IT ESSENTIALLY RULED THAT DNA TESTING
CAN ONLY BE ORDERED AFTER THE PETITIONER
ESTABLISHES PRIMA FACIE PROOF OF FILIATION.
III.
WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED WITH
ITS MISPLACED RELIANCE ON THE CASE OF HERRERA VS.
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 11 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
679
_______________
680
_______________
19 Supra note 7.
20 Rollo, p. 30.
681
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 13 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
21 Lu Ym v. Nabua, 492 Phil. 397, 404; 452 SCRA 298, 306 (2005).
22 Alba v. Court of Appeals, 503 Phil. 451, 458-459; 465 SCRA 495,
505 (2005).
682
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 14 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
683
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 15 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
684
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 16 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
30 Balo v. Court of Appeals, 508 Phil. 224, 231; 471 SCRA 227, 236
(2005).
31 Id.
32 Id.
33 Id.
34 Supra note 7.
685
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 17 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
686
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 18 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
687
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 19 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
_______________
688
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 20 of 21
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 650 1/15/20, 6:54 PM
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016fa8cdb50f12bfae41003600fb002c009e/p/AUE696/?username=Guest Page 21 of 21