6/30/2021
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SECOND DIVISION
[ G.R. No. 212302, September 02, 2020 ]
KARL WILLIAM YUTA MAGNO SUZUKI A.K.A. YUTA HAYASHI,
PETITIONER, VS. OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL,
RESPONDENT.
DECISION
INTING, J.:
This resolves the Petition[1] for Judicial Recognition of Foreign Adoption Decree seeking
to reverse and set aside the Order[2] dated November 21, 2013 of Branch 192,
Regional Trial Court (RTC), Marikina City in JDRC Case No. 2013-2279-MK. The assailed
RTC Order dismissed the Petition[3] for Judicial Recognition of Foreign Adoption Decree
filed by Karl William Yuta Magno Suzuki a.k.a. Yuta Hayashi (petitioner).
The Antecedents
Petitioner was born on April 4, 1988 in Manila to Mr. Sadao Kumai Suzuki, a Japanese
national, and Ms. Lorlie. Lopez Magno (Lorlie), a Filipino citizen.[4] Petitioner's parents
were married on December 29, 1987.[5] Based on Identification Certificate No. 0819540,[6] issued by the Bureau of Immigration on March 31, 2008, petitioner is a
Filipino citizen.
On June 12, 1997, petitioner's parents divorced.[7] On December 6, 2002, Lorlie
married another Japanese national, Mr. Hikaru Hayashi (Hayashi), in San Juan City,
Metro Manila.[8]
On November 9, 2004, petitioner, then 16 years old, was adopted by Hayashi based on
Japanese law. This was reflected in Hayashi's Koseki or Family Register.[9] The Koseki
and its English translation were both authenticated at the Philippine Consulate General
on May 15, 2007.[10]
At 24 years old, petitioner sought to be recognized in the Philippines his adoption by
Hayashi under Japanese law. Thus, on May 24, 2013, he filed a Petition[11] for Judicial
Recognition of Foreign Adoption Decree before the RTC of Marikina City.
On June 4, 2013, the RTC issued an Order[12] requiring the Office of the Solicitor
General (OSG) to file its comment on the petition. In its Comment/Opposition[13] dated
November 4, 2013, the OSG alleged that the present legislation shows a strong intent
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