ZITA NGO BURCA, petitioner and appellee, vs. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, oppositor and appellant. FACTS:
On petition to declare Zita Ngo — also known as Zita Ngo Burca — "as possessing all qualifcations and none o the qualifcations or naturalization under o!!onwealth ct #$% or the purpose o cancelling her lien &egistr' with the Bureau o (!!igration".) *he avers that she is o legal age, !arried to +lorencio Burca, a +ilipino citizen, and a resident o &eal *t., Or!oc it' that -eore her !arriage, she was a hinese citizen, su-ect o Nationalist hina that she was -orn on /arch %0, )1%% in 2igaquit, *urigao. B' constitutional and legal precepts, an alien woman who marries a Filiino !i"i#en, $oes no" % &' "he mere (a!" o( marria)e * a+"oma"i!all' &e!ome a Filiino !i"i#en. 3hus, -' Ar"i!le I o( "he Cons"i"+"ion, citizenship is limi"e$ to4 5)6 3hose who are citizens o the 7hilippine (slands at the ti!e o the adoption o this onstitution. 586 3hose -orn in the 7hilippine (slands o oreign parents who, -eore the adoption o this onstitution, had -een elected to pu-lic o9ce in the 7hilippine (slands. 5%6 3hose whose athers are citizens o the 7hilippines. 5#6 3hose whose !others are citizens o the 7hilippines and, upon reaching the age o !aorit', elect 7hilippine citizenship. 5:6 3hose who are naturalized in accordance with law. law. nd, on the specifc legal status o an alien wo!an !arried to a citizen o the 7hilippines, ongress — in ara)rah -, Se!"ion -. o( "he Re/ise$ Na"+rali#a"ion Law legislated the ollowing4 n' wo!an who is now or !a' hereater -e !arried to a citizen o the 7hilippines, and who !ight hersel -e law(+ll' na"+rali#e$ shall -e dee!ed a citizen o the 7hilippines.
Iss+e:
;hether Zi"a N)o B+r!a is dee!ed a Filiino !i"i#en in accordance to the provisions in the &evised Naturalization
=vis the onstitution o the 7hilippines.
HEL0:
No. 7etitioner did not !eet the require!ents specifed in the &evised Naturalization
3he necessit' or the a9davit o two witnesses cannot -e overlooked. (t is i!portant to know who those witnesses are. 3he *tate sh ould not -e denied the opportunit' to check on their -ackground to ascertain whether the' are o good standing in the co!!unit', whose word !a' -e taken on its ace value, and who could serve as "good warrant' o the worthiness o the petitioner". 3hese witnesses should indeed prove in court that the' are relia-le insurers o the character o petitioner. *hort o this, the petition !ust ail.
