G.R. No. L-19111 June 22, 1965
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION TO BE ADMITTED A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES. CHIU BOK alias DAVID CHIU, petitioner-appellee, vs. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, oppositor-appellant.

FACTS

Petitioner Chiu Bok alias David Chiu filed a petition for naturalization. He was born in China, arrived in the Philippines in 1930, and eventually settled permanently in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte with his Filipino wife, with whom he had five children. He operated a store named David Trading. He submitted income tax returns showing his net income: P6,892 in 1957, which declined to P2,967.39 in 1958, P2,388.50 in 1959, and P2,098.78 in 1960. He claimed his net income was P5,000. The lower court granted his application.

ISSUE

Whether petitioner Chiu Bok alias David Chiu possesses a lucrative income and exhibits irreproachable character, as required for naturalization.

RULING

No. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision. Petitioner’s income, which was declining and amounted to approximately P5,000, was not considered lucrative for supporting a wife and five children, following precedents like Keng Giok v. Republic and Uy Ching No v. Republic. Furthermore, his use of an alias “David Chiu” without judicial authority constituted a violation of Commonwealth Act No. 142 (the Anti-Alias Law), demonstrating a lack of irreproachable character. Therefore, he was disqualified from being admitted as a Philippine citizen.