StyleoftheCase:LeeSuanAyvsGalang

Court:SupremeCourt
Judge:PADILLA,
J
FactsandProceduralHistory
Facts
July201954LeeChao,LeeSuanAysfather,postedacashbondofP10,000to
guaranteethecompliancebythetemporaryvisitorandthebondsmanwiththetermsand
conditionsofherstayinthePhilippines,setforinthebondman'swrittenundertaking
August211954LeeSuanAy,aChinesecitizen,arrivedinthePhilippinesandwas
authorizedtostayasatemporaryvisitorfor3months,whichwasextendedtoMarch25,
1955
March181955AlbertoTan,aFilipinocitizen,andLeeSuanAyrequestedtheJusticeof
thePeaceofLasPias,Rizal,tojointheminmarriagebutthejusticeofthePeace
refusedtodoso,becauseasshewasover18butunder23yearsofage,shehadto
obtainparentaladvice
March281955bondsmanwrotealetterinformingtheCommissionerofImmigrationthat
hisdaughterwasillandconfinedattheChineseGeneralHospitalsince21March1955
andthatasshemightcollapseduringthereturntriptoHongkong.Shedeferredher
departuresetfor23March,andrequestingthatshebegrantedtendaysextensionof
herauthorizedperiodoftemporarystayinthePhilippinestoenablehertorestand
recuperate
April11955LeeSuanAyandAlbertoTanwerejoinedinmarriagebytheJusticeofthe
PeaceofLasPias,Rizal.Aftertheirmarriage,theyreceivedaletterfromthe
CommissionerofImmigrationsayingthattheirpetitionforextensionwasdeniedandthe
bondwasforfeitedbythegovernment
ProceduralHistory
April 11 1955, Lee Chiao asked for reconsideration of the order of forfeiture ofthecash
bond on the ground that she has ceased to be an alien when she married a Filipino
citizen and followed the citizenship of her husband and she was sick so she failed to
present herself to the Commissioner of Immigration within 24 hours from receipt of
notice.Thepetitionforreconsiderationwasdenied.
June 27 1956 Petitioners filed a complaint in the court of First Instance of Manila
prayingthatthedefendantreturnthebondorreducetheforfeituretoP1000
July 11 1956 defendant moved for the dismissal of the complaint on the ground that it
statesnocauseofaction.
July141952plaintifffiledanoppositiontothedefendant'smotiontodismiss
July191952thedefendantsarejoindertotheplaintiffs'opposition
November 11 1956 Courtdismissedtheplaintiffs'complaint,but leftthereductionofthe
bondtothesounddiscretionoftheCommissionerofImmigration
theplaintiffsappealed

Issues
Whetherornotthecashbondshouldbeforfeited

Judgement
Theorderappealedfromisaffirmed,withcostsagainstattheappellants.

Holding
YES.
LeeSuanAyviolatedtheconditionsofthecashbondwhenshestayedbeyondthe
allowedtimeandfailedtopresentherselftotheCommissionerofImmigration.Upon
investigation,Shewasnotconfinedforalongtimeinthehospitalandwasfittopresent
herself.Onceabreachofthetermsandconditionsoftheundertakinginthebondis
committed,theCommissionerofImmigrationmay,underthetermsandconditions
thereof,declareitforfeitedinfavoroftheGovernment.Hermarriagedoesnotrelieveher
fromtheliabilityfromthebondbecausetheviolationsweredonebeforetheirmarriage.
Shealsodonothavethequalificationsfornaturalizationprovidedbylawtobecomea
FIlipinoCitizen