Arrival certificate required by naturalization law

Even if respondent acquired permanent resident status, this does not do away with the requirement of said certificate of arrival; an application to become a naturalized Philippine citizen involves requirements different and separate from that for permanent residency here; the Declaration of Intention is entirely different from the Certificate of Arrival. (Rep. of the Phils. vs. Go Pei Hung, G.R. No. 212785, April 04, 2018)

On the issue of petitioner’s alleged failure to attach the required annexes to the copy of the instant Petition that was sent to respondent, this is rendered insignificant and moot by the fact that respondent’s application for naturalization – which is patently defective for failure to attach the required certificate of arrival – involves the national interest, as well as the security and safety of the country and its citizens; technicalities take a backseat against substantive rights, and not the other way around. (Rep. of the Phils. vs. Go Pei Hung, G.R. No. 212785, April 04, 2018)

Sec. 7 of the Revised Naturalization Law or C.A. No. 473 requires, among others, that an applicant for naturalization must attach a Certificate of Arrival to the Petition for Naturalization; respondent who came to the country should have attached a Certificate of Arrival to his Petition for Naturalization; this is mandatory to prove that he entered the country legally and not by unlawful means or any other manner that is not sanctioned by law; Republic v. Judge De la Rosa, cited. (Rep. of the Phils. vs. Go Pei Hung, G.R. No. 212785, April 04, 2018)