THIRD DIVISION

[G.R. No. 193707. December 10, 2014.]

NORMA A. DEL SOCORRO, for and in behalf of her minor child

RODERIGO NORJO VAN WILSEM, petitioner, vs. ERNST JOHAN
BRINKMAN VAN WILSEM, respondent.

DECISION

PERALTA, J : p

Before the Court is a petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules
of Court seeking to reverse and set aside the Orders 1 dated February 19, 2010 and
September 1, 2010, respectively, of the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City (RTC-Cebu),
which dismissed the criminal case entitled People of the Philippines v. Ernst Johan
Brinkman Van Wilsem, docketed as Criminal Case No. CBU-85503, for violation of
Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women
and Their Children Act of 2004.
The following facts are culled from the records:
Petitioner Norma A. Del Socorro and respondent Ernst Johan Brinkman Van
Wilsem contracted marriage in Holland on September 25, 1990. 2 On January 19, 1994,
they were blessed with a son named Roderigo Norjo Van Wilsem, who at the time of
the filing of the instant petition was sixteen (16) years of age. 3
Unfortunately, their marriage bond ended on July 19, 1995 by virtue of a Divorce
Decree issued by the appropriate Court of Holland. 4 At that time, their son was only
eighteen (18) months old. 5 Thereafter, petitioner and her son came home to the
Philippines. 6 CHIaTc

According to petitioner, respondent made a promise to provide monthly support to

their son in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty (250) Guildene (which is equivalent to
Php17,500.00 more or less). 7 However, since the arrival of petitioner and her son in the
Philippines, respondent never gave support to the son, Roderigo. 8
Not long thereafter, respondent came to the Philippines and remarried in
Pinamungahan, Cebu, and since then, have been residing thereat. 9 Respondent and
his new wife established a business known as Paree Catering, located at Barangay
Tajao, Municipality of Pinamungahan, Cebu City. 10 To date, all the parties, including
their son, Roderigo, are presently living in Cebu City. 11
On August 28, 2009, petitioner, through her counsel, sent a letter demanding for
support from respondent. However, respondent refused to receive the letter. 12
Because of the foregoing circumstances, petitioner filed a complaint-affidavit with
the Provincial Prosecutor of Cebu City against respondent for violation of Section 5,
paragraph E (2) of R.A. No. 9262 for the latter's unjust refusal to support his minor child
with petitioner. 13 Respondent submitted his counter-affidavit thereto, to which petitioner
also submitted her reply-affidavit. 14 Thereafter, the Provincial Prosecutor of Cebu City
CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com
 issued a Resolution recommending the filing of an information for the crime charged
against herein respondent.
The information, which was filed with the RTC-Cebu and raffled to Branch 20
thereof, states that: IcTEaC

That sometime in the year 1995 and up to the present, more or less, in the
Municipality of Minglanilla, Province of Cebu, Philippines, and within the
jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, did then and
there wilfully, unlawfully and deliberately deprive, refuse and still continue to
deprive his son RODERIGO NORJO VAN WILSEM, a fourteen (14) year old
minor, of financial support legally due him, resulting in economic abuse to the
victim.

CONTRARY TO LAW. 15

Upon motion and after notice and hearing, the RTC-Cebu issued a Hold
Departure Order against respondent. 16 Consequently, respondent was arrested and,
subsequently, posted bail. 17
Petitioner also filed a Motion/Application of Permanent Protection Order to which
respondent filed his Opposition. 18 Pending the resolution thereof, respondent was
arraigned. 19
Subsequently, without the RTC-Cebu having resolved the application of the
protection order, respondent filed a Motion to Dismiss on the ground of: (1) lack of
jurisdiction over the offense charged; and (2) prescription of the crime charged. 20
On February 19, 2010, the RTC-Cebu issued the herein assailed Order, 21
dismissing the instant criminal case against respondent on the ground that the facts
charged in the information do not constitute an offense with respect to the respondent
who is an alien, the dispositive part of which states: aATEDS

WHEREFORE, the Court finds that the facts charged in the information do
not constitute an offense with respect to the accused, he being an alien, and
accordingly, orders this case DISMISSED.

The bail bond posted by accused Ernst Johan Brinkman Van Wilsem for
his provisional liberty is hereby cancelled (sic) and ordered released.

SO ORDERED.

Cebu City, Philippines, February 19, 2010. 22

Thereafter, petitioner filed her Motion for Reconsideration thereto reiterating

respondent's obligation to support their child under Article 195 23 of the Family Code,
thus, failure to do so makes him liable under R.A. No. 9262 which "equally applies to all
persons in the Philippines who are obliged to support their minor children regardless of
the obligor's nationality." 24
On September 1, 2010, the lower court issued an Order 25 denying petitioner's
Motion for Reconsideration and reiterating its previous ruling. Thus:
. . . The arguments therein presented are basically a rehash of those
advanced earlier in the memorandum of the prosecution. Thus, the court hereby
reiterates its ruling that since the accused is a foreign national he is not subject to
our national law (The Family Code) in regard to a parent's duty and obligation to
give support to his child. Consequently, he cannot be charged of violating R.A.
CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com
 9262 for his alleged failure to support his child. Unless it is conclusively
established that R.A. 9262 applies to a foreigner who fails to give support to his
child, notwithstanding that he is not bound by our domestic law which mandates a
parent to give such support, it is the considered opinion of the court that no prima
facie case exists against the accused herein, hence, the case should be
dismissed. CScTDE

WHEREFORE, the motion for reconsideration is hereby DENIED for lack

of merit.

SO ORDERED.

Cebu City, Philippines, September 1, 2010. 26

Hence, the present Petition for Review on Certiorari raising the following issues:
1. Whether or not a foreign national has an obligation to support his minor child
under Philippine law; and

2. Whether or not a foreign national can be held criminally liable under R.A. No.
9262 for his unjustified failure to support his minor child.27

At the outset, let it be emphasized that We are taking cognizance of the instant
petition despite the fact that the same was directly lodged with the Supreme Court,
consistent with the ruling in Republic v. Sunvar Realty Development Corporation , 28
which lays down the instances when a ruling of the trial court may be brought on appeal
directly to the Supreme Court without violating the doctrine of hierarchy of courts, to wit:
. . . Nevertheless, the Rules do not prohibit any of the parties from filing a
Rule 45 Petition with this Court, in case only questions of law are raised or
involved. This latter situation was one that petitioners found themselves in when
they filed the instant Petition to raise only questions of law. CScTED

I n Republic v. Malabanan, the Court clarified the three modes of appeal

from decisions of the RTC, to wit: (1) by ordinary appeal or appeal by writ of error
under Rule 41, whereby judgment was rendered in a civil or criminal action by the
RTC in the exercise of its original jurisdiction; (2) by a petition for review under
Rule 42, whereby judgment was rendered by the RTC in the exercise of its
appellate jurisdiction; and (3) by a petition for review on certiorari before the
Supreme Court under Rule 45. "The first mode of appeal is taken to the [Court of
Appeals] on questions of fact or mixed questions of fact and law. The second
mode of appeal is brought to the CA on questions of fact, of law, or mixed
questions of fact and law. The third mode of appeal is elevated to the
Supreme Court only on questions of law." (Emphasis supplied)
There is a question of law when the issue does not call for an examination
of the probative value of the evidence presented or of the truth or falsehood of
the facts being admitted, and the doubt concerns the correct application of law
and jurisprudence on the matter. The resolution of the issue must rest solely on
what the law provides on the given set of circumstances. 29

Indeed, the issues submitted to us for resolution involve questions of law — the
response thereto concerns the correct application of law and jurisprudence on a given
set of facts, i.e., whether or not a foreign national has an obligation to support his minor
child under Philippine law; and whether or not he can be held criminally liable under
CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com
 R.A. No. 9262 for his unjustified failure to do so. DIEcHa

It cannot be negated, moreover, that the instant petition highlights a novel

question of law concerning the liability of a foreign national who allegedly commits acts
and omissions punishable under special criminal laws, specifically in relation to family
rights and duties. The inimitability of the factual milieu of the present case, therefore,
deserves a definitive ruling by this Court, which will eventually serve as a guidepost for
future cases. Furthermore, dismissing the instant petition and remanding the same to
the CA would only waste the time, effort and resources of the courts. Thus, in the
present case, considerations of efficiency and economy in the administration of justice
should prevail over the observance of the hierarchy of courts.
Now, on the matter of the substantive issues, We find the petition meritorious.
Nonetheless, we do not fully agree with petitioner's contentions.
To determine whether or not a person is criminally liable under R.A. No. 9262, it
is imperative that the legal obligation to support exists.
Petitioner invokes Article 195 30 of the Family Code, which provides the parent's
obligation to support his child. Petitioner contends that notwithstanding the existence of
a divorce decree issued in relation to Article 26 of the Family Code, 31 respondent is not
excused from complying with his obligation to support his minor child with petitioner.
On the other hand, respondent contends that there is no sufficient and clear
basis presented by petitioner that she, as well as her minor son, are entitled to financial
support. 32 Respondent also added that by reason of the Divorce Decree, he is not
obligated to petitioner for any financial support. 33 AHaETS

On this point, we agree with respondent that petitioner cannot rely on Article 195
34 of the New Civil Code in demanding support from respondent, who is a foreign
citizen, since Article 15 35 of the New Civil Code stresses the principle of nationality. In
other words, insofar as Philippine laws are concerned, specifically the provisions of the
Family Code on support, the same only applies to Filipino citizens. By analogy, the
same principle applies to foreigners such that they are governed by their national law
with respect to family rights and duties. 36
The obligation to give support to a child is a matter that falls under family rights
and duties. Since the respondent is a citizen of Holland or the Netherlands, we agree
with the RTC-Cebu that he is subject to the laws of his country, not to Philippine law, as
to whether he is obliged to give support to his child, as well as the consequences of his
failure to do so. 37
In the case of Vivo v. Cloribel, 38 the Court held that —

Furthermore, being still aliens, they are not in position to invoke the
provisions of the Civil Code of the Philippines, for that Code cleaves to the
principle that family rights and duties are governed by their personal law,
i.e., the laws of the nation to which they belong even when staying in a foreign
country (cf. Civil Code, Article 15). 39

It cannot be gainsaid, therefore, that the respondent is not obliged to support

petitioner's son under Article 195 of the Family Code as a consequence of the Divorce
Covenant obtained in Holland. This does not, however, mean that respondent is not
obliged to support petitioner's son altogether. EHaASD

In international law, the party who wants to have a foreign law applied to a
CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com
 dispute or case has the burden of proving the foreign law. 40 In the present case,
respondent hastily concludes that being a national of the Netherlands, he is governed
by such laws on the matter of provision of and capacity to support. 41 While respondent
pleaded the laws of the Netherlands in advancing his position that he is not obliged to
support his son, he never proved the same.
It is incumbent upon respondent to plead and prove that the national law of the
Netherlands does not impose upon the parents the obligation to support their child
(either before, during or after the issuance of a divorce decree), because Llorente v.
Court of Appeals, 42 has already enunciated that:
True, foreign laws do not prove themselves in our jurisdiction and our
courts are not authorized to take judicial notice of them. Like any other fact, they
must be alleged and proved. 43

In view of respondent's failure to prove the national law of the Netherlands in his
favor, the doctrine of processual presumption shall govern. Under this doctrine, if the
foreign law involved is not properly pleaded and proved, our courts will presume that the
foreign law is the same as our local or domestic or internal law. 44 Thus, since the law of
the Netherlands as regards the obligation to support has not been properly pleaded and
proved in the instant case, it is presumed to be the same with Philippine law, which
enforces the obligation of parents to support their children and penalizing the non-
compliance therewith. IASTDE

Moreover, while in Pilapil v. Ibay-Somera, 45 the Court held that a divorce

obtained in a foreign land as well as its legal effects may be recognized in the
Philippines in view of the nationality principle on the matter of status of persons, the
Divorce Covenant presented by respondent does not completely show that he is not
liable to give support to his son after the divorce decree was issued. Emphasis is placed
on petitioner's allegation that under the second page of the aforesaid covenant,
respondent's obligation to support his child is specifically stated, 46 which was not
disputed by respondent.
We likewise agree with petitioner that notwithstanding that the national law of
respondent states that parents have no obligation to support their children or that such
obligation is not punishable by law, said law would still not find applicability, in light of
the ruling in Bank of America, NT and SA v. American Realty Corporation , 47 to wit:

In the instant case, assuming arguendo that the English Law on the matter
were properly pleaded and proved in accordance with Section 24, Rule 132 of
the Rules of Court and the jurisprudence laid down in Yao Kee, et al. vs. Sy-
Gonzales, said foreign law would still not find applicability.

Thus, when the foreign law, judgment or contract is contrary to a

sound and established public policy of the forum, the said foreign law,
judgment or order shall not be applied.
Additionally, prohibitive laws concerning persons, their acts or property,
and those which have for their object public order, public policy and good
customs shall not be rendered ineffective by laws or judgments promulgated, or
by determinations or conventions agreed upon in a foreign country. CAHTIS

The public policy sought to be protected in the instant case is the principle
imbedded in our jurisdiction proscribing the splitting up of a single cause of
CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com
 action.
Section 4, Rule 2 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure is pertinent —

If two or more suits are instituted on the basis of the same cause of
action, the filing of one or a judgment upon the merits in any one is
available as a ground for the dismissal of the others.

Moreover, foreign law should not be applied when its application

would work undeniable injustice to the citizens or residents of the forum.
To give justice is the most important function of law; hence, a law, or judgment or
contract that is obviously unjust negates the fundamental principles of Conflict of
Laws. 48

Applying the foregoing, even if the laws of the Netherlands neither enforce a
parent's obligation to support his child nor penalize the non-compliance therewith, such
obligation is still duly enforceable in the Philippines because it would be of great
injustice to the child to be denied of financial support when the latter is entitled thereto.
We emphasize, however, that as to petitioner herself, respondent is no longer
liable to support his former wife, in consonance with the ruling in San Luis v. San Luis,
49 to wit: SHaIDE

As to the effect of the divorce on the Filipino wife, the Court ruled that she
should no longer be considered married to the alien spouse. Further, she should
not be required to perform her marital duties and obligations. It held:
To maintain, as private respondent does, that, under our laws,
petitioner has to be considered still married to private respondent
and still subject to a wife's obligations under Article 109, et. seq. of
the Civil Code cannot be just. Petitioner should not be obliged to live
together with, observe respect and fidelity, and render support to private
respondent. The latter should not continue to be one of her heirs with
possible rights to conjugal property. She should not be discriminated
against in her own country if the ends of justice are to be served.
(Emphasis added) 50

Based on the foregoing legal precepts, we find that respondent may be made
liable under Section 5 (e) and (i) of R.A. No. 9262 for unjustly refusing or failing to give
support to petitioner's son, to wit:

SECTION 5. Acts of Violence Against Women and Their Children. — The

crime of violence against women and their children is committed through any of
the following acts:
xxx xxx xxx
(e) Attempting to compel or compelling the woman or her child to
engage in conduct which the woman or her child has the right to desist
from or desist from conduct which the woman or her child has the right to
engage in, or attempting to restrict or restricting the woman's or her child's
freedom of movement or conduct by force or threat of force, physical or
other harm or threat of physical or other harm, or intimidation directed
against the woman or child. This shall include, but not limited to, the
following acts committed with the purpose or effect of controlling or
restricting the woman's or her child's movement or conduct: DHSaCA

CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com

 xxx xxx xxx

(2) Depriving or threatening to deprive the woman or her children of

financial support legally due her or her family, or deliberately providing the
woman's children insufficient financial support;
xxx xxx xxx

(i) Causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or

humiliation to the woman or her child, including, but not limited to,
repeated verbal and emotional abuse, and denial of financial support or
custody of minor children of access to the woman's child/children. 51

Under the aforesaid special law, the deprivation or denial of financial support to
the child is considered an act of violence against women and children.
In addition, considering that respondent is currently living in the Philippines, we
find strength in petitioner's claim that the Territoriality Principle in criminal law, in relation
to Article 14 of the New Civil Code, applies to the instant case, which provides that:"
[p]enal laws and those of public security and safety shall be obligatory upon all who live
and sojourn in Philippine territory, subject to the principle of public international law and
to treaty stipulations." On this score, it is indisputable that the alleged continuing acts of
respondent in refusing to support his child with petitioner is committed here in the
Philippines as all of the parties herein are residents of the Province of Cebu City. As
such, our courts have territorial jurisdiction over the offense charged against
respondent. It is likewise irrefutable that jurisdiction over the respondent was acquired
upon his arrest. cdll

Finally, we do not agree with respondent's argument that granting, but not
admitting, that there is a legal basis for charging violation of R.A. No. 9262 in the instant
case, the criminal liability has been extinguished on the ground of prescription of crime
52 under Section 24 of R.A. No. 9262, which provides that:

SECTION 24. Prescriptive Period. — Acts falling under Sections 5(a) to

5(f) shall prescribe in twenty (20) years. Acts falling under Sections 5(g) to 5(I)
shall prescribe in ten (10) years.

The act of denying support to a child under Section 5 (e) (2) and (i) of R.A. No.
9262 is a continuing offense, 53 which started in 1995 but is still ongoing at present.
Accordingly, the crime charged in the instant case has clearly not prescribed.
Given, however, that the issue on whether respondent has provided support to
petitioner's child calls for an examination of the probative value of the evidence
presented, and the truth and falsehood of facts being admitted, we hereby remand the
determination of tis issue to the RTC-Cebu which has jurisdiction over the case.
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The Orders dated February 19, 2010
and September 1, 2010, respectively, of the Regional Trial Court of the City of Cebu are
hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The case is REMANDED to the same court to
conduct further proceedings based on the merits of the case. CEASaT

SO ORDERED.
Velasco, Jr., Villarama, Jr., Mendoza * and Reyes, JJ., concur.

CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com

 Footnotes
* Designated Acting Member in lieu of Associate Justice Francis H. Jardeleza, per Special
Order No. 1896 dated November 28, 2014.
1. Penned by Judge Bienvenido R. Saniel, Jr.; Annexes "A" and "B" to Petition, respectively,
rollo, pp. 22-26.

2. Rollo, p. 6.

3. Id.

4. Id. at 7.

5. Annex "F" to Petition, rollo, p. 31.

6. Id. at 32.

7. Annex "A" to Petition, rollo, pp. 23-24.

8. Id. at 24.

9. Id. at 32.

10. Id.

11. Supra note 7, at 23-24.

12. Supra note 5, at 32.

13. Rollo, p. 7.

14. Id.

15. Id. at 22.

16. Id.

17. Id. at 24.

18. Id. at 8.

19. Id.

20. Id.

21. Supra note 7.

22. Id. at 24.

23. Art. 195. Subject to the provisions of the succeeding articles, the following are obliged to
support each other to the whole extent set forth in the preceding article:
(1) The spouses;
(2) Legitimate ascendants and descendants;

(3) Parents and their legitimate children and the legitimate and illegitimate children of the
CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com
 latter;
(4) Parents and their illegitimate children and the legitimate and illegitimate children of the
latter; and
(5) Legitimate brothers and sisters, whether of full or half-blood.

24. Annex "R" to Petition, rollo, p. 102.

25. Annex "B" to Petition, id. at 25.

26. Id.

27. Rollo, p. 10.

28. G.R. No. 194880, June 20, 2012, 674 SCRA 320.

29. Id. at 332-333.

30. Supra note 23.

31. Art. 26. All marriages solemnized outside the Philippines, in accordance with the laws in
force in the country where they were solemnized, and valid there as such, shall also be
valid in this country, except those prohibited under Articles 35 (1), (4), (5) and (6), 3637
and 38.
Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a
divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her
to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall have capacity to remarry under Philippine law. (As
amended by Executive Order 227)

32. Comment on the Petition for Review on Certiorari, rollo, p. 123.

33. Id. at 122.

34. Supra note 23.

35. Art. 15. Laws relating to family rights and duties, or to the status, condition and legal
capacity of persons are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living
abroad.

36. Supra note 7, at 24.

37. Id.

38. G.R. No. L-25441, October 26, 1968, 25 SCRA 616.

39. Id. at 625-626. (Emphasis supplied)

40. EDI-Staffbuilders International, Inc. v. NLRC, 563 Phil. 1, 22 (2007).

41. Annex "N" to Petition, rollo, p. 84.

42. 399 Phil. 342 (2000).

43. Id. at 354. (Emphasis supplied)

44. Bank of America, NT and SA v. American Realty Corporation, 378 Phil. 1279, 1296 (1999).
CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com
 45. G.R. No. 80116, June 30, 1989, 174 SCRA 653.

46. Rollo, p. 18.

47. Supra note 44.

48. Id. at 1296-1297. (Emphasis supplied)

49. 543 Phil. 275 (2007).

50. Id. at 290.

51. Section 5 (e) and (i) of R.A. No. 9262. (Emphasis supplied)

52. Rollo, p. 15.

53. In People v. De Leon, 608 Phil. 701, 722 (2009), it was held that:
A continued (continuous or continuing) crime is defined as a single crime, consisting of a
series of acts but all arising from one criminal resolution. Although there is a series of
acts, there is only one crime committed; hence, only one penalty shall be imposed.

CD Technologies Asia, Inc. 2024 cdasiaonline.com