MANILA, Philippines — Legitimate children are now allowed to use the surname of their mother as their surname, according to a Supreme Court (SC) ruling.
The 15-page decision released on Wednesday was penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. It reversed the previous ruling of the Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 and the Court of Appeals (CA) denying the plea of Anacleto B. Alanis III to change his surname to Ballaho.
According to the petitioner, he has been using the surname Ballaho – his mother’s surname who he said had raised him and his siblings as a solo parent. However, previous rulings in 2018 and 2014 turned down his request, citing Article 364 of the R…
Keep on reading: EXPLAINER: Legitimate children can use their mom’s surname — SC