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David vs. Senate Electoral Tribunal and Poe-Llamanzares

RIZALITO Y. DAVID, Petitioner, versus, SENATE ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL and MARY GRACE POE-LLAMANZARES, Respondents. Present: SERENO, C.J., CARPIO,* VELASCO, JR., LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,** BRION,*** PERALTA, BERSAMIN, DEL CASTILLO, PEREZ, MENDOZA, REYES, PERLAS-BERNABE, LEONEN, JARDELEZA, and CAGUIOA, JJ.

G.R. No. 221538 | 2016-09-20

DECISION
 
LEONEN, J.:

The words of our most fundamental law cannot be read so as to callously exclude all foundlings from public service. 
 
When the names of the parents of a foundling cannot be discovered despite a diligent search, but sufficient evidence is presented to sustain a reasonable inference that satisfies the quantum of proof required to conclude that at least one or both of his or her parents is Filipino, then this should be sufficient to establish that he or she is a natural-born citizen. When these inferences are made by the Senate Electoral Tribunal in the exercise of its sole and exclusive prerogative to decide...