Through all the family cases that we have handled, we have come to accept, without discounting the contrary, the sad fact that bad blood exists between the opposing parties (e.g., estranged spouses in annulment/separation/property cases, siblings and relatives in estate proceedings). In particular, with respect to custody-support cases over children, it is easily understandable that custody is one of the more contested issues. However, the issue on child support should not be as complicated.
It should not be as complicated, but reality makes it so. Articles 195 and 196 of the Family Code enumerate the persons who are under obligation to support each other:
- (1) The spouses;
- (2) Legitimate ascendants and descendants;
- (3) Parents and their legitimate children and the legitimate and illegitimate children of the latter;
- (4) Parents and their illegitimate children and the legitimate and illegitimate children of the latter;
- (5) Legitimate brothers and sisters, whether of full or half-blood; and
- (6) Brothers and sisters not legitimately related, whether of the full or half-blood, except only when the need for support of the brother or sister, being of age, is due to a cause imputable to the claimant’s fault or negligence.
On the other hand, the amount of support should be in proportion to the resources or means of the giver and the necessities of the recipient, pursuant to Articles 194, 201 and 202 of the Family Code:
Art. 194. Support comprises everything indispensable for sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical attendance, education and transportation, in keeping with the financial capacity of the family.
The education of the person entitled to be supported referred to in the preceding paragraph shall include his schooling or training for some profession, trade or vocation, even beyond the age of majority. Transportation shall include expenses in going to and from school, or to and from place of work.
Art. 201. The amount of support, in the cases referred to in Articles 195 and 196, shall be in proportion to the resources or means of the giver and to the necessities of the recipient.
Art. 202. Support in the cases referred to in the preceding article shall be reduced or increased proportionately, according to the reduction or increase of the necessities of the recipient and the resources or means of the person obliged to furnish the same.
If you are a parent, it is safe to assume that you would want the best for your child and you wouldn’t hesitate to provide adequate support. However, it’s unfortunate that when it comes to support for the common children (whether legitimate or illegitimate), so many fathers still fail (or worse, simply refuse) to provide adequate support. Whatever the reason is, and regardless of whether or not these reasons are correct, the problem became pervasive, so much so that Congress saw it fit to “criminalize” (only against fathers) the withholding of support in certain instances. Not everyone knows that this is covered under Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004“. [See Laws on Child Support in the Philippines]
Not everyone also knows that R.A. 9262 provides for criminal sactions or penalties for failure to provide support or withholding custody, in certain cases. Well, now you know.
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Good eve atty.
Ang problem ko po is nakabuntis po yung husband ko. Ngaun po npgkasunduan po nmin n hindi ipagamit surname ng asawa ko s bata para narin po sa ikatatahimik namin at makaiwas sa gulo. Willing naman po na mag support asawa ko sa abot ng makakaya nya.. Problema po yung girl ipinipilit po na ipagamit surname ng husband ko. My agreement nrin naman po kami through legal papers n nagsasabi n susuportahan ang bata.may laban po ba kmi n wag na ipagamit surname ng husband ko?
Hi Atty
I am wondering how do I file or how do I process the http://pnl-law.com/blog/rule-on-violence-against-women-and-their-children-a-m-no-04-10-11-sc/
I am a single parent I have a illegitimate son from my ex fiancé which is an American he has treated me to kid nap our son.
he failed to give support to our son for his education and health insurance living cost etc.
the American father refuse to pay child support.
the American ex. Has been abusive to me when ever he come to visit Philippines he has beaten me ,choked me and even put a knife on my throat threatened to kill me.
so we separated now he wants me to do a birth of abroad so he can take our son to America but I am Un welling to do so. He has threatened to kidnapped our son and he did grab our sons neck in public violently last December 2015 when he came to visit. Now my concern is that his back & the verbal abuse is back none stop and the kidnapping threats. I would like to do something or take action to protect my son and my self from the American ex and perhaps persuade him to provide financial assistance to help.
Hi good evening! I want to ask regarding my husband in Virginia, he’s not supporting our 7 year-old daughter for over a year now. Actually he’s not been supporting us properly ever since. What shall I do to force him support our daughter? Thank you!
Good day po
I’m a 16 yrs. old college student and I just want to ask po if ano po yung necessary evidences/papeles na kailangan to file a case against my dad na hindi na po ulit nag bibigay ng support.
When I was in my early age po kasi my mom is always providing everything.. Nung bago po ako grumaduate ng elementary, dun lang po siya nag paramdam ulit and his mom (my lola) told him na supportahan na ako. Yung support na yun ay consistent sa tuition but inconsistent sa allowance. Madalas din po na nag aaway kami ni daddy because pahirapan po talaga yung pag hingi minsan. Yung consistency niya sa tuition tumagal until 1st year 1st sem ng college. Now nasa 2nd sem na ako and wala na talaga. Hindi na siya macontact ulit and yun wala na atang pag-asa na magbibigay pa siya ulit.
Yung dad ko po pala ay nasa america ngayon and syempre kung inconsistent siya sa pag support, I also doubt na ipapa-petition niya ako
Good afternoon atty.
I want to help my mom, regarding my father’s salary and also his support for our family. He is currently working in saudi arabia as an engineer, and his been working abroad since 2012. We are 7 children, but my father is not supportive when it comes to our education. My father only sends us 50,000 monthly as our allotment. It is seriously not suffecient for all of us and my mom doesn’t have any idea of how much is my fathers salary.
What should we do so that my father would be honest to us and be supportive with our needs. Thank you sir!
Good Afternoon Atty.
May anak po kami ng ex ko po at sakanya po nakapangalan ang anak namin, at dahil po graduating po sya that time na isinilang ko po ang anak ko, hindi po ako humngi ng sustento po sakanya but his parents nagbibigay po minsan ,. pero nung nakahanap na po sya ng work at isa na po syang SEAMAN pero hindi ko po alam kung anung pangalan ng company nya po,.at nag sabi po nya may ipon na daw po sya pero never pa po sya nagbigay since birth ng anak ko until she turn 4 wala pa po syang binigay ni piso po,. if he doesnt want to support his daughter atleast ma actionan ko po ang hindi nya pagsustento sa anak po nya,.. i really need help or advice po by any chance,. thank you so much , hope to hear from you soon.
best regards,
jamie
hi po gsto ko humingi ng help 9 yrs na kc d nag susuporta ang tatay ng anak ko my anak pa kmi na my sakit my iba na cya pamilya gsto ko sana mag bgay sya ng tulong sa mga anaka namin dahil panay nlang po cya pangako at nkikita ko ung buhay nya mganda samntalang ung mga anak nya npapa bayaan nya na sana po matulungan nyo ako salmat
Good evening atty..ask klng po papa n baby from Australian acknowledge nman niya anak namin birth certificate ng perma xea.hnd po xea ng support s anak nmin.pero s anak niya iba s dito Philippines naga support xea s anak nmin po hnd.ask klang po ano dapt kng gawin para mkuha child support.
Sir
Ina po ako sa 2 anak ng aking asawa na si limuel para kasalukuyan pong hiwalay na ko sa asawa ko nasa qatar po sya ngaun gayunpaman nagbbgay naman po sya ng sustento sa dalawa yun nga lang po hindi po sapat yung binibigay nya sa dalawang bata yung unang 4(apat) na buwan 7k po bnibgay nya tapos nitong april 30, 2016 5k na lang binigay nya good for 1 month hindi po kasya yun lalot napasok po yung isang anak ko gusto ko po sana mag demand ng tamang sustento para sa mga bata salamat po mabigyan nyo po sana ako ng magandang dapat gawin….salamat
MAGANDANG HAPON ATTY.
AKO AY MAY ANAK NA 11 YEARS OLD. KAMI PO AY KASAL CIVIL ASAWA KO YEAR 2004.. PERO NAGHIWALAY PO KAMI NOONG AUGUST 2006. DAHIL NALAMAN KO NA MAY IBA NA SIYANG KINAKASAMA AT MAY ANAK NARIN SILA SA PANGALAWANG BABAE. MULA PO NOONG NAGHIWALAY KAMI WALA PO TLAGA SIYANG BINIBIGAY NA FINANCIAL SUPPORT SA ANAK NIYA NAGCOMPLAINT NA AKO SA OWWA YEAR 2011. DAHIL NASA U.A.E. SIYA NAGTATRABAHO. PERO HINDI PO SIYA NAGRESPONCED SA EMAIL NG OWWA. AT NAG TEXT LANG SIYA AT SABI AY KUNG HAHABULIN KO SIYA THE MORE RAW PO NA WALA AKONG MAKUKUHA SA KANYA. LALO NA ANG SUSTINTO SA ANAK NAMIN. TAMA PO BA ANG SINAABI NIYA? KAYA NADISMAYA PO AKO AT TUMIGIL AKO SA KAKA FOLLOW-UP. DAHIL NASAKTAN AKO SENSITIVE AT MAHINA PO AKO AKONG TAO ATTORNEY MABILIS SUMUKO. KAYA NAGTRABAHO PO AKO BILANG KASAMBAHAY DITO SA HONG KONG PARA MASUPORTAHAN KO ANG ANAK KO LALO NA ANG MAGULANG KO NA NAG ALAGA NG ANAK KO.
ANO PO BA ANG MAGANDANG GAWIN PARA MAKAPAG BIGAY SIYA NG FINANCIAL SUPORT .
AT MATAKOT SIYA AT HINDI NA NIYA TATANGIHAN ANG OBLIGASYON NIYA BILANG AMA.
SAAN PO BA PWEDI LUMAPIT AT MAKA HINGI NG TULONG DITO SA HONG KONG
MARAMING SALAMAT PO!