SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 604 05/10/2019, 11)40 PM

G.R. No. 163209. October 30, 2009.*

SPOUSES PRUDENCIO and FILOMENA LIM,

petitioners, vs. MA. CHERYL S. LIM, for herself and on
behalf of her minor children LESTER EDWARD S. LIM,
CANDICE GRACE S. LIM, and MARIANO S. LIM, III,
respondents.

Civil Law; Family Code; Support; Relying on provisions found

in Title IX of the Civil Code, as amended, on Parental Authority,
petitioners theorize that their liability is activated only upon default
of parental authority, conceivably either by its termination or
suspension during the childrenÊs minority.·By statutory and
jurisprudential mandate, the liability of ascendants to provide legal
support to their descendants is beyond cavil. Petitioners themselves
admit as

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* THIRD DIVISION

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much·they limit their petition to the narrow question of when

their liability is triggered, not if they are liable. Relying on
provisions found in Title IX of the Civil Code, as amended, on
Parental Authority, petitioners theorize that their liability is
activated only upon default of parental authority, conceivably either
by its termination or suspension during the childrenÊs minority.
Because at the time respondents sued for support, Cheryl and
Edward exercised parental authority over their children, petitioners
submit that the obligation to support the latterÊs offspring ends
with them.
Same; Same; Same; The obligation to provide support arising
from parental authority ends upon the emancipation of the child, the
same obligation arising from spousal and general familial ties

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ideally lasts during the obligeeÊs lifetime. Also, while parental

authority under Title IX (and the correlative parental rights)
pertains to parents, passing to ascendants only upon its termination
or suspension, the obligation to provide legal support passes on to
ascendants not only upon default of the parents but also for the
latterÊs inability to provide sufficient support. As we observed
another case raising the ancillary issue of an ascendantÊs obligation
to give support in light of the fatherÊs sufficient means.·Neither the
text of the law nor the teaching of jurisprudence supports this
severe constriction of the scope of familial obligation to give
support. In the first place, the governing text are the relevant
provisions in Title VIII of the Civil Code, as amended, on Support,
not the provisions in Title IX on Parental Authority. While both
areas share a common ground in that parental authority
encompasses the obligation to provide legal support, they differ in
other concerns including the duration of the obligation and its
concurrence among relatives of differing degrees. Thus, although
the obligation to provide support arising from parental authority
ends upon the emancipation of the child, the same obligation
arising from spousal and general familial ties ideally lasts during
the obligeeÊs lifetime.. Also, while parental authority under Title IX
(and the correlative parental rights) pertains to parents, passing to
ascendants only upon its termination or suspension, the obligation
to provide legal support passes on to ascendants not only upon
default of the parents but also for the latterÊs inability to provide
sufficient support. As we observed in another case raising the
ancillary issue of an ascendantÊs obligation to give support in light
of the fatherÊs sufficient means.

693

PETITION for review on certiorari of a decision of the

Court of Appeals.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar for petitioners.
Bonete Law Office for private respondents.

CARPIO, J.:

The Case

For review1 is the Decision2 of the Court of Appeals,

dated 28 April 2003, ordering petitioners Prudencio and
Filomena Lim (petitioners) to provide legal support to
respondents Cheryl, Lester Edward, Candice Grace and
Mariano III, all surnamed Lim (respondents).

The Facts

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In 1979, respondent Cheryl S. Lim (Cheryl) married

Edward Lim (Edward), son of petitioners. Cheryl bore
Edward three children, respondents Lester Edward,
Candice Grace and Mariano III. Cheryl, Edward and their
children resided at the house of petitioners in Forbes Park,
Makati City, together with EdwardÊs ailing grandmother,
Chua Giak and her husband Mariano Lim (Mariano).
EdwardÊs family business, which provided him with a
monthly salary of P6,000, shouldered the family expenses.
Cheryl had no steady source of income.
On 14 October 1990, Cheryl abandoned the Forbes Park
residence, bringing the children with her (then all minors),
after a violent confrontation with Edward whom she caught

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1 Under Rule 45 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure.

2 Penned by Associate Justice Elvi John S. Asuncion with Associate
Justices Ruben T. Reyes and Lucas P. Bersamin (now a member of this
Court), concurring.

694

with the in-house midwife of Chua Giak in what the trial

court described „a very compromising situation.‰3
Cheryl, for herself and her children, sued petitioners,
Edward, Chua Giak and Mariano (defendants) in the
Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 140 (trial
court) for support. The trial court ordered Edward to
provide monthly support of P6,000 pendente lite.4

The Ruling of the Trial Court

On 31 January 1996, the trial court rendered judgment

ordering Edward and petitioners to „jointly‰ provide
P40,000 monthly support to respondents, with Edward
shouldering P6,000 and petitioners the balance of P34,000
subject to Chua GiakÊs subsidiary liability.5

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3 CA Rollo, p. 99. Cheryl filed criminal charges against Edward

(for concubinage, physical injuries, and grave threats) which,
however, the investigating prosecutor dismissed. It appears that
Edward, in turn, sued Cheryl for the declaration of nullity of their
marriage (Civil Case No. 99-1852) which the Regional Trial Court of
Makati City, Branch 140, granted. CherylÊs appeal of the ruling

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awaits resolution.
4 In an Order dated 28 June 1991.
5 The dispositive portion of the ruling provides (Records, pp.
1021-1022):
WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby
rendered as follows:
1. Defendant/s EDWARD N. LIM and Spouses
PRUDENCIO and FILOMENA NG LIM are ordered to jointly
provide monthly support for the plaintiff, Ma. Cheryl S. Lim
and the three (3) minor children, in the total amount of
FORTY THOUSAND (P40,000.00) Pesos to be adjusted as
may be needed, and to be given in the following manner:
a) Six Thousand (P6,000.00) Pesos to be paid by
defendant EDWARD N. LIM;
b) The remaining balance of Thirty Four
Thousand (P34,000.00) Pesos shall be shouldered by
defendant/spouses PRUDENCIO and FILOMENA NG
LIM,

695

The defendants sought reconsideration, questioning

their liability. The trial court, while denying
reconsideration, clarified that petitioners and Chua Giak
were held jointly liable with Edward because of the latterÊs
„inability x x x to give sufficient support x x x.‰6

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they, being in the remoter line pursuant to Article 199

of the Family Code. However, in the event that spouses
Prudencio and Filomena Ng Lim fail to provide plaintiffs
the amount they are entitled to receive, the obligation shall
be borne by CHUA GIAK, being the grandmother of
defendant Edward Lim;
c) The payment of the aforesaid monthly support
should be made within the first five (5) days of each month;
2. The custody of the three (3) minor children, namely, Lester
Edward, Candice Grace and Mariano III shall be awarded to the
parent with whom each one shall choose to live with, they, being
over seven (7) years of age;
3. Defendants are directed to pay the plaintiffsÊ attorneyÊs
fees in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND (P50,000.00) PESOS,
plus FIVE HUNDRED (P500.00) PESOS for each Court
appearance, and the cost of the suit.
6 The dispositive portion of the Order provides (Id., at p. 1058):
In the light of the foregoing, item No. 1 in the dispositive part of the
Decision of this Court dated January 31, 1996, is hereby amended to read
as follows:

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„(1.a) Defendant Edward N. Lim is ordered to continue providing

the amount of SIX THOUSAND (P6,000.00) PESOS as his monthly
support for the plaintiffs;
(b)  Considering the inability of defendant Edward N. Lim to give
sufficient support, defendants/spouses Prudencio and Filomena Ng Lim
being in the remoter line (Art. 199, Family Code), are ordered to give the
amount of THIRTY-FOUR THOUSAND (P34,000.00) PESOS as their
monthly support for the three (3) minor children. In case of default, the
obligation shall be borne by defendant Chua Giak;
(c) The payment of the aforesaid monthly support shall be made
within the first five (5) days of each month.‰

696

Petitioners appealed to the Court of Appeals assailing,

among others, their liability to support respondents.
Petitioners argued that while EdwardÊs income is
insufficient, the law itself sanctions its effects by providing
that legal support should be „in keeping with the financial
capacity of the family‰ under Article 194 of the Civil Code,
as amended by Executive Order No. 209 (The Family Code
of the Philippines).7

The Ruling of the Court of Appeals

In its Decision dated 28 April 2003, the Court of Appeals

affirmed the trial court. On the issue material to this
appeal, that is, whether there is basis to hold petitioners,
as EdwardÊs parents, liable with him to support
respondents, the Court of Appeals held:

„The law on support under Article 195 of the Family Code is

clear on this matter. Parents and their legitimate children are
obliged to mutually support one another and this obligation extends
down to the legitimate grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In connection with this provision, Article 200 paragraph (3) of
the Family Code clearly provides that should the person obliged to
give support does not have sufficient means to satisfy all claims, the
other persons enumerated in Article 199 in its order shall provide
the necessary support. This is because the closer the relationship of
the relatives, the stronger the tie that binds them. Thus, the
obligation to support is imposed first upon the shoulders of the
closer relatives and only in their default is the obligation moved to
the next nearer relatives and so on.‰8

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7 This provision reads: „Support comprises everything indispensable

for sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical attendance, education and

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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.‰
8 Rollo, pp. 27-28.

697

Petitioners sought reconsideration but the Court of

Appeals denied their motion in the Resolution dated 12
April 2004.
Hence, this petition.

The Issue

The issue is whether petitioners are concurrently liable

with Edward to provide support to respondents.

The Ruling of the Court

We rule in the affirmative. However, we modify the

appealed judgment by limiting petitionersÊ liability to the
amount of monthly support needed by respondents Lester
Edward, Candice Grace and Mariano III only.

Petitioners Liable to Provide Support

but only to their Grandchildren

By statutory9 and jurisprudential mandate,10 the

liability of ascendants to provide legal support to their
descendants is beyond cavil. Petitioners themselves admit
as much·they limit their petition to the narrow question
of when their liability is triggered, not if they are liable.
Relying on provisions11 found in Title IX of the Civil Code,
as amended, on Parental Authority, petitioners theorize
that their liability is activated only upon de​fault of
parental authority, conceivably either by

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9  Article 199, Civil Code, as amended, provides:

Whenever two or more persons are obliged to give support, the
liability shall devolve upon the following persons in the order herein
provided:
(1) The spouse;
(2) The descendants in the nearest degree;
(3) The ascendants in the nearest degree; and

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(4) The brothers and sisters

10 Patricio v. Dario III, G.R. No. 170829, 20 November 2006, 507
SCRA 438.
11 Articles 214 and 216, Civil Code, as amended.

698

its termination12 or suspension13 during the childrenÊs

minority. Because at the time respondents sued for support,
Cheryl and Edward exercised parental authority over their
children,14 petitioners submit that the obligation to support
the latterÊs offspring ends with them.
Neither the text of the law nor the teaching of
jurisprudence supports this severe constriction of the scope
of familial obligation to give support. In the first place, the
governing text are the relevant provisions in Title VIII of
the Civil Code, as amended, on Support, not the provisions
in Title IX on Parental Authority. While both areas share a
common ground in that parental authority encompasses
the obligation to provide legal support,15 they differ in
other concerns including the duration of the obligation and
its concurrence among relatives of differing degrees.16
Thus, although the obligation to provide support arising
from parental authority ends upon the emancipation of the
child,17 the same obligation arising from spousal and
general familial ties ideally lasts during the obligeeÊs
lifetime.. Also, while parental authority under Title IX (and
the correlative parental rights) pertains to parents, passing
to ascendants only upon its termination or suspension, the

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12 See Articles 228(1), 229(4) and (5), and 232, Civil Code, as
amended.
13 See Articles 230 and 231, Civil Code, as amended.
14 Respondents Lester Edward (born on 11 June 1981), Candice Grace
(born on 23 October 1985) and Mariano III (born on 31 August 1986)
have since reached the age of majority, thus emancipating them from
their parentsÊ authority (see Article 228(3), Civil Code, as amended).
15 Article 209 in relation to Article 220(4), Civil Code, as amended.
16 The ordering of persons obliged to provide support in Article 199 is
different from the preference of right to receive it under Article 200, par.
3. Thus, the Court of Appeals, while correctly affirming the trial courtÊs
ruling, as we do, misapplied the latter provision as basis for its ruling
sustaining petitionersÊ concurrent obligation to provide support.
17 Article 228(3), Civil Code, as amended.

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699

obligation to provide legal support passes on to ascendants

not only upon default of the parents but also for the latterÊs
inability to provide sufficient support. As we observed in
another case raising the ancillary issue of an ascendantÊs
obligation to give support in light of the fatherÊs sufficient
means:

„Professor Pineda is of the view that grandchildren cannot

demand support directly from their grandparents if they have
parents (ascendants of nearest degree) who are capable of
supporting them. This is so because we have to follow the order of
support under Art. 199. We agree with this view.
xxxx
There is no showing that private respondent is without means
to support his son; neither is there any evidence to prove that
petitioner, as the paternal grandmother, was willing to voluntarily
provide for her grandsonÊs legal support. x x x‰18 (Emphasis
supplied; internal citations omitted)

Here, there is no question that Cheryl is unable to

discharge her obligation to provide sufficient legal support
to her children, then all school-bound. It is also undisputed
that the amount of support Edward is able to give to
respondents, P6,000 a month, is insufficient to meet
respondentsÊ basic needs. This inability of Edward and
Cheryl to sufficiently provide for their children shifts a
portion of their obligation to the ascendants in the nearest
degree, both in the paternal (petitioners) and maternal19
lines, following the ordering in Article 199. To hold
otherwise, and thus subscribe to petitionersÊ theory, is to
sanction the anomalous scenario of tolerating extreme
material deprivation of children because of parental
inability to give adequate support even if ascendants one
degree removed are more than able to fill the void.

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18 Supra note 10 at 448-449.

19 Respondents no longer sought support from the childrenÊs maternal
ascendants because at the time respondents filed their complaint, they
were living with, and received support from, CherylÊs mother.

700

However, petitionersÊ partial concurrent obligation

extends only to their descendants as this word is commonly

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understood to refer to relatives, by blood of lower degree.

As petitionersÊ grandchildren by blood, only respondents
Lester Edward, Candice Grace and Mariano III belong to
this category. Indeed, CherylÊs right to receive support from
the Lim family extends only to her husband Edward,
arising from their marital bond.20 Unfortunately, CherylÊs
share from the amount of monthly support the trial court
awarded cannot be determined from the records. Thus, we
are constrained to remand the case to the trial court for
this limited purpose.21
Petitioners Precluded from Availing
of the Alternative Option Under
Article 204 of the Civil Code, as Amended
As an alternative proposition, petitioners wish to avail of
the option in Article 204 of the Civil Code, as amended, and
pray that they be allowed to fulfill their obligation by
maintaining respondents at petitionersÊ Makati residence.
The option is unavailable to petitioners.
The application of Article 204 which provides that·

„The person obliged to give support shall have the option to fulfill
the obligation either by paying the allowance fixed, or by receiving
and maintaining in the family dwelling the person who has a right
to receive support. The latter alternative cannot be availed of
in case there is a moral or legal obstacle thereto.‰ (Emphasis
supplied)

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20 Thus, should the ruling of the trial court in Civil Case No. 99-1852
(declaring the nullity of Cheryl and EdwardÊs marriage) be affirmed on
appeal, the mutual obligation to provide support between them ceases.
See Pelayo v. Lauron, 12 Phil. 453, 457 (1908) (holding that in-laws „are
strangers with respect to the obligation that revolves upon the husband
to provide support‰ to his wife).
21 After the trial courtÊs determination, the Edward and petitionersÊ
liability should be reckoned from the time the trial court rendered its
judgment on 31 January 1996.

701

is subject to its exception clause. Here, the persons

entitled to receive support are petitionersÊ grandchildren
and daughter-in-law. Granting petitioners the option in
Article 204 will secure to the grandchildren a well-provided
future; however, it will also force Cheryl to return to the
house which, for her, is the scene of her husbandÊs
infidelity. While not rising to the level of a legal obstacle, as
indeed, CherylÊs charge against Edward for concubinage

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did not prosper for insufficient evidence, her steadfast

insistence on its occurrence amounts to a moral
impediment bringing the case within the ambit of the
exception clause of Article 204, precluding its application.
WHEREFORE, we DENY the petition. We AFFIRM the
Decision of the Court of Appeals, dated 28 April 2003, and
its Resolution dated 12 April 2004 with the
MODIFICATION that petitioners Prudencio and Filomena
Lim are liable to provide support only to respondents
Lester Edward, Candice Grace and Mariano III, all
surnamed Lim. We REMAND the case to the Regional Trial
Court of Makati City, Branch 140, for further proceedings
consistent with this ruling.
SO ORDERED.

Quisumbing,** Chico-Nazario, Peralta and Abad,***

JJ., concur.

Petition denied, judgment affirmed with modification.

Note.·Support must be demanded and the right to it

established before it becomes payable, for the right to
support does not arise from the mere fact of relationship,
even from the relationship of parents and children, but
from imperative necessity without which it cannot be
demanded, and the law presumes that such necessity does
not exist unless support is demanded. (Sy vs. Court of
Appeals, 541 SCRA 371 [2007])

··o0o··

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** Designated additional member per Special Order No. 755.

*** Designated additional member per Special Order No. 753.

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