[ G .R. No. 17147, August 04, 1921 ]
THE UNITED STATES, PLAINTIFF AND .APPELLEE, VS. LUI PAK CHUEN, DEFENDANT AND APPELLANT.
D E C I S I O N
VILLAMOR, J.:
The appellant alleges that the trial court erred: (1) In finding in his decision of January 31, 1920, that the accused did not have the right to remain in the Philippine Islands and in ordering his deportation; (2) in denying the motion asking that the judgment should be set aside under the provisions of section 113 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and, in connection with this point, the appellant asks for the reversal of the judgment appealed from, relying upon the doctrine announced in the case of United States vs. Li Sui Wun (32 Phil., 151).
In view of the evidence before us, we are of the opinion, and so hold, that the trial court erred in denying the motion of April 24th presented under the provisions of section 113 of the Code of Civil Procedure. According to Exhibits C and D which are attached to the motion, the court should have set aside the judgment of deportation rendered on January 31, 1920, because, according to the doctrine laid down by this court in the case of United States vs. Li Sui Wun, supra, based upon various decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States which are cited in said case, the accused in the present case has the right to remain in the Philippine Islands. The office of the Attorney-General recommends that the record be remanded to the court of origin with instructions to the effect that a new trial should be held and that in view of the newly discovered evidence, the order of deportation of January 31, 1920, should be set aside. Attorney for the defense, while not objecting to the recommendation of the Attorney-General, maintains, nevertheless, that this court, by virtue of the provisions of said section 113 of the Code of Civil Procedure, may revoke the order appealed from and set aside said judgment of deportation.
As it appears from the evidence that the motion of April 24th was presented within the period required by law, and as in our judgment the failure of the accused to exhibit his certificate is excusable, for said certificate was filed in the office of the Collector of Customs, as was subsequently discovered by his attorney; and on the other hand, as it appears from the evidence before us that the appellant has the right to remain in the Philippines in accordance with the doctrine laid down in the case of United States vs. Li Sui Wun, supra, we are of the opinion that it is proper to apply to the appellant the benefits conceded by section 113 of the Code of Civil Procedure, according to which this court may relieve a party or his legal representative from the enforcement and the effect of an order, or judgment, or other proceeding taken against him which results from mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable negligence on his part.
In the case of United States vs. Li Sui Wun, supra, this court said:
"Chinese students, merchants, tourists, etc., except laborers, are not prohibited from entering territory of the United States. They may enter when they are armed with the 'section six certificate/ When they are provided with the 'section six certificate,' they may enter territory of the United States, the same as any other alien of the most favored nation. If such Chinamen are once admitted into territory of the United States, by virtue of their possession of the 'section six certificate,' they may remain therein, exactly the same as any other alien of the most favored nation. The legal possession of the 'section six certificate' removes the prohibition of Chinese aliens to enter territory of the United States, and places them upon the same footing as aliens of the most favored nations.
"A Chinese person admitted into territory of the United States under the 'section six certificate,' as a student, and who later becomes a laborer cannot be deported. Having entered legally, he cannot be deported because he later becomes a laborer. A Chinese person admitted into territory of the United States, as a student, may remain after he ceases to be a student, and may earn his living in any lawful manner, without subjecting himself to deportation. If a Chinaman has been lawfully permitted to enter territory of the United States, he may lawfully change his vocation without incurring the penalty of deportation. Once legally admitted he may remain during his pleasure, so long as he conforms with the laws of the United States."
In view of what has been said the order appealed from should be reversed, and the judgment of deportation of January 31, 1920, against the accused Lui Pak Chuen, who is hereby declared to be entitled to remain in the Philippine Islands, is set aside with costs de oficio. So ordered.
Johnson, Araullo, Street, and Avancena, JJ., concur.