SECOND DIVISION
[ G.R. No. L-26323, May 31, 1976 ]
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF YU HIO SOO ALIAS WILLIAM KEE ENG HOC TO BE ADMITTED A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES. YU HIO SOO ALIAS WILLIAM KEE ENG HOC, PETITIONER AND APPELLEE, VS. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, OPPOSITOR AND APPELLANT.
R E S O L U T I O N
FERNANDO, J.:
Then, on February 13, 1976, a motion was filed by petitioner-appellee. It reads thus: "Petitioner has been granted Filipino citizenship under Presidential Decree No. 836 * * * and has already taken his oath of allegiance on February 4, 1976, before an Assistant Solicitor General in Manila; and under these circumstances the question raised by appellant in the appeal has become moot and academic; [Wherefore] it is respectfully prayed that the above-entitled case be dropped and that Petitioner be allowed to withdraw all the documentary evidence presented before the Court of First Instance and be delivered to his counsel."[1] When asked to comment, Solicitor General Estelito P. Mendoza made the following manifestation: "[Come now] the undersigned counsel for the Republic of the Philippines, and to this Honorable Court respectfully manifest that they have no objection to the dismissal of this case for being moot and academic, it appearing that petitioner-appellee had already taken his oath of allegiance as a Philippine citizen on February 3, 1976 in connection with his approved application under Letter of Instruction No. 270."[2]
WHEREFORE, this appeal is dismissed for being moot and academic. No costs.
Barredo, Muñoz Palma, Aquino, and Martin, JJ., concur.
Antonio, J., did not take part.
Concepcion, Jr., J., is on leave.
[1] Motion dated February 13, 1976.
[2] Manifestation dated March 18, 1976.