Case Digest (G.R. No. L-58286)
Facts:
Raymond Pe Lim v. Court of Appeals, Joanna Rose C. Pe Lim, Minor Represented by Her Natural Mother and Guardian, Maribel Cruz y Tayag, G.R. No. 112229, March 18, 1997, the Supreme Court Second Division, Romero, J., writing for the Court.Petitioner Raymond Pe Lim sought review of the Court of Appeals' affirmation of an order of the Regional Trial Court awarding child support in favor of private respondent Joanna Rose C. Pe Lim, through her mother and guardian Maribel Cruz y Tayag. Maribel filed a complaint before the trial court seeking support for her daughter, whom she alleged was fathered by petitioner. Petitioner denied paternity and contended they were merely friends, not lovers, that he was not the girl's father and that the award of support was beyond his means.
The factual background, as found by the trial court and affirmed by the Court of Appeals, was that Maribel met petitioner in 1978 while working as a receptionist/entertainer; they lived together intermittently in several rented apartments; Maribel left for Japan in July 1981 already pregnant and returned in October 1981; she gave birth on January 17, 1982; petitioner paid the confinement bills and caused the name Joanna Rose C. Pe Lim to be entered on the birth certificate; petitioner maintained a relationship with Maribel for a time but later abandoned them and promised support which he failed to give.
The trial court rendered judgment ordering petitioner to pay P10,000.00 per month for the support, maintenance, education and well‑being of Joanna Rose, and P7,500.00 for attorney’s fees; petitioner appealed to the Court of Appeals which affirmed the trial court’s f...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Was there sufficient evidence to establish that petitioner is the father of Joanna Rose C. Pe Lim?
- Was the trial court’s award of P10,000.00 per month for child support excessive or beyond petitio...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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