Section 12Sec./Art. 12

Recovering Legal Custody and Restoring Parental Authority. -The biological parent/s or legal guardian of a foundling may petition the NACC to recover the legal custody and restore parental authority over the child:Provided,That if the child was voluntarily committed, or if any of the following is pending with the NACC: (a) Petition for the issuance of Certificate Declaring a Child Legally Available for Adoption (CDCLAA), (b) Supervised trial custody, or (c) Petition for Adoption, the relevant provisions of Republic Act No. 11642 shall apply. In deciding all cases, the best interest of the child shall be the paramount consideration of the NACC.

If the child is already adopted, all legal ties between the biological parents or legal guardian and the child are severed and the same shall be vested on the adopters.ℒαwρhi৷

The NACC or the LSWDO shall provide necessary counseling and other necessary programs and services to the biological parents, and the necessary assistance to authorities when the biological parents of a foundling are identified and express the desire to reclaim or exercise parental authority over them.

ARTICLE III

SAFE HAVEN