Question

III. PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS: Parental Authority

In a ruling by the Supreme Court, it was affirmatively declared that parental authority is a sacred trust and a mere privilege. Parental authority includes the right and duty of parents to care for, protect, and discipline their children, as well as the responsibility to provide for their upbringing and development.

Given the scenario below, analyze the legal issues and provide the appropriate legal remedies, if any, under the provisions of the Family Code (arts. 209-233) regarding parental authority.

1. Scenario:

Marie and John, a married couple, have two children aged 10 and 12. Recently, Marie suffered from a mental health condition that requires long-term treatment and therapy. Due to her condition, she has been unable to fulfill her parental duties and responsibilities towards their children. John, on the other hand, has been taking care of the children's needs and providing for their well-being on his own. However, Marie's parents insisted on taking custody of the children, arguing that they are better suited to provide care and support given Marie's condition. John strongly opposes this and believes he should have sole custody of the children.

2. Question:

Based on the given scenario, analyze the legal issues surrounding parental authority and determine the appropriate course of action under the provisions of the Family Code (arts. 209-233).