DIMAYUGA-LAURENA vs. CA 568 SCRA 154 Facts:
Ma. Ma. Darle Darlene ne Dima Dimayu yugaga-La Laur uren ena a (pet (petit itio ione ner) r) and and Jess Jesse e Lauro Lauro Laurena Laurena (resp (respond ondent ent)) got marrie married d on Decemb December er 19 19,, 19 1983 83 at aint !ugustine "#urc# in $ntramuros, Manila. %#ey #a&e t'o c#ildren, Mar Jordan '#o 'as born on July , 198* and Mic#ael Josep# '#o 'as born on +o&ember 11, 198. n ctob ctober er 19 19,, 19 1993 93,, peti petiti tion oner er led led a peti petiti tion on /or /or declarati declaration on o/ nullity nullity o/ marriag marriage e against against t#e responde respondent. nt. 0etitioner etitioner alleged t#at respondent 'as psyc#ologically incapable o/ assuming t#e essent essential ial obliga obligatio tions ns o/ marria marriage, ge, and t#e incapac incapacity ity eist eisted ed at t#e time o/ t#e celebration o/ t#e marriage alt#oug# s#e disco&ered it only a/ter t#e marriage. 0etitioner alleged t#at respondent2s psyc#ological incapacity 'as mani/ested by #is indelity, utter neglect o/ #is /amily2s nee needs bec because ause #e gi&e gi&es s pri priorit ority y to t#e t#e needs eeds o/ #is #is paren arentts, irresponsibility, irresponsibility, insensiti&ity, and tendency to lead a bac#elor2s li/e. %#e "ourt o/ !ppeals armed t#e trial courts decision 'it# regard to t#e denial o/ t#e petition /or annulment o/ marriage and t#e dissolution o/ t#e con4ugal partners#ip o/ gains. 5ence, t#is petition. Issue:
6#et#er or not Jesse Lauro Laurena (respondent) is psyc#ologically incapacitated to comply 'it# t#e essential marital obligations. He!:
+o, Ma. Darlen Darlene e Dimayu Dimayuga-L ga-Laur aurena ena (petit (petition ioner er)) /ailed /ailed to establis# t#e respondent2s psyc#ological incapacity. eual indelity, repeated p#ysical &iolence, #omoseuality, p#ysical &iolence or moral pres pressu surre to comp compel el peti petiti tion oner er to c#an c#ange ge relig eligio ious us ali aliat atio ion, n, and and abandonment are grounds /or legal separation but not /or declaring a marriage &oid. #e /ailed to pro&e psyc#ological incapacity or identi/y its root cause. #e /ailed to establis# t#at respondent2s psyc#ological incapacity is incurable and it 'as eisting at t#e time o/ t#e celebration o/ t#eir marriage. 0syc#ological incapacity must be c#aracteri7ed by gra&ity, 4udicial antecedence and incurability. incurability. %#us, t#e upreme "ourt eplained (a) ra&ity : $t must be gra&e and serious suc# t#at t#e party 'ould be incapable o/ carrying out t#e ordinary duties re;uired in a marriage< (b) Judicial !ntecedence : $t must be rooted in t#e #istory o/ t#e party anted antedat atin ing g t#e t#e mar marriage riage,, alt# alt#ou oug# g# t#e t#e o&er o&ertt mani mani/e /est stat atio ions ns may may emerge only a/ter t#e marriage< and
(c) $ncurability : $t must be incurable, or e&en i/ it 'ere ot#er'ise, t#e cure 'ould be beyond t#e means o/ t#e party in&ol&ed.