REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 2 DAVAO CITY ANTONIO DELOS ANGELES, Case No. 05-LX-00067 Petitioner, Vs. ANNIE DELOS ANGELES, Reson!ent, TRIAL BRIEF OF PETITIONER ANTONIO DELOS ANGELES
APRIL JANE SALAS CHARLENE GALENZOGA TIUCO MITOS MICHELLE BARANCO CLARISSE CLAR ISSE NAVA NAVARRO Counsels for Responen! P" el Ros#r$o S!"% B#r#n&#' (#)#&#'#n% USC L#* #n Bus$ness Bu$l$n& Ce+u C$!'
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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Intro!#$tion %%%%%%%%%.%%%%..%%%%%%%%%. %.%%%%%%..& '#estion Presente!%...%.%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%.%... %%%%%%%& State(ent o) t*e Case%%%%%%%%..%%%%%%.%%%. %..%%%%.%%.+ Ar#(ent I an! Anasis%%%%%%. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%.%%5 tria $o#rt err in *o!in t*at t*e etitioner is /arre! )ro( #estionin t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i!%%%%. %%%%%.6 etitioner !i! not $oatera atta$1 t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i!%....%7 a$tion to i(#n t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i! as it *as area! res$ri/e! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%. %%%%%%%%.2 Ar#(ent II an! Anasis%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%2 3n!er t*e )a(i $o!e o) t*e *iiines, $an Antonio !eos Anees 4ai! e )or ann#(ent o) (arriae.%."0 Con$#sion%%%.%%%%%%%%%.%%%%%%%. %%%%%%%%%%...%."&
+
Certi$ate
o)
Ser4i$e%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%...%. %%.."&
Pae
Table of Authort!
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INTRODUCTION T*e Petitioner Antonio !eos Anees *as /ro#*t s#it aainst Reson!ent Annie !eos Santos, *is i)e. e aees t*at t*e Reson!ent8s $ai( t*at *e $annot i(#n t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i! is #n(erite! /e$a#se o) res$rition. Annie
!eos
Anees
renan$ o) t*e $*i!.
!enies
t*at
s*e
$on$eae!
*is
T*e etitioner is* to ann# t*eir
(arriae #rs#ant to ro4isions o) t*e 9a(i Co!e o) t*e P*iiines
*i$*
ro4i!es
ro#n!s
)or
ann#(ent
o)
(arriae, *i$* $on$ea(ent / t*e i)e o) t*e )a$t t*at at t*e ti(e o) (arriae, s*e as renant / a (an ot*er t*an *er *#s/an!, is one o) t*ose en#(erate! on t*e sai! $o!e.
&
T*is etition )or ann#(ent o) (arriae is o!e! in t*is $o#rt.
"ue#to$ Pre#e$te%
A&
3n!er t*e 9a(i Co!e o) t*e P*iiines ro4isions on
Paternit an!
9iation, $an t*e )at*er $oatera atta$1 t*e
eiti(a$ o) t*e
$*i! in t*e resent $ase:
B& 3n!er t*e ro4isions o) t*e 9a(i Co!e, $an t*e (arriae /e
ann#e! /ase! on t*e ro#n! o) )ra#! )or $on$ea(ent
o) t*e )a$t
t*at at t*e ti(e o) (arriae, s*e as
renant / a (an ot*er
t*an *er *#s/an!.
STATE'ENT OF THE CASE ;r. Antonio !eos Anees an! *is i)e ot (arrie! on
antin an! nee!in to s#ort *is ne )a(i, ;r. !eos Anees, ri*t a)ter t*eir (arriae, or1e! in t*e (iitar an! t*is $a#se! *i( to /e assine! to !i?erent arts o) t*e $o#ntr. e o#! tr *is 4er /est to 4isit *is )a(i on$e in a *ie in a!!ition to sen!in t*e( nan$ia s#ort. e ne4er (isses a (ont* o) sen!in Annie an! t*eir son t*e s#stenan$e t*at t*e /ot* nee!. @#t t*ere ere ti(es *en *is or1 an! !#ties as a (iitar (an o#! (a1e *i( too /#s an! so sen!in t*e sai! s#ort (one /e$o(es irre#ar.
;r. !eos Anees as a/e to 4isit *is )a(i on +0". @ein *a to *a4e /een it* *is i)e an! son, *e eaer s*oe! to t*e( t*e o4in $are re#ire! )ro( a )at*er. @#t t*ins sirae! a)ter a )e ee1s. T*e $o#e *a! an intense #arre an! t*e /ot* o) t*e( ere startin to raise (atters )ro( t*e ast. As *e e)t )or or1 on$e aain, ;r. !eos Anees as $arrin a *ea4 oa! on *is s*o#!ers. e as e(otiona aine! )ro( t*e #arre *e *a! it* *is i)e. As *e as in ser4i$e, *e *a! reaiBe! t*at $o(in /a$1 to *is )a(i as rea an iss#e no. It )et to *i( t*at it /e$a(e !i$#t as t*ins !i! /e$o(e !i$#t sin$e *is ast 4isit. A)ter a s*ort erio! o) ti(e, e4en t*o#* ;rs. !eos Anees 1ne o) t*e nat#re o) *is *#s/an!8s or1, s*e as area! #estionin t*e atter8s non-sen!in o) nan$ia s#ort to *er an! *er son. T*is (a!e *er !ei/erate $o(ain in t*e o$e o) t*e (iitar, *oin t*at s*e $o#! re$ei4e so(e a(o#nt o) (one )ro( *er *#s/an! ri*t t*ere an! t*en. @#t instea!, *at s*e re$ei4e! a )e (ont*s a)ter *er $o(ain as a s#((on )or a etition )or ann#(ent o) (arriae e! / ;r. !eos Anees. T*e etition )or ann#(ent o) (arriae as on t*e ro#n! o) )ra#!, *i$* as (ani)este! !#rin t*eir #arre #on ;r. !eos Anees8 1noin o) *is i)e8s $on$ea(ent t*at s*e as renant )ro(
anot*er
(an !#rin
t*eir
(arriae.
e
starte!
#estionin ;rs. !eos Anees o) t*e tr#t* /#t t*e atter 5
o#! insist t*at t*e )or(er as *er one an! on o4er e4en /e)ore t*e ot (arrie!. @#t t*e )a$t t*at ;rs. !eos Anees #st a4e /irt* ess t*an nine (ont*s )ro( t*eir se=#a inter$o#rse *o!s tr#e t*at !o#/ts on ;r. !eos Anees8 aterna reations*i it* *is son are *ar! to erase.
;r. !eos Anees #estions no *is aternit it* ;rs. !eos Anees8 son. On t*e ot*er *an!, ;rs. !eos Anees state! t*at s*e as iin to #n!ero a DNA Test #st to ro4e t*e #estione! aternit /#t s*e #st !oesn8t *a4e t*e eno#* reso#r$es. ;rs. !eos Anees aso $ai(e! t*at *is *#s/an!8s ro#n! )or ann#(ent is not (eritorio#s /e$a#se o) t*e ent* o) ti(e *e aoe! to ass it*o#t #estionin t*is.
ARGU'ENT I A& THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN HOLDING THAT THE PETITIONER IS BARRED FRO' "UESTIONING THE LEGITI'ACY OF THE CHILD& T*e rst oint raise! / reon!ent reates to an assertion t*at t*e $oatera atta$1 o) etitioner to t*e eiti(a$ o) $*i! is i(roer. T*e $o#rt r#e! in )a4or o) t*e !e)en!ant an! !enie! t*e etitioner t*e $*an$e to as$ertain t*e ia reations*i an! eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i!. T*e $o#rt8s !e$ision in a $ase in4o4in aternit an! iation s*o#! /e re4erse! an! t*e a$tion /e !enie!.
6
T*e a aos on t*e )at*er to i(#n t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i! as ro4i!e! #n!er Arti$e "66 o) t*e 9a(i Co!e #n!er Paternit an! 9iiation, t*e eiti(a$ o) a $*i! (a /e i(#ne! on on t*e )ooin ro#n!s
F" T*at it as *si$a i(ossi/e )or t*e *#s/an! to *a4e se=#a inter$o#rse it* *is i)e it*in t*e rst "+0 !as o) t*e &00 !as *i$* i((e!iate re$e!e! t*e /irt* o) t*e $*i! /e$a#se o) Fa
t*e
*si$a
in$aa$it
o)
t*e
*#s/an! to *a4e se=#a inter$o#rse it* *is i)eH F/ t*e )a$t t*at t*e *#s/an! an! i)e ere i4in searate in s#$* a a t*at se=#a inter$o#rse as not ossi/eH or F$ serio#s iness o) t*e *#s/an!, *i$* a/so#te re4ente! se=#a inter$o#rseH F+ T*at it is ro4e! t*at )or /iooi$a or ot*er s$ienti$ reasons, t*e $*i! $o#! not *a4e /een t*at o) t*e *#s/an!, e=$et in t*e instan$e ro4i!e! in t*e se$on! arara* o) Arti$e "6H %
T*ese ro#n!s are an$*ore! on t*e reat i(ossi/iit o) t*e *#s/an! to /e t*e )at*er o) t*e $*i! !ei4ere! / *is 7
i)e. A $*i! /orn !#rin a a)# (arriae is aas res#(e! / a to /e a eiti(ate $*i! o) t*e *#s/an! an! i)e. @#t i) t*ere is a *si$a i(ossi/iit )or t*e *#s/an! to *a4e se=#a inter$o#rse in t*e rst "+0 !as /e)ore t*e &00 !as *i$* i((e!iate re$e!e! t*e /irt* o) t*e $*i!, t*is res#(tion is re/#tte!. T*e )a$ts in t*is $ase s#est t*at ;r. !eos Anees $o#! *a4e /een assine! in a !i?erent ro4in$e it*in t*e $o#ntr, aa )ro( *is i)e, !#e to *is or1 in t*e (iitar *i$* *e too1 right after t*e (arriae. In Estate of Benito Marcelo, 60 Phil. 442, t*e searation /eteen t*e so#ses (#st /e s#$* as to (a1e se=#a a$$ess i(ossi/e an! t*is (a ta1e a$e *en t*e resi!e in !i?erent $o#ntries or ro4in$es, an! t*e *a4e ne4er /een toet*er !#rin t*e erio! o) $on$etion. It *as /een s*on /eon! reasona/e !o#/t t*at t*ere is *si$a i(ossi/iit )or t*e so#ses to *a4e se=#a inter$o#rse !#e to t*e nat#re o) t*e or1 o) ;r. Antonio !eos Anees.
A&(& THE PETITIONER DID NOT COLLATERALLY ATTAC) THE LEGITI'ACY OF THE CHILD& T*e
a
ro*i/its
t*at
eiti(a$
/e
atta$1e!
$oatera. As ro4i!e! #n!er Arti$e "70 o) t*e 9a(i Co!e
J
KT*e a$tion to i(#n t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i! s*a /e /ro#*t it*in one ear )ro( t*e 1noe!e o) t*e /irt* or its re$or!in in t*e $i4i reister, i) t*e *#s/an! or, in a roer $ase, an o) *is *eirs,
s*o#!
resi!e
in
t*e
$it
or
(#ni$iait *ere t*e /irt* too1 a$e or as re$or!e!. I) t*e *#s/an! or, in *is !e)a#t, a o) *is *eirs !o not resi!e at t*e a$e o) /irt* as !ene! in t*e rst arara* or *ere it as re$or!e!, t*e erio! s*a /e to ears i) t*e s*o#! resi!e in t*e P*iiinesH an! t*ree ears i) a/roa!. I) t*e /irt* o) t*e $*i! *as /een $on$eae! )ro( or as #n1non to t*e *#s/an! or *is *eirs, t*e erio! s*a /e $o#nte! )ro( t*e !is$o4er or 1noe!e o) t*e /irt* o) t*e $*i! or o) t*e )a$t o) reistration o) sai! /irt*, *i$*e4er is earier.
In t*e $ase o) Tison vs. Court of Appeals, +76 SCRA5J+, t*e
r#in states t*at
eiti(a$
$annot
/e
atta$1e!
$oatera /#t on !ire$t / t*e *#s/an! o) t*e nie$e8s (ot*er or t*e *#s/an! o) t*e i)e. Li1eise, in t*e $ase o) 2
De esus vs. De esus, !.". #o. $42%&&, 'cto(er 2, 200$, i(#nin t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i! $annot /e (a!e in a$tion )or artition as t*is is a $oatera atta$1. T*e etitioner !i! not atta$1 $oatera t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i!. To t*e )a$t t*at *e !ire$t e! an a$tion )or as$ertainin *is aterna reations*i o) t*e $*i! )or t*ere is !o#/t i) t*e $*i! is *is on. As on ;r. Antonio !eos Anees $an e a !ire$t a$tion i(#nin s#$* eiti(a$. An! #on *is !eat*, t*e *eirs $an as$ertain t*e eiti(a$ o4erne! / t*e se$on! arara* o) Arti$e "70.
A&2& THE PETITIONER IS BARRED TO FILE ACTION TO I'PUGN THE LEGITI'ACY OF THE CHILD AS IT HAS ALREADY PRESCRIBED& T*e a ro4i!es t*ree res$riti4e erio!s )or t*e *#s/an! in roer $aseH i(#n t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i!. On t*e se$on! arara* o) Arti$e "70 o) t*e 9a(i Co!e ======= KI) t*e *#s/an! or, in *is !e)a#t, a o) *is *eirs !o not resi!e at t*e a$e o) /irt* as !ene! in t*e rst arara* or *ere it as re$or!e!, t*e erio! s*a /e to ears i) t*e s*o#! resi!e in t*e P*iiinesH an! t*ree ears i) a/roa!. I) t*e /irt* o) t*e $*i! *as /een $on$eae! )ro( or as #n1non to t*e *#s/an! or *is *eirs, t*e erio! s*a /e $o#nte! )ro( t*e !is$o4er or 1noe!e
"0
o) t*e /irt* o) t*e $*i! or o) t*e )a$t o) reistration o) sai! /irt*, *i$*e4er is earier. T*e one, to an! t*ree ears res$riti4e erio!s is $o#nte! )ro( t*e 1noe!e o) t*e /irt* o) t*e $*i! or re$or!in in t*e $i4i reister an! not )ro( t*e 1noe!e t*at t*e $*i! is not *is. T*ere)ore, ;r. Antonio is /arre! to e t*e a$tion /e$a#se o) res$rition. >*ere)ore, re(ises $onsi!ere!, e as1 t*e *onora/e $o#rt to Re$onsi!er an! ao t*e etitioner to as$ertain t*e eiti(a$ o) t*e $*i! as it is i(ossi/e )or *i( to /e t*e )at*er o) t*e $*i!. Aso, )or /etter #!e(ent, /e)ore it $o(es to its nait, t*e DNA test is $on!#$te! as or!ere! / t*e $o#rt to ro4e t*e eiti(a$.
ARG'ENT II
A&UNDER THE FA'ILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES* CAN ANTONIO DELOS ANGELES VALIDLY FILE FOR ANNUL'ENT OF 'ARRIAGE AGAINST HIS +IFE ANNIE DELOS ANGELES ON THE GROUND OF FRAUD FOR ALLEGEDLY CONCEALING HER PREGNANCY FRO' ANOTHER 'AN, T*e a a!(its o) to ea a$tions t*at $an /e ta1en in or!er to !isso4e a (arriae /on! Ann#(ent o) 4oi!a/e (arriaes an! De$aration o) N#it o) 4oi! (arriaes.
""
T*e $ir$#(stan$e o) $on$ea(ent / t*e i)e o) t*e )a$t t*at at t*e ti(e o) t*e (arriae, s*e as renant / a (an ot*er t*an *er *#s/an! $onstit#tes )ra#! as er Art. 6 o) T*e 9a(i Co!e o) t*e P*iiines an! 9ra#! is one o) t*e ro#n!s o) ann#(ent as ro4i!e! )or Art. 5 o) t*e sa(e Co!e.
KArt. 5 A (arriae (a /e ann#e! )or an o) t*e )ooin $a#ses, e=istin at t*e ti(e o) t*e (arriae " ===H + ===H & T*at t*e $onsent o) eit*er art as o/taine! / )ra#!, #ness s#$* art a)terar!, it* )# 1noe!e o) t*e )a$ts
$onstit#tin
t*e
)ra#!,
)ree
$o*a/ite! it* t*e ot*er as *#s/an! an! i)eH ===H 5 ===H 6 ===H
KArt.
6
$ir$#(stan$es
An s*a
o)
t*e
)ooin
$onstit#te
)ra#!
re)erre! to in N#(/er & o) t*e re$e!in Arti$e "+
" ===H + Con$ea(ent / t*e i)e o) t*e )a$t t*at at t*e ti(e o) t*e (arriae, s*e as renant / a (an ot*er t*an *er *#s/an!H & ===H ===H ===
Con$ea(ent / t*e i)e o) *er renan$ / a (an ot*er t*an *er *#s/an! $o#! /e are$iate! as )ra#! *en t*e $on$ea(ent is sti 4er ossi/e. T*e )a$ts o) t*e $ase s*os t*at ;rs. !eos Anees $o#! *a4e 4er e (anae! to *i!e *er renan$ !#rin *er reations*i it* ;r. !eos Anees. S*e as )o#r (ont*s renant !#rin t*eir e!!in *i$* $o#! *a4e not /een aarent in *si$a ter(s.
In A)uino v. Deli*o, +$-%-, ul/ 2&, $60, t*e S#re(e Co#rt *e! t*at a renan$ o) a/o#t )o#r (ont*s is not rea!i aarent, arti$#ar i) t*e o(an is nat#ra #(. T*ere o#! t*en /e no reason * t*is $ase s*o#! not roser.
T*ere as (ai$io#s intent o) t*e i)e in t*e
$ase at /ar in $on$eain t*e )a$t o) *er renan$. a! s*e /een *onest o) t*e tr#e sit#ation o) *er renan$ an! t*e
"&
)at*er t*ereo), etitioner o#! not *a4e (arrie! *er in t*e rst a$e. >*ie t*e State ai(s to rote$t t*e san$tit o) (arriae as t*e in4ioa/e so$ia instit#tion, it is aso *i!e/o#n! to rant reie) an! ann#(ent o) ;arriae in $ases *ere ;arriae o#! not *a4e $o(e into a$e *a! t*ere /een no )ra#!. ere, t*e i)e e(os )ra#! an! o/ies t*e *#s/an! to (arr *er. T*is )ra#! t*ro#* an! t*ro#*.
Co$-lu#o$
>*ere)ore, Petitioner re#ests t*at t*is $o#rt ar( t*e a$tion )or ann#(ent o) (arriae /ase! on t*e (erit o) t*e $ase rear!in t*e )ra#! (a!e / t*e i)e. An! ra )or *ate4er )#rt*er reie) t*is $o#rt !ee(s )air an! aroriate. RESPECT93LLM S3@;ITTED,
APRIL JANE SALAS CHARLENE GALENZOGA TIUCO MITOS "
MICHELLE BARANCO CLARISSE NAVARRO =s= OCHU FIRM MO >2335< 21- EH 4TH S!ree!% Blo,? D#6#o C$!' @5-. 3.<;<451 @5-. 3.2;1448 @F#,s$)$le o/$o"f$r)'#/oo",o) COUNSELS FOR RESPONDENT
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
e /ere+' ,er!$f' !/#! on !/$s 33n #' of Fe+ru#r' 31-7% # ,op' of !/e fore&o$n& Pe!$!$oners Br$ef *#s f$le ele,!ron$,#ll'" No!$,e of !/$s f$l$n& *$ll +e sen! +' oper#!$on of !/e Cour!s ele,!ron$, f$l$n& s's!e) !o #ll p#r!$es $n$,#!e $n !/e ele,!ron$, f$l$n& re,e$p!" All o!/er p#r!$es *$ll +e ser6e +' re&ul#r P/$l$pp$ne )#$l" P#r!$es )#' #lso #,,ess !/$s f$l$n& !/rou&/ !/e Cour!s ele,!ron$, f$l$n& s's!e)"
"5
