Mendoza, Glenn S. _______________________________________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________________________________ _______________________ ___________________________ PERSONS case digests: Mallion vs. Alcantara to Garcia vs. Sangil; Psychological Psychological Incapacity to Donation y Reason o! Marriage "ases on Psychological Psychological Incapacity:
1. Mallion Mallion S"RA ((+.
vs. Alcantar Alcantara a.
G. R. No. #$#%&'. Octoer (#) &**+. %*+
Octobe berr 24, 24, 1995 1995,, Osca Oscarr P. Mall Mallio ion n (pet (petit itio ione ner) r) fled fled a ,acts: On Octo petition it! t!e "#$, "#$, %r. 29, o& San Pablo $it' seein s eein a declaration o& n*llit' o& !is +arriae to dit!a -lcantara (respondent) *nder -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. Said case as doceted as $iil $ase o. SP 441395. -&ter trial, t!e "#$ denied t!e petition in a decision dated oe+ber 11, 199, &or &ail*re to add*ce preponderance o& eidence. -ppeal as also dis+issed b' t!e t!e $o*rt $o*rt o& -ppe -ppeal als s in a reso resol* l*ti tion on dated dated * *ne ne 11, 11, 1996 1996 &or &ail &ail*r *re e o& petitioner to pa' t!e docet and ot!er la&*l &ees it!in t!e rele+entar' period. -&ter t!e decision in $iil $ase o. SP 441395 beca+e fnal, petitioner fled on *l' 12, 1999 anot!er petition &or declaration o& n*llit' o& +arriae it! t!e "#$ o& San Pablo $it', b*t t!is ti+e, based on a di7erent ro*nd, to it8 it8 t!eir t!eir +arria +arriae e as celeb celebrat rated ed it!o*t it!o*t a alid alid +arria +arriae e licens license, e, and t!ere&ore s*c! +arriae is n*ll and oid. "espondent, on t!e ot!er !and, fled an anser dated -**st 1, 1999, it! a pra'er &or t!e dis+issal o& t!e petition on t!e ro*nd o& res jusdicata and &or*+ s!oppin. #!e "#$ r*led in &aor o& respondent. Petitioners +otion &or reconsideration as denied in an order dated an*ar' 21, 2:::. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not a preio*s fnal <*d+ent den'in a petition &or decl declara arati tion on o& n* n*ll llit it' ' on t!e t!e ro* ro*nd nd o& ps'c! ps'c!ol olo oic ical al inca incapac pacit it' ' bar bar a s*bs s*bse= e=*e *ent nt peti petiti tion on &or decl declara arati tion on o& n* n*ll llit it' ' on t!e t!e ro* ro*nd nd o& lac lac o& +arriae license. eld: #!e S*pre+e $o*rt r*led in t!e a>r+atie. a>r+atie. Res judicata is defned as ?a +atter ad<*ded@ a t!in <*diciall' acted *pon or decided@ a t!in or +atter settled b' <*d+ent. At also re&ers to t!e r*le t!at a fnal <*d+ent or decree on t!e +erits b' a co*rt o& co+petent <*risdiction is concl*sie o& t!e ri!ts o& t!e parties or t!eir priies in all later s*its on points and +atters deter+ined in t!e &or+er s*it.?
#!is doctrine is a r*le !ic! perades eer' ell3re*lated ell3re*lated s'ste+ o& <*rispr*dence and is &o*nded *pon t!e &olloin precepts o& co++on la, Pae # o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. _______________________________________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________________________________ _______________________ ___________________________ na+el'8 (1) p*blic polic' and necessit', !ic! +aes it to t!e interest o& t!e State t!at t!ere s!o*ld be an end to litiation, and (2) t!e !ards!ip on t!e indiid*al t!at !e s!o*ld be eBed tice &or t!e sa+e ca*se. - contrar' doctrine doctrine o*ld s*b
Petitioner does not disp*te t!e eBistence o& t!e frst t!ree re=*isites. ;!at is in iss*e is t!e presence o& t!e &o*rt! re=*isite. An t!is reard, t!e test to dete deter+ r+in ine e !et !et!e !err t!e t!e ca*s ca*ses es o& acti action on are are iden identi tica call is to asce ascert rtai ain n !et!er t!e sa+e eidence ill s*stain bot! actions, or !et!er t!ere is an identit' in t!e &acts essential to t!e +aintenance o& t!e to actions. A& t!e sa+e &acts or eidence o*ld s*stain bot!, t!e to actions are considered t!e sa+e, and a <*d+ent in t!e frst case is a bar to t!e s*bse=*ent action. At +*st +*st be e+p! e+p!as asiz ized ed t!at t!at a part part' ' cann cannot ot ead eade e or aoi aoid d t!e t!e applicatio application n o& res judica si+pl' l' ar' ar'in in t!e t!e &or &or+ o& !is !is acti action on or judicata ta b' si+p adoptin a di7erent +et!od o& presentin !is case. &. Santos vs. "A. G. R. No. ##&*#/. 0an-ary $) #//%. %' S"AD #1. ,acts: Eeo*el Santos (petitioner) frst +et *lia "osario %edia3Santos (pria (priate te respo responde ndent) nt) in Aloilo Aloilo $it' $it'. An Septe+ Septe+ber ber 196/, 196/, t!e' t!e' ot +arrie +arried d be&ore t!e M#$ *de $ornelion G. Eazaro o& Aloilo $it', &olloed, s!ortl' Pae & o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. _______________________________________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________________________________ _______________________ ___________________________ na+el'8 (1) p*blic polic' and necessit', !ic! +aes it to t!e interest o& t!e State t!at t!ere s!o*ld be an end to litiation, and (2) t!e !ards!ip on t!e indiid*al t!at !e s!o*ld be eBed tice &or t!e sa+e ca*se. - contrar' doctrine doctrine o*ld s*b
Petitioner does not disp*te t!e eBistence o& t!e frst t!ree re=*isites. ;!at is in iss*e is t!e presence o& t!e &o*rt! re=*isite. An t!is reard, t!e test to dete deter+ r+in ine e !et !et!e !err t!e t!e ca*s ca*ses es o& acti action on are are iden identi tica call is to asce ascert rtai ain n !et!er t!e sa+e eidence ill s*stain bot! actions, or !et!er t!ere is an identit' in t!e &acts essential to t!e +aintenance o& t!e to actions. A& t!e sa+e &acts or eidence o*ld s*stain bot!, t!e to actions are considered t!e sa+e, and a <*d+ent in t!e frst case is a bar to t!e s*bse=*ent action. At +*st +*st be e+p! e+p!as asiz ized ed t!at t!at a part part' ' cann cannot ot ead eade e or aoi aoid d t!e t!e applicatio application n o& res judica si+pl' l' ar' ar'in in t!e t!e &or &or+ o& !is !is acti action on or judicata ta b' si+p adoptin a di7erent +et!od o& presentin !is case. &. Santos vs. "A. G. R. No. ##&*#/. 0an-ary $) #//%. %' S"AD #1. ,acts: Eeo*el Santos (petitioner) frst +et *lia "osario %edia3Santos (pria (priate te respo responde ndent) nt) in Aloilo Aloilo $it' $it'. An Septe+ Septe+ber ber 196/, 196/, t!e' t!e' ot +arrie +arried d be&ore t!e M#$ *de $ornelion G. Eazaro o& Aloilo $it', &olloed, s!ortl' Pae & o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. _______________________________________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________________________________ _______________________ ___________________________ t!erea&ter, b' a c!*rc! eddin. #!e co*ple lied it! priate respondents pare parent nts. s. Pria riate te resp respon onde dent nt ae ae birt birt! ! to a son son in 196 196 na na+e +ed d Eeo* Eeo*el el Santos, r. #!eir +arriae, !oeer, as +arred b' t!e &re=*ent inter&erence o& priate respondents parents as aerred b' petitioner. #!e co*ple also occasionall' =*arrels abo*t as to, a+on ot!er t!ins, !en and !erre s!o*ld t!e' start liin independentl' &ro+ priate respondents parents. An 1966 1966,, pri priat ate e respo espond nden entt ent ent to t!e t!e FS to or or as a n* n*rs rse e desp despit ite e petiti petitione oners rs opposi oppositio tion. n. +ont!s +ont!s later, later, t!e co*ples co*ples ot to tal tal and s!e pro+ised to ret*rn !o+e in 1969. S!e neer ent !o+e t!at 'ear. An 199:, petitioner ot t!e c!ance to be in t!e FS d*e to a +ilitar' trainin. *rin !is sta', !e desperatel' tried to locate !is i&e b*t to no aail. Petitioner, in an e7ort to at least !ae !is i&e co+e !o+e, fled to n*lli&' t!eir +arriae d*e to priate respondents ps'c!oloical incapacit'. incapacit'. Petitioner asserted t!at d*e to priate respondents &ail*re to ret*rn !o+e or at least co++*nicate it! !i+ een een it! it! all !is e7ort e7ort consti constit*t t*tes es ps'c!o ps'c!olo loica icall incapac incapacit' it'.. Pria Priate te respondent attaced t!e co+plaint and s!e said t!at it is petitioner !o is inco+petent. #!e prosec*tor ascertained t!at t!ere is no coll*sion beteen t!e to. Petitioners petition is !oeer denied b' t!e loer and appellate co*rt. ISS2E: ;!et!er or not ps'c!oloical incapacit' is attendant to t!e case at bar. E3D: %e&ore decidin on t!e case, t!e S$ noted t!at t!e 0a+il' $ode did not defne t!e ter+ Cps'c!oloical incapacit'D, !ic! is adopted &ro+ t!e $at!olic $anon Ea. %*t basin it on t!e deliberations o& t!e 0a+il' $ode "eision $o++ittee, t!e proision in PA, adopted it! less specifcit' t!an eBpected, !as been desined to allo so+e resilienc' in its application. #!e 0$"$ did not ie an' eBa+ples o& PA &or &ear t!at t!e iin o& eBa+ples o*ld li+it t!e applicabilit' o& t!e proision *nder t!e principle o& ejusdem generis. "at!er, t!e 0$"$ o*ld lie t!e <*de to interpret t!e proision on a case case3t 3to3c o3cas ase e basi basis, s, *id *ided ed b' eBper Bperie ienc nce, e, t!e t!e fn fndi din ns s o& eBper Bperts ts an and d researc!ers in ps'c!oloical disciplines, and b' decisions o& c!*rc! trib*nals !ic!, alt!o*! not bindin on t!e ciil co*rts, +a' be ien pers*asie e7ect since t!e pro proision as taen &ro+ $anon Ea. a. #!e ter+ Cps'c!oloical incapacit'D defes an' precise defnition since ps'c!oloical ca*ses can be o& an infnite ariet'.
-rti -rticl cle e / o& t!e t!e 0a+il a+il' ' $ode $ode can anno nott be tae aen an and d cons consttr*ed r*ed independentl' o& b*t +*st stand in con<*nction it!, eBistin precepts in o*r la on +arriae. PA s!o*ld re&er to no less t!an a +ental (not p!'sical) Pae ( o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. _______________________________________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________________________________ _______________________ ___________________________ incapacit' t!at ca*ses a part' to be tr*l' inconitie o& t!e basic +arital coena coenants nts t!at t!at conco+ conco+ita itantl ntl' ' +*st +*st be ass*+e ass*+ed d and disc!a disc!are red d b' t!e parties to t!e +arriae !ic! (-rt. /6), incl*de t!eir +*t*al obliations to lie toet!er, obsere loe, respect and fdelit' and render !elp and s*pport. #!e intend+ent o& t!e la !as been to confne t!e +eanin o& PA to t!e +ost serio* serio*s s cases cases o& person personali alit' t' disord disorders ers clear clearl' l' de+onst de+onstrat ratie ie o& an *tter *tter insensitiit' or inabilit' to ie +eanin and sinifcance to t!e +arriae. #!is ps'c!oloical condition +*st eBist at t!e ti+e t!e +arriae is celebrated. #!e S$ also notes t!at PA +*st be c!aracterized b' (a) rait', (b) <*ridical antecedence, and (c) inc*rabilit'. #!e incapacit' +*st be rae or serio*s s*c! t!at t!e part' o*ld be incapable o& carr'in o*t t!e ordinar' d*ties re=*ired in +arriae@ it +*st be rooted in t!e !istor' o& t!e part' anteda antedatin tin t!e +arria +arriae, e, alt!o* alt!o*! ! t!e oert oert +ani&e +ani&esta statio tions ns +a' e+er e+ere e onl' onl' a&te a&terr t!e t!e +ar +arria riae@ e@ an and d it +*st +*st be inc* inc*ra rabl ble e or, or, een een i& it er ere ot!erise, t!e c*re o*ld be be'ond t!e +eans o& t!e part' inoled. An t!e case at bar, alt!o*! petitioner stands arieed, !is petition +*st be dis+issed beca*se t!e alleed PA o& !is i&e is not clearl' s!on b' t!e &act*al settins presented. #!e &act*al settins do not co+e close to t!e standard re=*ired to decree a n*llit' o& +arriae. (. 4a5ao vs. Rep-lic. G. R. No. #'$*+(. 0an-ary &$) &*##. +$* S"RA (%%. ,acts: $'nt!ia and Patricio ere +arried. -&ter 5 'ears o& +arriae, $'nt!ia fled a petition be&ore t!e "#$ o& Maati, pra'in t!at t!eir +arriae be declared declared oid b' reason reason o& Patricios atricios ps'c!oloi ps'c!oloical cal incapacit' incapacit'.. $'nt!ia $'nt!ia aerred t!at t!ro*! all t!e 'ears o& t!eir +arried li&e, s!e as t!e onl' one !o earned a liin and too care o& t!e c!ildren. Patricio, s!e alleed, did not!in b*t eat and sleep all da', and spend ti+e it! &riends. S!e also clai+ed t!at, Patricio beca+e insec*re and
S!e t!en cons*lted a ps'c!iatrist !o concl*ded t!at respondent as indeed ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to co+pl' it! t!e essential +arital obliations. An !is anser, Patricio denied all t!e alleations o& $'t!ia. #!e "#$ rendered a decision dis+issin t!e petition &or lac o& +erit. #!e "#$ !eld t!at $'nt!iaHs eidence &ailed to s*pport !er ar*+ent t!at Patricio as totall' *naare o& and incapacitated to per&or+ !is +arital obliations s*c! Pae $ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. _______________________________________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________________________________ _______________________ ___________________________ t!at t!e +arriae +arriae as oid &ro+ t!e beinnin. beinnin. #!e trial co*rt co*rt also re
r+ed a>r+ed t!e "#$s decision. decision. Petitioner etitioner ar*es ar*es t!at respondentHs ependent Personalit' isorder as s*>cientl' establis!ed b' !er testi+on' and t!at o& !er sister, !ic! testi+onies ere bot! credible considerin t!at t!e' !ae personal nolede o& t!e circ*+stances prior to and d*rin t!e partiesH +arriae. On t!e ot!er !and, respondentHs eidence consisted +erel' o& !is sole testi+on', !ic! as sel&3serin and &*ll o& inconsistencies. Iss-e: oes oes t!e t!e tota totali lit' t' o& $'t! $'t!ia ias s eid eiden ence ce esta establ blis is! ! Patri atrici cio os s ps'c!oloical incapacit' to per&or+ t!e essential obliations o& +arriaeI eld: #!e intend+ent o& t!e la !as been to confne t!e application o& -rticle / to t!e +ost serio*s cases o& personalit' disorders clearl' de+onstratie o& an *tter insensitiit' or inabilit' to ie +eanin and an d sin sinif ifca canc nce e to t!e t!e +arri +arria ae. e. #!*s #!*s,, &or &or a +arr +arria iae e to be ann ann*l *lle led d *nder -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' 0a+il' $ode, t!e ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated spo*se +*st be s!on to s*7er no less t!an a +ental (not p!'sical) incapacit' t!at ca*ses !i+ or !er to be tr*l' inconitie o& t!e basic +arital coenants. At is a +alad' so rae and so per+anent as to deprie one o& aareness o& t!e d*ties and responsibilities o& t!e +atri+onial bond one is abo*t to ass*+e. An t!is t!is case case,, t!er t!ere e is no s!o s!oin in t!at t!at respo respond nden entt as as s*7er s*7erin in &ro+ &ro+ a ps'c!oloical condition so seere t!at !e as *naare o& !is obliations to !is i&e and &a+il'. On t!e contrar', respondentHs e7orts, t!o*! &e and &ar beteen t!e' +a' be, s!oed an *nderstandin o& !is d*t' to proide &or !is &a+il', albeit !e did not +eet it! +*c! s*ccess. ;!et!er !is &ail*re as bro* bro*! !tt abo* abo*tt b' !is !is on on indo indole lenc nce e or irr irrespo espons nsib ibil ilit it', ', or b' so+e so+e ot!er eBternal &actors, is not releant. ;!at is clear is t!at respondent, in s!oin an aareness to proide &or !is &a+il', een it! !is +an' &ailins, does does not s*7er s*7er &ro+ &ro+ ps'c!o ps'c!olo loica icall incapac incapacit' it'.. -rticle -rticle / conte+ conte+pla plates tes incapac incapacit' it' or inabil inabilit' it' to tae tae coniz conizanc ance e o& and to ass*+e ass*+e basic basic +arita +aritall obliations and not +erel' di>c*lt', re&*sal, or nelect in t!e per&or+ance o& +arital +arital oblia obliatio tions ns or ill ill. ill. #!is #!is incapac incapacit' it' consis consists ts o& t!e &ollo &olloin in88 (a) a tr*e tr*e inabil inabilit' it' to co++it co++it onesel onesel&& to t!e essent essential ials s o& +arria +arriae@ e@ (b) t!is t!is inabi inabili lit' t' to co++ co++it it ones onesel el&& +*st +*st re&e re&err to t!e t!e esse essent ntia iall obli obliat atio ions ns o& +arriae8 +arriae8 t!e con<*al con<*al act, t!e co++*nit' co++*nit' o& li&e and loe, loe, t!e renderin renderin o& +*t*al !elp, t!e procreation and ed*cation o& o7sprin@ and (c) t!e inabilit' +*st be tanta+o*nt ta nta+o*nt to a ps'c!oloical abnor+alit'. abnor+alit'. Pae % o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ At is not eno*! to proe t!at a spo*se &ailed to +eet !is responsibilit' and d*t' as a +arried person@ it is essential t!at !e +*st be s!on to be incapable o& doin so d*e to so+e ps'c!oloical illness. #!at respondent, accordin to petitioner, ?lacJedK e7ectie sense o& rational <*d+ent and responsibilit'? does not +ean !e is incapable to +eet !is +arital obliations. Lis re&*sal to !elp care &or t!e c!ildren, !is nelect &or !is b*siness ent*res, and !is alleed *nbearable c*lt', b*t none !ae been s!on to a+o*nt to a ps'c!oloical abnor+alit'. Moreoer, een ass*+in t!at respondentHs &a*lts a+o*nt to ps'c!oloical incapacit', it !as not been establis!ed t!at t!e sa+e eBisted at t!e ti+e o& t!e celebration o& t!e +arriae. An !is ps'c!oloical report, r. #olentino +erel' said, ?JbKeca*se oneHs personalit' or c!aracter is &or+ed earl' in li&e, it !as a clear -#$# and it !as an end*rin pattern o& inner eBperience t!at deiates &ro+ t!e eBpectations o& t!e indiid*alHs c*lt*re,? it!o*t eBplainin t!is antecedent. en petitioner, in !er alleations, neer eBplained !o t!e alleed ps'c!oloical incapacit' +ani&ested itsel& prior to or at t!e ti+e o& t!e celebration o& t!eir +arriae. $. alili vs. Santos6alili. G. R. No. #+%$&$. 0-ne /) &**/. %'/ S"RA &%. ,acts: Petitioner Eester %en
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ ps'c!oloical report, r. a'an stated t!at petitioners dependent personalit' disorder as eident in t!e &act t!at petitioner as er' +*c! attac!ed to !is parents and depended on t!e+ &or decisions. Petitioners +ot!er een !ad to be t!e one to tell !i+ to see leal !elp !en !e &elt con&*sed on !at action to tae *pon learnin t!at !is +arriae to respondent as &or real. r. a'an &*rt!er obsered t!at petitioner t'picall' acted in a sel&3deniratin +anner and displa'ed a sel&3de&eatin attit*de. #!is s*b+issie attit*de enco*raed ot!er people to tae adantae o& !i+. #!is co*ld be seen in t!e a' petitioner alloed !i+sel& to be do+inated, frst, b' !is &at!er !o treated !is &a+il' lie robots and, later, b' respondent !o as as do+ineerin as !is &at!er. ;!en petitioner co*ld no loner tae respondents do+ineerin a's, !e pre&erred to !ide &ro+ !er rat!er t!an con&ront !er and tell !er o*tri!t t!at !e anted to end t!eir +arriae. At !as been s*>cientl' establis!ed t!at petitioner !ad a ps'c!oloical condition t!at as rae and inc*rable and !ad a deepl' rooted ca*se. %. Marcos vs. Marcos. G. R. No. #(+$/*. Octoer #/) &***. ($( S"RA 1%%. ,acts: Plainti7 %renda %. Marcos +arried ;ilson Marcos in 1962 and t!e' !ad fe c!ildren. -llein t!at t!e !*sband &ailed to proide +aterial s*pport to t!e &a+il' and !ae resorted to p!'sical ab*se and abandon+ent, %renda fled a case &or t!e n*llit' o& t!e +arriae &or ps'c!oloical incapacit'. #!e "#$ declared t!e +arriae n*ll and oid *nder -rt. / !ic! as !oeer reersed b' $-. Iss-es: ;!et!er or not personal +edical or ps'c!oloical eBa+ination o& t!e respondent b' a p!'sician is a re=*ire+ent &or a declaration o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. ;!et!er or not t!e totalit' o& eidence presented in t!is case s!o ps'c!oloical incapacit'. eld: Ps'c!oloical incapacit' as a ro*nd &or declarin t!e n*llit' o& a +arriae, +a' be establis!ed b' t!e totalit' o& eidence presented. #!ere is no re=*ire+ent, !oeer t!at t!e respondent be eBa+ined b' a p!'sician or a ps'c!oloist as a condition sine =*a non &or s*c! declaration. -lt!o*! t!is $o*rt is s*>cientl' coninced t!at respondent &ailed to proide +aterial s*pport to t!e &a+il' and +a' !ae resorted to p!'sical ab*se and abandon+ent, t!e totalit' o& !is acts does not lead to a concl*sion o& ps'c!oloical incapacit' on !is part. #!ere is absol*tel' no s!oin t!at !is Pae 1 o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ Cde&ectsD ere alread' present at t!e inception o& t!e +arriae or t!at t!e' are inc*rable. eril', t!e be!aior o& respondent can be attrib*ted to t!e &act t!at !e !ad lost !is ce o& t!e Eocal $iil "eistrar o& t!e M*nicipalit' o& on October 2:, 1966. rlinda and -elino beot to c!ildren. #!e birt! certifcates ere iss*ed b' t!e O>ce o& t!e Eocal $iil "eistrar o& t!e M*nicipalit' o& $*'apo, *ea ci
An October 199, !e le&t !is &a+il' aain and t!at as t!e last t!at t!e' !eard &ro+ !i+. rlinda learned t!at -elino as i+prisoned &or so+e cri+e, and t!at !e escaped &ro+
Pae ' o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ #!e trial co*rt iss*ed an Order iin t!e inestiatin prosec*tor *ntil an*ar' 2, 1991 to +ani&est in ritin !et!er or not !e o*ld present controertin eidence, and statin t!at s!o*ld !e &ail to fle said +ani&estation, t!e case o*ld be dee+ed s*b+itted &or decision. #!e Anestiatin Prosec*tor cond*cted an inestiation and &o*nd t!at t!ere as no coll*sion beteen t!e parties.
Loeer, !e intended to interene in t!e case to aoid &abrication o& eidence. ;it!o*t aitin &or t!e inestiatin prosec*tors +ani&estation, t!e trial co*rt declared t!e +arriae o& rlinda and -elino oid *nder -rticle /. #!e inestiatin prosec*tor fled a Motion to Set -side *d+ent on t!e ro*nd t!at t!e decision as pre+at*rel' rendered since !e as ien *ntil an*ar' 2, 1991 to +ani&est !et!er !e as presentin controertin eidence. #!e O>ce o& t!e Solicitor General lieise fled a Motion &or "econsideration o& t!e decision on t!e ro*nd t!at t!e sa+e is not in accordance it! t!e eidence and t!e la. Since t!e trial co*rt denied t!e Motion &or "econsideration, t!e Solicitor General appealed to t!e $-. #!e $a>r+ed t!e decision o& t!e trial co*rt !oldin t!at C-elino ada is ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated not onl' beca*se !e &ailed to per&or+ t!e d*ties and obliations o& a +arried person b*t beca*se !e is e+otionall' i++at*re and irresponsible, an alco!olic, and a cri+inal.D ISS2E: id t!e $- correctl' declare t!e +arriae as n*ll and oid *nder -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode, on t!e ro*nd t!at t!e !*sband s*7ers &ro+ ps'c!oloical incapacit', as !e is e+otionall' i++at*re and irresponsible, a !abit*al alco!olic, and a &*itie &ro+ <*sticeI E3D: ;!et!er or not ps'c!oloical incapacit' eBists in a ien case callin &or ann*l+ent o& a +arriae, depends cr*ciall', +ore t!an in an' feld o& la, on t!e &acts o& t!e case. ac! case +*st be <*ded, not on t!e basis o& a priori ass*+ptions, predilections or eneralizations b*t accordin to its on &acts. An reard to ps'c!oloical incapacit' as a ro*nd &or ann*l+ent o& +arriae, it is trite to sa' t!at no case is on Call &o*rsD it! anot!er case. #!e trial <*de +*st tae pains in eBa+inin t!e &act*al +ilie* and t!e appellate co*rt +*st, as +*c! as possible, aoid s*bstit*tin its on <*d+ent &or t!at o& t!e trial co*rt.
An Republic vs. Molina (2/6 S$"- 196), t!e $o*rt laid don t!e *idelines in t!e interpretation o& -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. Pae / o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ #ain into consideration t!ese *idelines, it is eident t!at rlinda &ailed to co+pl' it! t!e aboe3+entioned eidentiar' re=*ire+ents. rlinda &ailed to co+pl' it! *ideline n*+ber 2 !ic! re=*ires t!at t!e root ca*se o& ps'c!oloical incapacit' +*st be +edicall' or clinicall' proen b' eBperts, since no ps'c!iatrist or +edical doctor testifed as to t!e alleed ps'c!oloical incapacit' o& !er !*sband. 0*rt!er, t!e alleation t!at t!e !*sband is a &*itie &ro+ <*stice as not s*>cientl' proen. An &act, t!e cri+e &or !ic! !e as arrested as not een alleed. #!e inestiatin prosec*tor as lieise not ien an opport*nit' to present controertin eidence since t!e trial co*rts decision as pre+at*rel' rendered.
1. Padilla6R-5a-a vs. R-5a-a. G. R. No. #++1('. A-g-st #$) &**/. %/+ S"RA #%1. ,acts: ocel'n and -nelito ere 1/ 'ears old !en t!e' frst +et in *ne 1965@ t!e' ere residents o& Ea*na at t!at ti+e. -&ter +ont!s o& co*rts!ip, ocel'n ent to Manila it! -nelito and so+e &riends. Lain been one &or t!ree da's, t!eir parents so*!t ocel'n and -nelito and a&ter fndin t!e+, bro*!t t!e+ bac to %ian, Ea*na. Soon t!erea&ter, ocel'n and -nelitos +arriae as arraned and t!e' ere +arried on Marc! , 196/ in a cere+on' o>ciated b' t!e Ma'or o& %ian.
;it!o*t an' +eans to s*pport t!e+seles, ocel'n and -nelito lied it! -nelitos parents a&ter t!eir +arriae. #!e' !ad b' t!is ti+e stopped sc!oolin. ocel'n too odd
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ o& t!e plainti7 beca*se de&endant inNicted p!'sical in<*ries *pon !er eer' ti+e t!e' !ad a tro*bleso+e enco*nter@ (2) #!at t!e +ain reason &or t!eir =*arrel as ala's t!e re&*sal o& t!e de&endant to or or !is indolence and !is eBcessie drinin !ic! +aes !i+ ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to per&or+ !is +arital obliations +ain li&e *nbearabl' bitter and intolerable to t!e plainti7 ca*sin t!eir separation in &act in *l' 196@ () #!at s*c! ps'c!oloical incapacit' o& t!e de&endant started &ro+ t!e ti+e o& t!eir +arriae and beca+e er' apparent as ti+e ent and proes to be contin*o*s, per+anent and inc*rable@ -nelito did not anser t!e petitionco+plaint. eit!er did !e s*b+it !i+sel& to a ps'c!oloical eBa+ination it! ps'c!oloist ed' #a'a (!o as pres*+abl' !ired b' ocel'n). #!e case proceeded to trial on t!e +erits a&ter t!e trial co*rt &o*nd t!at no coll*sion eBisted beteen t!e parties. ocel'n, !er a*nt Mar'
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ sa+e bed b*t no atte+pt o& seB*al interco*rse beteen t!e+. %eca*se o& t!is, t!e' s*b+itted t!e+seles &or +edical eBa+ination to a *roloist in $!inese General Lospital in 1969. #!e res*lt o& t!e p!'sical eBa+ination o& Gina as disclosed, !ile t!at o& t!e !*sband as ept confdential een t!e +edicine prescribed. #!ere ere alleations t!at t!e reason !' $!i Min #soi +arried !er is to +aintain !is residenc' stat*s !ere in t!e co*ntr'. Gina does not ant to reconcile it! $!i Min #soi and ant t!eir +arriae declared oid on t!e ro*nd o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. On t!e ot!er !and, t!e latter does not ant to !ae t!eir +arriae ann*lled beca*se !e loes !er er' +*c!, !e !as no de&ect on !is part and is p!'sicall' and ps'c!oloicall' capable and since t!eir relations!ip is still 'o*n, t!e' can still oerco+e t!eir di7erences. $!i Min #soi s*b+itted !i+sel& to anot!er p!'sical eBa+ination and t!e res*lt as t!ere is not eidence o& i+potenc' and !e is capable o& erection. Iss-e: ;!et!er $!i Min #soi s re&*sal to !ae seB*al interco*rse it! !is i&e constit*tes ps'c!oloical incapacit'. eld: #!e abnor+al rel*ctance or *nillinness to cons*++ate !is +arriae is stronl' indicatie o& a serio*s personalit' disorder !ic! to t!e +ind o& t!e S*pre+e $o*rt clearl' de+onstrates an *tter insensitiit' or inabilit' to ie +eanin and sinifcance to t!e +arriae it!in t!e +eanin o& -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode.
A& a spo*se, alt!o*! p!'sicall' capable b*t si+pl' re&*ses to per&or+ !is or !er essential +arital obliations and t!e re&*sal is senseless and constant, $at!olic +arriae trib*nals attrib*te t!e ca*ses to ps'c!oloical incapacit' t!an to st*bborn re&*sal. 0*rt!er+ore, one o& t!e essential +arital obliations *nder t!e 0a+il' $ode is to procreate c!ildren t!*s constant non3&*lfll+ent o& t!is obliation ill fnall' destro' t!e interit' and !oleness o& t!e +arriae. /. Antonio vs. Reyes. G. R. No. #%%'**. March #*) &**+. $'$ S"RA (%(. ,acts: Eeonilo -ntonio, 2/ 'ears o& ae, and Marie Aonne "e'es, / 'ears o& ae +et in 1969. %arel' a 'ear a&ter t!eir frst +eetin, t!e' ot +arried at Manila $it' Lall and t!en a s*bse=*ent c!*rc! eddin at Pasi in ece+ber 199:. - c!ild as born b*t died 5 +ont!s later. "e'es persistentl' lied abo*t !ersel&, t!e people aro*nd !er, !er occ*pation, inco+e, ed*cational attain+ent and ot!er eents or t!ins. S!e een did Pae #& o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ not conceal bearin an illeiti+ate c!ild, !ic! s!e represented to !er !*sband as adopted c!ild o& t!eir &a+il'. #!e' ere separated in -**st 1991 and a&ter atte+pt &or reconciliation, !e fnall' le&t !er &or ood in oe+ber 1991. Petitioner t!en fled in 199 a petition to !ae !is +arriae it! "e'es declared n*ll and oid anc!ored in -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not -ntonio can i+pose -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode as basis &or declarin t!eir +arriae n*ll and oid. eld: Ps'c!oloical incapacit' pertains to t!e inabilit' to *nderstand t!e obliations o& +arriae as opposed to a +ere inabilit' to co+pl' it! t!e+. #!e petitioner, aside &ro+ !is on testi+on' presented a ps'c!iatrist and clinical ps'c!oloist !o attested t!at constant l'in and eBtre+e cientl' proen b' eBperts. #!e rait' o& respondents ps'c!oloical incapacit' as considered so rae t!at a restrictie cla*se as appended to t!e sentence o& n*llit' pro!ibited b' t!e ational -ppellate Matri+onial #rib*nal &ro+ contractin +arriae it!o*t t!eir consent. At o*ld be di>c*lt &or an ineterate pat!oloical liar to co++it t!e basic tenets o& relations!ip beteen spo*ses based on loe, tr*st and respect. 0*rt!er+ore, "e'es case is inc*rable considerin t!at petitioner tried to reconcile it! !er b*t !er be!aior re+ain *nc!aned.
Lence, t!e co*rt concl*des t!at petitioner !as establis!ed !is ca*se o& action &or declaration o& n*llit' *nder -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. #*. 7e vs. 7e. G. R. No. #+#1/(. ,er-ary #() &**/. %1/ S"RA #/(. ,acts: Petitioner dard #e frst +et respondent "oena #e in a at!erin oranized b' t!e 0ilipino3$!inese association in t!eir collee. Anitiall', !e as attracted to "oenas close &riend b*t, as t!e latter alread' !ad a bo'&riend, t!e 'o*n +an decided to co*rt "oena, !ic! !appened in an*ar' 199/. At as "oena !o ased t!at t!e' elope b*t dard re&*sed bicerin t!at !e as 'o*n and
Pae #( o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ +ade !i+ relent. #!e' le&t Manila and sailed to $eb* t!at +ont!@ !e, proidin t!eir trael +one' o& P6:,::: and s!e, p* rc!asin t!e boat ticet. #!e' decided to o bac to Manila in -pril 199/. "oena proceeded to !er *ncles !o*se and dard to !is parents !o+e. ent*all' t!e' ot +arried b*t it!o*t a +arriae license. dard as pro!ibited &ro+ ettin o*t o& t!e !o*se *nacco+panied and as t!reatened b' "oena and !er *ncle. -&ter a +ont!, dard escaped &ro+ t!e !o*se, and sta'ed it! !is parents. dards parents anted t!e+ to sta' at t!eir !o*se b*t "oena re&*sed and de+anded t!at t!e' !ae a separate abode. An *ne 199/, s!e said t!at it as better &or t!e+ to lie separate lies and t!e' t!en parted a's. -&ter &o*r 'ears in an*ar' 2:::, dard fled a petition &or t!e ann*l+ent o& !is +arriae to "oena on t!e basis o& t!e latters ps'c!oloical incapacit'. Iss-e: ;!et!er t!e +arriae contracted is oid on t!e ro*nd o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. eld: #!e parties !irlind relations!ip lasted +ore or less siB +ont!s. #!e' +et in an*ar' 199/, eloped in Marc!, eBc!aned +arital os in Ma', and parted a's in *ne. #!e ps'c!oloist !o proided eBpert testi+on' &o*nd bot! parties ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated. Petitioners be!aioral pattern &alls *nder t!e classifcation o& dependent personalit' disorder, and respondents, t!at o& t!e narcissistic and antisocial personalit' disorder.
#!ere is no re=*ire+ent t!at t!e person to be declared ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated be personall' eBa+ined b' a p!'sician, i& t!e totalit' o& eidence presented is eno*! to s*stain a fndin o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. eril', t!e eidence +*st s!o a lin, +edical or t!e lie, beteen t!e acts t!at +ani&est ps'c!oloical incapacit' and t!e ps'c!oloical disorder itsel&. #!e presentation o& eBpert proo& pres*pposes a t!oro*! and in3dept! assess+ent o& t!e parties b' t!e ps'c!oloist or eBpert, &or a concl*sie dianosis o& a rae, seere and inc*rable presence o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. Andeed, petitioner, aQicted it! dependent personalit' disorder, cannot ass*+e t!e essential +arital obliations o& liin toet!er, obserin Pae #$ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ loe, respect and fdelit' and renderin !elp and s*pport, &or !e is *nable to +ae eer'da' decisions it!o*t adice &ro+ ot!ers, and allos ot!ers to +ae +ost o& !is i+portant decisions (s*c! as !ere to lie). -s clearl' s!on in t!is case, petitioner &olloed eer't!in dictated to !i+ b' t!e persons aro*nd !i+. Le is insec*re, ea and *llible, !as no sense o& !is identit' as a person, !as no co!esie sel& to spea o&, and !as no oals and clear direction in li&e. -s &or t!e respondent, !er bein aQicted it! antisocial personalit' disorder +aes !er *nable to ass*+e t!e essential +arital obliations on acco*nt &or !er disreard in t!e ri!ts o& ot!ers, !er ab*se, +istreat+ent and control o& ot!ers it!o*t re+orse, and !er tendenc' to bla+e ot!ers. Moreoer, as s!on in t!is case, respondent is i+p*lsie and do+ineerin@ s!e !ad no =*al+s in +anip*latin petitioner it! !er t!reats o& blac+ail and o& co++ittin s*icide. %ot! parties bein aQicted it! rae, seere and inc*rable ps'c!oloical incapacit', t!e precipito*s +arriae t!at t!e' contracted on -pril 2, 199/ is t!*s, declared n*ll and oid. ##. "a5acho6Reyes v. Reyes. G. R. No. #'%&'+. A-g-st #') &*#*. +&' S"RA $+#. ,acts: Petitioner Maria Socorro $a+ac!o3"e'es +et respondent "a+on "e'es at t!e FP ili+an, in 192 !en t!e' ere bot! 19 'ears old. Petitioner enc*lties orse. -ll t!e b*siness ent*res o& "a+on ere *ns*ccess&*l and Socorro beca+e t!e breadinner o& t!e &a+il'. #o +ae t!ins orse, despite t!e &act t!at Socorro o*ld *ndero an operation &or re+oal o& a c'st, respondent re+ained *nconcerned and *nattentie@ and si+pl' read t!e nespaper, and pla'ed d*+b !en petitioner re=*ested t!at !e acco+pan' !er as s!e as !eeled into t!e operatin roo+. #!e' tried to attend co*nselin sessions b*t not!in !as c!aned. So+eti+e in 199/, petitioner
Pae #% o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ confr+ed t!at respondent as !ain an eBtra3+arital a7air. "#$ ranted t!e petition. $- reersed. Lence t!is petition. Iss-e: ;!et!er or ot "a+on is ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated eld: Res. Marriae is n*ll and oid. #!e lac o& personal eBa+ination and interie o& t!e respondent, or an' ot!er person dianosed it! personalit' disorder, does not per se inalidate t!e testi+onies o& t!e doctors. eit!er do t!eir fndins a*to+aticall' constit*te !earsa' t!at o*ld res*lt in t!eir eBcl*sion as eidence. An t!e instant case, respondents pattern o& be!aior +ani&ests an inabilit', na', a ps'c!oloical incapacit' to per&or+ t!e essential +arital obliations as s!on b' !is8 (1) sporadic fnancial s*pport@ (2) eBtra3+arital a7airs@ () s*bstance ab*se@ (4) &ailed b*siness atte+pts@ (5) *npaid +one' obliations@ (/) inabilit' to eep a
-l&onso clai+ed t!at Eeni c!ared !i+ it! per<*r', conc*binae and deportation !ic! s!os latters ps'c!oloical incapacit' beca*se accordin to !i+ it clearl' s!oed t!at !is i&e not onl' anted !i+ be!ind bars b*t also to banis! o*tside t!e co*ntr'. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not -l&onso $!*a presented =*ant*+ eidence &or t!e declaration o& n*llit' o& !is +arriae it! Eeni on t!e ro*nd o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. eld: #!e co*rt !eld t!at doc*+ents presented b' -l&onso d*rin t!e trial o& t!e case do not in an' a' s!o t!e alleed ps'c!oloical incapacit' o& !is i&e. #!e eidence as ins*>cient and s!os rae ab*se o& discretion borderin on abs*rdit'. -l&onso testifed and co+plained abo*t t!ree aspects o& Eenis personalit' na+el' lac o& attention to c!ildren, Pae #+ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ i++at*rit', and lac o& an intention o& procreatie seB*alit' and none o& t!ese t!ree, sinl' or collectiel', constit*tes ps'c!oloical incapacit'. Ps'c!oloical incapacit' +*st be c!aracterized b' rait', <*ridical antecedence, and inc*rabilit'. At +*st be +ore t!an <*st a di>c*lt', a re&*sal or nelect in t!e per&or+ance o& +arital obliations. - +ere s!oin o& irreconcilable di7erences and conNictin personalities does not constit*te ps'c!oloical incapacit'. 0*rt!er+ore, t!e testi+onial eidence &ro+ ot!er itnesses &ailed to identi&' and proe root ca*se o& t!e alleed ps'c!oloical incapacit'. At <*st establis!ed t!at t!e spo*ses !ad an inco+patibilit' or a de&ect t!at co*ld possibl' be treated or alleiated t!ro*! ps'c!ot!erap'. #!e totalit' o& eidence presented as co+pletel' ins*>cient to s*stain a fndin o& ps'c!oloical incapacit' +ore so it!o*t an' +edical, ps'c!iatric or ps'c!oloical eBa+ination.
#(. Dedel vs. "o-rt o! Appeals. G. R. No. #%#'+1. 0an-ary &/) &**$. $&# S"RA $+#. ,acts: An 19//, aid and S!aron +arried eac! ot!er. #!e'e !ad &o*r c!ildren since t!en. aid t!en &o*nd o*t t!at S!aron is irresponsible as a i&e and as a +ot!er beca*se d*rin t!e +arriae S!aron !ad eBtra3 +arital a7airs it! ario*s ot!er *'s partic*larl' it! one M*sta&a Abra!i+, a ordanian, it! !o+ s!e !ad 2 c!ildren. S!e een +arried Abra!i+. aid aerred t!at S!aron is ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated and aid s*b+itted t!e fndins o& r. a'an !ic! s!os t!at S!aron is indeed ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated. r. a'an declared t!at S!aron as s*7erin &ro+ -nti3 Social Personalit' isorder eB!ibited b' !er blatant displa' o& infdelit'@ t!at s!e co++itted seeral indiscretions and !ad no capacit' &or re+orse, een brinin it! !er t!e to c!ildren o& M*sta&a Abra!i+ to lie it! petitioner. S*c! i++at*rit' and irresponsibilit' in !andlin t!e +arriae lie !er repeated acts o& infdelit' and abandon+ent o& !er &a+il' are indications o& -nti3SocialPersonalit' isorder a+o*ntin to ps'c!oloical incapacit' to per&or+ t!e essential obliations o& +arriae. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not PA !as been proen. eld: PA is not proen in co*rt in t!is case. #!e eidence is not s*>cient. PA is intended to t!e +ost serio*s cases o& personalit' disorders Pae #1 o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ !ic! +ae one be incapable o& per&or+in t!e essential +arital obliations. S!arons seB*al infdelit' does not constit*te PA nor does it constit*te t!e ot!er &or+s o& ps'c!oses !ic! i& eBistin at t!e inception o& +arriae, lie t!e state o& a part' bein o& *nso*nd +ind or conceal+ent o& dr* addiction, !abit*al alco!olis+, !o+oseB*alit' or lesbianis+, +erel' renders t!e +arriae contract oidable p*rs*ant to -rticle 4/, 0a+il' $ode. A& dr* addiction, !abit*al alco!olis+, lesbianis+ or !o+oseB*alit' s!o*ld occ*r onl' d*rin t!e +arriae, t!e' beco+e +ere ro*nds &or leal separation *nder -rticle 55 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. #!ese proisions, !oeer, do not necessaril' precl*de t!e possibilit' o& t!ese ario*s circ*+stances bein t!e+seles, dependin on t!e deree and seerit' o& t!e disorder, indicia o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. SeB*al infdelit' is not one o& t!ose conte+plated in la. Fntil &*rt!er stat*tor' or <*rispr*dential para+eters are set or establis!ed, SA cannot be appreciated in &aor o& t!e dissol*tion o& +arriae. #$. "arating6Siayngco vs. Siayngco. G. R. No. #%''/+. Octoer &1) &**$. $$# S"RA $&&. #%. Rep-lic vs. 8-intero6a5ano. G. R. No. #$/$/'. May &*) &**$. $&' S"RA 1(%. ,acts: Eolita *intero3La+ano fled a co+plaint in 199/ &or declaration o& n*llit' o& !er +arriae it! #os!io La+ano, a apanese national, on t!e ro*nd o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. S!e and #os!io started a co++on3la relations!ip in apan and lied in t!e P!ilippines &or a +ont!. #!erea&ter, #os!io ent bac to apan and sta'ed t!ere &or !al& o& 196. Eolita t!en ae birt! on oe+ber 1/, 196.
An 1966, Eolita and #os!io ot +arried in M#$3%acoor, $aite. -&ter a +ont! o& t!eir +arriae, #os!io ret*rned to apan and pro+ised to ret*rn b' $!rist+as to celebrate t!e !olida's it! !is &a+il'. #os!io sent +one' &or to +ont!s and a&ter t!at !e stopped iin fnancial s*pport. S!e rote !i+ seeral ti+es b*t neer respondent. An 1991, s!e learned &ro+ !er &riend t!at #os!io isited t!e co*ntr' b*t did not bot!er to see !er nor t!eir c!ild. #os!io as no loner residin at !is ien address t!*s s*++ons iss*ed to !i+ re+ained *nsered. $onse=*entl', in 199/, Eolita fled an eB parte +otion &or leae to e7ect serice o& s*++ons b' p*blication. #!e +otion as ranted and t!e s*++ons, acco+panied b' a cop' o& t!e petition, as p*blis!ed in a nespaper o& eneral circ*lation iin #os!io 15 Pae #' o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ da's to fle !is anser. #os!io fled to respond a&ter t!e lapse o& /: da's &ro+ p*blication, t!*s, Eolita fled a +otion to re&er t!e case to t!e prosec*tor &or inestiation. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not #os!io as ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to per&or+ !is +arital obliation. eld: #!e $o*rt is +ind&*l o& t!e 196 $onstit*tion to protect and strent!en t!e &a+il' as basic a*tono+o*s social instit*tion and +arriae as t!e &o*ndation o& t!e &a+il'. #!*s, an' do*bt s!o*ld be resoled in &aor o& t!e alidit' o& t!e +arriae.
#os!ios act o& abandon+ent as do*btlessl' irresponsible b*t it as neer alleed nor proen to be d*e to so+e ind o& ps'c!oloical illness. -lt!o*! as r*le, act*al +edical eBa+inations are not needed, it o*ld !ae reatl' !elped Eolita !ad s!e presented eidence t!at +edicall' or clinicall' identifed #os!ios illness. #!is co*ld !ae been done t!ro*! an eBpert itness. At is essential t!at a person s!o incapabilit' o& doin +arital obliation d*e to so+e ps'c!oloical, not p!'sical illness. Lence, #os!io as not considered as ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated. #+. Rep-lic vs. "A and Molina. G. R. No. #*'1+(. ,er-ary #() #//1. &+' S"RA #/'. ,acts: #!e case at bar c!allenes t!e decision o& $- a>r+in t!e +arriae o& t!e respondent "oridel Molina to "e'naldo Molina oid in t!e ro*nd o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. #!e co*ple ot +arried in 1965, a&ter a 'ear, "e'naldo +ani&ested sins o& i++at*rit' and irresponsibilit' bot! as !*sband and a &at!er pre&errin to spend +ore ti+e it! &riends !o+ !e s=*andered !is +one', depends on !is parents &or aid and assistance and as neer !onest it! !is i&e in reard to t!eir fnances. An 196/, t!e co*ple !ad an intense =*arrel and as a res*lt t!eir relations!ip as estraned. "oridel =*it !er or and ent to lie it! !er parents in %a*io $it' in 196 and a &e ees later, "e'naldo le&t !er and t!eir c!ild. Since t!en !e abandoned t!e+. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not t!e +arriae is oid on t!e ro*nd o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'. eld: #!e +arriae beteen "oridel and "e'naldo s*bsists and re+ains alid. ;!at constit*tes ps'c!oloical incapacit' is not +ere s!oin o& irreconcilable di7erences and conNiction personalities. At is Pae #/ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ indispensable t!at t!e parties +*st eB!ibit inclinations !ic! o*ld not +eet t!e essential +arital responsibilites and d*ties d*e to so+e ps'c!oloical illness. "e'naldos action at t!e ti+e o& t!e +arriae did not +ani&est s*c! c!aracteristics t!at o*ld co+prise ro*nds &or ps'c!oloical incapacit'. #!e eidence s!on b' "oridel +erel' s!oed t!at s!e and !er !*sband cannot et alon it! eac! ot!er and !ad not s!on rait' o& t!e proble+ neit!er its <*ridical antecedence nor its inc*rabilit'. An addition, t!e eBpert testi+on' b' r Sison s!oed no inc*rable ps'c!iatric disorder b*t onl' inco+patibilit' !ic! is not considered as ps'c!oloical incapacit'. #!e &olloin are t!e *idelines as to t!e ro*nds o& ps'c!oloical incapacit' laid set &ort! in t!is case8 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
%*rden o& proo& to s!o n*llit' belons to t!e plainti7 "oot ca*ses o& t!e incapacit' +*st be +edicall' and clinicall' inclined S*c! incapacit' s!o*ld be in eBistence at t!e ti+e o& t!e +arriae S*c! incapacit' +*st be rae so as to disable t!e person in co+pl'in it! t!e essentials o& +arital obliations o& +arriae S*c! incapacit' +*st be e+braced in -rt. /631 as ell as -rt 22:, 221 and 225 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode ecision o& t!e ational Matri+onial -ppellate $o*rt or t!e $at!olic $!*rc! +*st be respected $o*rt s!all order t!e prosec*tin attorne' and t!e fscal assined to it to act on be!al& o& t!e state.
#1. 7ing vs. 9ele67ing. G. R. No. #++%+&. March (#) &**/. %'& S"RA +/$. #'. Pa vs. Pa. G. R. No. #++%1/. ,er-ary #') &*#*. +#( S"RA #/%. ,acts: #!e' ere +arried in $iil and $!*rc! on *l' , 199 and Septe+ber 21, 199 respectiel'. #!e petitioner alleed t!at !e as ps'c!oloicall' incapable o& ass*+in t!e essential obliations o& +arriae t!at as +ani&ested b' !is *ncontrollable tendenc' to be sel&3preocc*pied and sel& ind*lent, as ell as !is predisposition to beco+e iolent and ab*sie. Le !ad a tendenc' to lie abo*t !is !ereabo*ts and !ad t!e !abit o& !anin o*t and spendin a reat deal o& ti+e it! !is &riends. Le !as not proided an' fnancial s*pport or isited t!eir son since s!e le&t t!eir con<*al !o+e. Petitioner fled a +otion &or reconsideration !ile !e ad+its t!at !e &ailed to fle a +otion &or reconsideration o& t!e trial co*rtHs 1 Ma' 2:: ecision, ordan s*b+its t!at Section 2: o& -.M. o. :231131:3S$ s!o*ld not !ae been strictl' applied aainst !i+ beca*se it too e7ect onl' Pae &* o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ on 15 Marc! 2::, or less t!an to +ont!s prior to t!e rendition o& t!e trial co*rtHs 1 Ma' 2:: ecision. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not ordan is ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to co+pl' it! t!e essential +arital obliationsI eld: o. #!e totalit' o& t!e eidence presented b' "espondent &ailed to s!o t!at Petitioner as ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to co+pl' it! t!e essential +arital obliations and t!at s*c! incapacit' as rae, inc*rable, and eBistin at t!e ti+e o& t!e sole+nization o& t!eir +arriae. Petitioners alleed ps'c!oloical incapacit' as not s!on to be so rae and so per+anent as to deprie !i+ o& t!e aareness o& t!e d*ties and responsibilities o& t!e +atri+onial bond. #/. 3i5 vs. 3i5. G. R. No. #1+$+$. ,er-ary &$) &*#*. &*. 3igeralde vs. Patalingh-g. G. R. No. #+'1/+. April #%) &*#*. +#' S"RA (#%. ,acts: *rin t!e +arriae o& Silino obsered t!at Ma' as actin i++at*re, irresponsible and care&ree. #!e latter ad+itted to t!e &or+er to !ain lied an ad*ltero*s li&e. Petitioner ca+e to beliee t!at priate respondent is ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to co+pl' it! t!e essential obliations o& +arriae. Petitioner approac!ed r. #ina icdao3 %asilio !o per&or+ed a ps'c!oloical eal*ation !ic! certifed t!at priate respondent as ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to per&or+ !er essential +arital obliations@ t!at t!e incapacit' started !en s!e as still 'o*n and beca+e +ani&est a&ter +arriae@ and t!at t!e sa+e as serio*s and inc*rable. Iss-e: As SeB*al Anfdelit' o& t!e priate respondent #anta+o*nt to Ps'c!oloical Ancapacit'I eld: Ma' s act o& liin an ad*ltero*s li&e cannot a*to+aticall' be e=*ated it! a ps'c!oloical disorder, especiall' !en no specifc eidence as s!on t!at pro+isc*it' as a trait alread' eBistin at t!e inception o& +arriae.
eit!er Silino s testi+on' nor t!e ps'c!oloist fndins &ailed to establis! t!e root ca*se o& priate respondent s incapacit' to disc!are t!e essential obliations o& t!e +arital state. #!e $o*rt stressed t!at t!e root ca*se o& t!e ps'c!oloical incapacit' +*st be identifed as a ps'c!oloical
Pae &# o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ illness, its incapacitatin nat*re &*ll' eBplained and establis!ed b' t!e totalit' o& t!e eidence presented d*rin trial. &#. 7oring vs. 7oring. G. R. No. #+%(&#. A-g-st () &*#*. +&+ S"RA ('/. ,acts: #eresita and "icardo ere !*sband and i&e. #!e latter fled a petition &or ann*l+ent be&ore t!e "#$. Le clai+ed t!at !er i&e as ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to co+pl' it! t!e essential obliations o& +arriae prior to, at t!e ti+e o&, and s*bse=*ent to t!e celebration o& t!eir +arriae.
"icardo o7ered t!e ps'c!oloical eal*ation o& !is eBpert itness ps'c!iatrist. r. $ecilia ". -lbaran testifed t!at priate respondent !ad arcissistic Personalit' isorder t!at rendered !er ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to &*lfll !er essential +arital obliations based on t!e in&or+ation s!e at!ered &ro+ !er ps'c!oloical eal*ation on "icardo and t!e co*ples son, "ic!ardson. #!e doctor did not personall' eBa+ine #eresita. "icardo alleed t!at #eresita as an ad*lteress and a s=*anderer. #!e "#$ ann*lled t!e +arriae. #!e $- reersed t!e decision sa'in t!at "#$ &ailed to specifcall' point o*t t!e root illness or de&ect t!at ca*sed -s ps'c!oloical incapacit', and lieise &ailed to s!o t!at t!e incapacit' alread' eBisted at t!e ti+e o& celebration o& +arriae. #!e $- &o*nd t!at t!e concl*sions &ro+ r. -lbaran s ps'c!oloical eal*ation do not appear to !ae been dran &ro+ ell3ro*nded and &air so*rces, and delt +ostl' on !earsa' state+ents and r*+ors. Eieise, t!e $- &o*nd t!at "icardos alleations on #eresita s oerspendin and infdelit' do not constit*te ade=*ate ro*nds &or declarin t!e +arriae n*ll and oid *nder -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not t!e "#$ as correct in declarin t!e n*llit' o& t!e +arriae. eld: o, t!e "#$ as ron. $- decision a>r+ed.
-ccordin to t!e Molina case, t!e defnitie *idelines in t!e interpretation and application o& t!is article are t!e &olloin8 (1) #!e b*rden o& proo& to s!o t!e n*llit' o& t!e +arriae belons to t!e plainti7. -n' do*bt s!o*ld be resoled in &aor o& t!e eBistence and contin*ation o& t!e +arriae and aainst its dissol*tion and n*llit'.
Pae && o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ (2) #!e root ca*se o& t!e ps'c!oloical incapacit' +*st be (a) +edicall' or clinicall' identifed, (b) alleed in t!e co+plaint, (c) s*>cientl' proen b' eBperts and (d) clearl' eBplained in t!e decision. S*c! root ca*se +*st be identifed as a ps'c!oloical illness and its incapacitatin nat*re &*ll' eBplained. Bpert eidence +a' be ien b' =*alifed ps'c!iatrists and clinical ps'c!oloists. () #!e incapacit' +*st be proen to be eBistin at ?t!e ti+e o& t!e celebration? o& t!e +arriae. (4) S*c! incapacit' +*st also be s!on to be +edicall' or clinicall' per+anent or inc*rable. 0*rt!er+ore, s*c! incapacit' +*st be releant to t!e ass*+ption o& +arriae obliations, not necessaril' to t!ose not related to +arriae. (5) S*c! illness +*st be rae eno*! to brin abo*t t!e disabilit' o& t!e part' to ass*+e t!e essential obliations o& +arriae. #!e illness +*st be s!on as donri!t incapacit' or inabilit', not a re&*sal, nelect or di>c*lt', +*c! less ill ill. (/) #!e essential +arital obliations +*st be t!ose e+braced b' -rticles /6 *p to 1 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode as reards t!e !*sband and i&e as ell as -rticles 22:, 221 and 225 o& t!e sa+e $ode in reard to parents and t!eir c!ildren. () Anterpretations ien b' t!e ational -ppellate Matri+onial #rib*nal o& t!e $at!olic $!*rc! in t!e P!ilippines, !ile not controllin or decisie, s!o*ld be ien reat respect b' o*r co*rts. #!e intent o& t!e la to confne t!e application o& -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode to t!e +ost serio*s cases o& personalit' disorders@ t!ese are t!e disorders t!at res*lt in t!e *tter insensitiit' or inabilit' o& t!e aQicted part' to ie +eanin and sinifcance to t!e +arriae !e or s!e contracted. An t!e present case and *ided b' t!ese standards, e fnd t!e totalit' o& t!e petitioners eidence to be ins*>cient to proe t!at #eresita as ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to per&or+ !er d*ties as a i&e. #!o*! t!e la does not re=*ire t!at t!e alleedl' incapacitated spo*se be personall' eBa+ined b' a p!'sician or b' a ps'c!oloist as a condition sine =*a non &or t!e declaration o& n*llit' o& +arriae *nder -rticle /. Loeer, it is still essential T alt!o*! &ro+ so*rces ot!er t!an t!e respondent spo*se T to s!o !is or !er personalit' profle, or its Pae &( o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ approBi+ation, at t!e ti+e o& +arriae@ t!e root ca*se o& t!e inabilit' to appreciate t!e essential obliations o& +arriae@ and t!e rait', per+anence and inc*rabilit' o& t!e condition. An t!e present case, t!e onl' ot!er part' o*tside o& t!e spo*ses !o as eer ased to ie state+ents &or p*rposes o& #eresita s ps'c!oloical eal*ation as "ic!ardson, t!e spo*ses eldest son !o o*ld not !ae been er' reliable as a itness beca*se !e co*ld not !ae been t!ere !en t!e spo*ses ere +arried and co*ld not !ae been eBpected to no !at as !appenin beteen !is parents *ntil lon a&ter !is birt!. O& +ore serio*s conse=*ence, &atal to "icardos ca*se, is t!e &ail*re o& r. -lbaran s ps'c!oloical eal*ation to &*ll' eBplain t!e details T i.e., t!e !at, !o, !en, !ere and since !en T o& #eresita s alleed arcissistic Personalit' isorder. r. -lbaran neer eBplained, too, t!e incapacitatin nat*re o& #eresitas alleed personalit' disorder, and !o it related to t!e essential +arital obliations t!at s!e &ailed to ass*+e. eit!er did t!e ood doctor ade=*atel' eBplain in !er ps'c!oloical eal*ation !o rae and inc*rable as #eresita s ps'c!oloical disorder. "icardo &ailed to disc!are t!e b*rden o& proo& to s!o t!at !er i&e s*7ered &ro+ ps'c!oloical incapacit'@ t!*s, !is petition &or ann*l+ent o& +arriae +*st &ail. ;e reiterate t!at irreconcilable di7erences, seB*al infdelit' or perersion, e+otional i++at*rit' and irresponsibilit', and t!e lie, do not b' t!e+seles arrant a fndin o& ps'c!oloical incapacit', as t!e sa+e +a' onl' be d*e to a persons di>c*lt', re&*sal or nelect to *ndertae t!e obliations o& +arriae t!at is not rooted in so+e ps'c!oloical illness t!at -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode addresses. "icardo also &ailed to s!o t!e aderse interal ele+ent and lin to #eresita s alleedl' disordered personalit'. Moreoer, "icardo &ailed to proe t!at #eresita s alleed c!aracter traits alread' eBisted at t!e inception o& t!eir +arriae. 0inall', t!e root ca*se o& t!e ps'c!oloical incapacit' needs to be alleed in a petition &or ann*l+ent *nder -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. ;!at is not re=*ired is t!e eBpert opinion to proe t!e root ca*se o& t!e ps'c!oloical incapacit'. $- decision a>r+ed. &&. Marale vs. Marale. G. R. No. #1'1$#. 0an-ary #1) &*##. +(/ S"RA %%1.
Pae &$ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ ,acts: "osalino E. Marable and M'rna 0. Marable ere seet!earts since t!e' ere still st*dents at -rellano Fniersit'. Eater on in t!eir relations!ip, t!e' eloped &ro+ t!eir !o+es and +arried t!ro*! ciil rites be&ore t!e +a'or o& #ana', "izal. ;it!in t!e sa+e +ont! a&ter t!e ciil eddin, a c!*rc! eddin as celebrated. #!e' !ad fe c!ildren. Loeer, a&ter 'ears o& bein toet!er, t!e' started to f!t erball' and een p!'sicall' +ore &re=*entl'. #!is as araated !en t!e' enco*ntered proble+s it! t!eir da*!ter !o as trans&erred &ro+ one sc!ool to anot!er beca*se o& +isbe!aior and t!en later on beca+e prenant *nti+el'. "osalino s a' o& spoilin t!eir c!ildren also as a ca*se o& =*arrels beteen !i+ and !is spo*se, M'rna. "osalino, !o is beinnin to et orn o*t b' t!eir *n!ealt!' relations!ip, !ad an a7air it! anot!er o+an. ;!en M'rna discoered it, "osalino i++ediatel' ended t!e relations!ip it! !is +istress. #!e =*arrels beteen t!e+ *n&ort*natel' orsened and t!is led to "osalino s depart*re &ro+ t!eir !o+e, leain !is i&e and c!ildren. -&ter so+e ti+e, !e conerted to Asla+ a&ter oin o*t it! +an' o+en. "osalino decided to leall' end !is +arriae it! M'rna so !e fled apetition &or absol*te n*llit' o& +arriae on t!e ro*nd o& !is ps'c!oloicalin capacit' to per&or+ t!e essential obliations o& +arriae. Le ent to a clinical ps'c!oloist to be eBa+ined &or t!e p*rpose o& presentin eidence in co*rt. r. #a'a, t!e clinical ps'c!oloist !o eBa+ined !i+, concl*ded t!at "osalino is s*7erin &ro+ C-nti3Social Personalit' isorderD !ic! +ani&ests a perasie pattern o& social deianc', rebellio*sness, i+p*lsiit', sel&3centeredness, deceit&*lness, and lac o& re+orse. At as said to be rooted &ro+ "osalino s c!ild!ood !ards!ips d*e to a d's&*nctional &a+il', deep &eelins o& rece o& t!e Solicitor General !ic! declared t!e +arriae as still alid and s*bsistin. #!e $o*rt o& -ppeals !eld t!at t!e eidence s*b+itted as ins*>cient to proeps'c!ol oical incapacit'. Lence t!is appeal.
Pae &% o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ Iss-e: ;!et!er or not t!e $o*rt o& -ppeals erred in reersin t!e decision o& t!e "#$ !ic! ranted t!e ann*l+ent o& +arriae o& t!e Marable spo*ses based on t!e eidence o& "osalino s ps'c!oloical incapacit'. eld: -ppeal denied &or lac o& +erit. $- decision a>r+ed.
An cases o& ann*l+ent o& +arriae based on -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode, as a+ended, t!e ps'c!oloical illness and its root ca*se +*st be proen to eBist &ro+ t!e inception o& t!e +arriae. Lere, t!e appellate co*rt correctl' r*led t!at t!e report o& r. #a'a &ailed to eBplain t!e root ca*se o& "osalino s alleed ps'c!oloical incapacit'. #!e eal*ation o& r. #a'a +erel' +ade a eneral concl*sion t!at petitioner is s*7erin &ro+ an -nti3 social Personalit' isorderb*t t!ere as no &act*al basis stated &or t!e fndin t!at "osalino is a sociall' deiant person, rebellio*s, i+p*lsie, sel&3 centered and deceit&*l. 0or s*re, t!e spo*ses &re=*ent +arital s=*abbles and di7erences in !andlin fnances and +anain t!eir b*siness a7airs, as ell as t!eir conNict son !o to raise t!eir c!ildren, are not +ani&estations o& ps'c!oloical incapacit'!ic! +a' be a ro*nd &or declarin t!eir +arriae oid. "osalino een ad+itted t!at despite t!eir fnancial di>c*lties, t!e' !ad !app' +o+ents toet!er. -lso, t!e records o*ld s!o t!at t!e "osalino acted responsibl' d*rin t!eir +arriae and in &act ored !ard to proide &or t!e needs o& !is &a+il', +ost especiall' !is c!ildren. #!eir personal di7erences do not reNect a personalit' disorder tanta+o*nt to ps'c!oloical incapacit'. "osalino tried to +ae it appear t!at !is &a+il' !istor' o& !ain ao+anizer &or a &at!er, as one o& t!e reasons !' !e enaed in eBtra3+arital a7airs d*rin !is +arriae. Loeer, it appears +ore liel' t!at !e beca+e *n&ait!&*l as a res*lt o& a eneral dissatis&action it! !is +arriae rat!er t!an a ps'c!oloical disorder rooted in !is personal !istor'. Lis tendenc' to o+anize, ass*+in !e !ad s*c! tendenc', as not s!on to be d*e to ca*ses o& aps'c !oloical nat*re t!at is rae, per+anent and inc*rable. An &act, t!e records s!o t!at !en respondent learned o& !is a7air, !e i++ediatel' ter+inated it. An s!ort, "osalino s +arital infdelit' does not appear to be s'+pto+atic o& a rae ps'c!oloical disorder !ic! rendered !i+ incapable o& per&or+in !is spo*sal obliations. At !as been !eld in ario*s cases t!at seB*al infdelit', b' itsel&, is not s*>cient proo& t!at petitioner is s*7erin &ro+ ps'c!oloical incapacit'. At +*stbe s!on t!at t!e acts o& *n&ait!&*lness are +ani&estations o& a disorder Pae &+ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ ed personalit' !ic! +ae "osalino co+pletel' *nable to disc!are t!e essential obliations o& +arriae. #!at not bein t!e case it! "osalino, !is clai+ o& ps'c!oloical incapacit' +*st &ail. At bears stressin t!at ps'c!oloical incapacit' +*st be +ore t!an <*st a Cdi>c*lt',D Cre&*salD or CnelectD in t!e per&or+ance o& so+e +arital obliations. "at!er, it is essential t!at t!e concerned part' as incapable o& doin so, d*e to so+e ps'c!oloical illness eBistin at t!e ti+e o& t!e celebration o& t!e +arriae. An Santos v. Court of Appeals t!e intention o& t!e la is to confne t!e +eanin o& Cps'c!oloicalincapacit'D to t!e +ost serio*s cases o& personalit' disorders clearl'de+onstratie o& an *tter insensitiit' or inabilit' to ie +eanin and sinifcance to t!e +arriae. &(. Ochosa vs. Alano. G. R. No. #+1$%/. 0an-ary &+) &*##. +$* S"RA %#1. ,acts: %onas illicit a7airs it! ot!er +en started at t!e onset o& t!eir +arriae on October 2, 19, !en ose as assined in ario*s parts o& t!e co*ntr' as an o>cer in t!e -0P. S!e contin*ed !er infdelit' een !en t!e' lied toet!er at 0ort %oni&acio, Maati $it' so+eti+e in 1965, !eneer ose as o*t o& t!eir liin =*arters.
An 196, ose as incarcerated in $a+p $ra+e &or rebellion &or t!e alleed participation o& t!e &ailed co*p detat. Le !eard circ*lation o& r*+ors o& %ona ettin ca*!t !ain seB it! !is drier, $orporal Gaarin. Le ot a +ilitar' pass &ro+ !is
Pae &1 o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ On an*ar' 11, 1999, t!e dispositie portion o& t!e trial co*rt declared t!e +arriae o& ose and %ona oid ab initio on t!e ro*nd o& ps'c!oloical incapacit' o& t!e respondent *nder -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. #!e $o*rt fnds t!at %onas illness eB!ibited rait', antecedence, and inc*rabilit'. OSG appealed t!e said r*lin to t!e $-, and t!e $- s*bse=*entl' ranted t!e appeal and reersed t!e r*lin o& t!e trial co*rt decision. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not %ona s!o*ld be dee+ed ps'c!oloicall' incapacitated to co+pl' it! t!e essential +arital obliations. eld: o. #!ere is inade=*ate credible eidence t!at !er de&ects ere alread' present at t!e inception o&, or prior to, t!e +arriae. %onas alleed ps'c!oloical incapacit' did not satis&' t!e <*rispr*dential re=*isite o& C<*ridical antecedenceD. Ler persistent seB*al infdelit' and abandon+ent are not bades o& ps'c!oloical incapacit' nor cant it be traced to t!e inception o& t!eir +arriae.
#!e ps'c!iatrists concl*sion abo*t %onas LP !ic! +ade !er prone to pro+isc*it' and seB*al infdelit' eBisted be&ore !er +arriae to ose, cannot be taen as credible proo& o& antecedence since t!e +et!od b' !ic! s*c! an in&erence as reac!ed leaes +*c! to be desired in ter+s o& +eetin t!e standard o& eidence re=*ired in deter+inin ps'c!oloical incapacit'. r. "ondains concl*sion as based solel' on t!e ass*+ed tr*t!&*l nolede o& ose. o ot!er itness testifed to %onas &a+il' !istor' or !er be!aior prior to or at t!e beinnin o& t!eir +arriae. #!e to itnesses onl' started to lie it! t!e+ in 196: and 196/, respectiel'. eril', r. "ondain eal*ated %onas ps'c!oloical condition directl' &ro+ t!e in&or+ation at!ered solel' &ro+ ose and !is itnesses. #!ese &act*al circ*+stances eoe t!e possibilit' t!at t!e in&or+ation &ed to t!e ps'c!iatrists is tainted it! bias &or oses ca*se, in t!e absence o& s*>cient corroboration. -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode is not to be con&*sed it! a diorce la t!at c*ts t!e +arital bond at t!e ti+e t!e ca*ses t!ere&ore +ani&est t!e+seles. At re&ers to a serio*s ps'c!oloical illness aQictin a part' een be&ore t!e celebration o& t!e +arriae. At is a +alad' so rae and so per+anent as to deprie one o& aareness o& t!e d*ties and responsibilities o& t!e +atri+onial bond one is abo*t to ass*+e. #!ese +arital obliations Pae &' o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ are t!ose proided *nder -rticle /6 to 1, 22:, 221 and 225 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode.
"ases on 9oid S-se-ent Marriage: #. Odayat vs. A5ante. A. M. No.6%'. 0-ne &) #/11. 11 S"RA (('. &. 4ap vs. "o-rt o! Appeals. No. 36$***(. Octoer &') #/'+. #$% S"RA &&/. (. "arino vs. "arino. G. R. No. #(&%&/. ,enr-ary &) &**#. (%# S"RA #&1. ,acts: An 19/9 SPO4 Santiao $arino +arried S*san icdao $arino. Le !ad 2 c!ildren it! !er. An 1992, SPO4 contracted a second +arriae, t!is ti+e it! S*san Ree $arino. An 1966, prior to !is second +arriae, SPO4 is alread' bedridden and !e as *nder t!e care o& Ree. An 1992, !e died 1 da's a&ter !is +arriae it! Ree. #!erea&ter, t!e spo*ses ent on to clai+ t!e benefts o& SPO4. icdao as able to clai+ a total o& P14:,:::.:: !ile Ree as able to collect a total o& P21,:::.::. An 199, Ree fled an action &or collection o& s*+ o& +one' aainst icdao. S!e anted to !ae !al& o& t!e P14:. Ree ad+itted t!at !er +arriae it! SPO4 as sole+nized d*rin t!e s*bsistence o& t!e +arriae bn SPO4 and icdao b*t t!e said +arriae beteen icdao and SPO4 is n*ll and oid d*e to t!e absence o& a alid +arriae license as certifed b' t!e local ciil reistrar. Ree also clai+ed t!at s!e onl' &o*nd o*t abo*t t!e preio*s +arriae on SPO4s &*neral. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not t!e absol*te n*llit' o& +arriae +a' be inoed to clai+ pres*+ptie leiti+es. eld: #!e +arriae beteen icdao and SPO4 is n*ll and oid d*e t!e absence o& a alid +arriae license. #!e +arriae beteen Ree and SPO4 is lieise n*ll and oid &or t!e sa+e !as been sole+nized it!o*t t!e <*dicial declaration o& t!e n*llit' o& t!e +arriae beteen icdao and SPO4. Fnder -rticle 4: o& t!e 0$, t!e absol*te n*llit' o& a preio*s +arriae +a' be inoed &or p*rposes o& re+arriae on t!e basis solel' o& a fnal <*d+ent declarin s*c! preio*s +arriae oid. Meanin, !ere t!e absol*te n*llit' o& a preio*s +arriae is so*!t to be inoed &or p*rposes o& contractin a second +arriae, t!e sole basis acceptable in la, &or said pro
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ +arriae to be &ree &ro+ leal infr+it', is a fnal <*d+ent declarin t!e preio*s +arriae oid. Loeer, &or p*rposes ot!er t!an re+arriae, no <*dicial action is necessar' to declare a +arriae an absol*te n*llit'. 0or ot!er p*rposes, s*c! as b*t not li+ited to t!e deter+ination o& !eirs!ip, leiti+ac' or illeiti+ac' o& a c!ild, settle+ent o& estate, dissol*tion o& propert' rei+e, or a cri+inal case &or t!at +atter, t!e co*rt +a' pass *pon t!e alidit' o& +arriae een a&ter t!e deat! o& t!e parties t!ereto, and een in a s*it not directl' instit*ted to =*estion t!e alidit' o& said +arriae, so lon as it is essential to t!e deter+ination o& t!e case. An s*c! instances, eidence +*st be add*ced, testi+onial or doc*+entar', to proe t!e eBistence o& ro*nds renderin s*c! a preio*s +arriae an absol*te n*llit'. #!ese need not be li+ited solel' to an earlier fnal <*d+ent o& a co*rt declarin s*c! preio*s +arriae oid. #!e S$ r*led t!at Ree !as no ri!t to t!e benefts earned b' SPO4 as a police+an &or t!eir +arriae is oid d*e to bia+'@ s!e is onl' entitled to properties, +one' etc oned b' t!e+ in co++on in proportion to t!eir respectie contrib*tions. ;aes and salaries earned b' eac! part' s!all belon to !i+ or !er eBcl*siel' (-rt. 146 o& 0$). icdao is entitled to t!e &*ll benefts earned b' SPO4 as a cop een i& t!eir +arriae is lieise oid. #!is is beca*se t!e to ere capacitated to +arr' eac! ot!er &or t!ere ere no i+pedi+ents b*t t!eir +arriae as oid d*e to t!e lac o& a +arriae license@ in t!eir sit*ation, t!eir propert' relations is oerned b' -rt 14 o& t!e 0$ !ic! proides t!at eer't!in t!e' earned d*rin t!eir co!abitation is pres*+ed to !ae been e=*all' contrib*ted b' eac! part' T t!is incl*des salaries and aes earned b' eac! part' notit!standin t!e &act t!at t!e ot!er +a' not !ae contrib*ted at all. $. Marella6
Pae (* o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ as a pre<*dicial =*estion to t!e cri+inal case. #!e "#$ ranted t!e +otion, !ile petitioners +otion &or reconsideration as denied. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not t!e s*bse=*ent flin o& a ciil action &or declaration o& n*llit' o& a preio*s +arriae constit*tes a pre<*dicial =*estion to a cri+inal case &or bia+'. eld: -n' decision in t!e ciil case t!e &act t!at respondent entered into a second +arriae d*rin t!e s*bsistence o& a frst +arriae. #!*s, a decision in t!e ciil case is not essential to t!e deter+ination o& t!e cri+inal c!are. At is t!ere&ore not a pre<*dicial =*estion. "espondent cannot be per+itted to *se !is +al&easance to de&eat t!e cri+inal action aainst !i+.
- pre<*dicial =*estion is one !ic! arises in a case t!e resol*tion o& !ic! is a loical antecedent o& t!e iss*e inoled t!erein. At is a =*estion based on a &act distinct and separate &ro+ t!e cri+e b*t so inti+atel' connected it! it t!at it deter+ines t!e *ilt or innocence o& t!e acc*sed. At +*st appear not onl' t!at t!e ciil case inoles &acts *pon !ic! t!e cri+inal action is based, b*t also t!at t!e resol*tion o& t!e iss*es raised in t!e ciil action o*ld necessaril' be deter+inatie o& t!e ciil case. $onse=*entl', t!e de&ense +*st inole an iss*e si+ilar or inti+atel' related to t!e sa+e iss*e raised in t!e cri+inal action and its resol*tion deter+inatie o& !et!er or not t!e latter action +a' proceed. Ats to essential ele+ents are (a) t!e ciil action inoles an iss*e raised in t!e cri+inal action@ and (b) t!e resol*tion o& s*c! iss*e deter+ines !et!er or not t!e cri+inal action +a' proceed. An t!e case at bar, t!e respondents clear intent is to obtain a <*dicial declaration o& n*llit' o& !is frst +arriae and t!erea&ter to inoe t!at er' sa+e <*d+ent to preent !is prosec*tion &or bia+'. Le cannot !ae !is cae and eat it too. Ot!erise, all t!at an adent*ro*s bia+ist !as to do is disreard -rticle 4: o& t!e 0a+il' $ode, contract a s*bse=*ent +arriae and escape a bia+' c!are b' si+pl' clai+in t!at t!e frst +arriae is oid and t!e s*bse=*ent +arriae is e=*all' oid &or lac o& a prior <*dicial declaration o& n*llit' o& t!e frst. part' +a' een enter into a +arriae aare o& t!e absence o& a re=*isiteU *s*all' t!e +arriae licenseUand t!erea&ter contract a s*bse=*ent +arriae it!o*t obtainin a declaration o& n*llit' o& t!e frst on t!e ass*+ption t!at t!e frst +arriae is oid. S*c! scenario o*ld render n*ator' t!e proisions on bia+'. -s s*ccinctl' !eld in Landicho v. Relova, 22 S$"-1 (19/6)8 Parties to a +arriae s!o*ld not be per+itted to <*de &or t!e+seles its n*llit', JasKonl' co+petent co*rts Pae (# o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ !ae s*c! a*t!orit'. Prior to s*c! declaration o& n*llit' o& t!e frst +arriae is be'ond =*estion. - part' !o contracts a second +arriae t!en ass*+es t!e ris o& bein prosec*ted &or bia+'. - pre<*dicial =*estion does not concl*siel' resole t!e *ilt or innocence o& t!e acc*sed b*t si+pl' tests t!e s*>cienc' o& t!e alleations in t!e in&or+ation in order to s*stain t!e &*rt!er prosec*tion o& t!e cri+inal case. - part' !o raises a pre<*dicial =*estion is dee+ed to !ae !'pot!eticall' ad+itted t!at all t!e essential ele+ents o& a cri+e !ae been ade=*atel' alleed in t!e in&or+ation, considerin t!at t!e prosec*tion !as not 'et presented sinle eidence on t!e indict+ent or +a' not 'et !ae rested its case. - c!allene o& t!e alleations in t!e in&or+ation on t!e ro*nd o& pre<*dicial =*estion is in e7ect a =*estion on t!e +erits o& t!e cri+inal c!are t!ro*! a non3 cri+inal s*it. Anorance o& t!e eBistence o& -rticle 4: o& t!e 0a+il' $ode cannot be s*ccess&*ll' inoed as an eBc*se. #!e contractin o& a +arriae noin t!at t!e re=*ire+ents o& t!e la !ae not been co+plied it! or t!at t!e +arriae is in disreard o& a leal i+pedi+ent is an act penalized b' t!e "eised Penal $ode. #!e lealit' o& a +arriae is a +atter o& la and eer' person is pres*+ed to no t!e la. -s respondent did not obtain t!e <*dicial declaration o& n*llit' !en !e entered into t!e second +arriae, !' s!o*ld !e be alloed to belatedl' obtain t!at <*dicial declaration in order to dela' !is cri+inal prosec*tion and s*bse=*entl' de&eat it b' !is on disobedience o& t!e laI A& !e ants to raise t!e n*llit' o& t!e preio*s +arriae, !e can do it as a +atter o& de&ense !en !e presents !is eidence d*rin t!e trial proper in t!e cri+inal case. #!e ele+ents o& bia+' are (1) t!e o7ender !as been leall' +arried@ (2) t!at t!e frst +arriae !as not been leall' dissoled, or in case !is or !er spo*se is absent, t!e absent spo*se !as not been <*diciall' declared pres*+ptiel' dead@ () t!at !e contracts a s*bse=*ent +arriae@ and (4) t!e s*bse=*ent +arriae o*ld !ae been alid !ad it not been &or t!e eBistence o& t!e frst. #!e eBceptions to prosec*tion &or bia+' are t!ose coered b' -rticle 41 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode and b' P 1:6 ot!erise non as t!e $ode o& M*sli+ Personal Eas. %. Antone vs. dait3$o+plaint, fled in Marc! 2::, t!at s!e and Eeo ere +arried in 196. Loeer, Eeo contracted a second +arriae it! $ecile Ma*illo in 1991. #!e prosec*tion fled t!e An&or+ation in t!e "eional #rial $o*rt ("#$) in a cri+inal case o& %ia+'. Pendin t!e settin o& t!e case &or arrain+ent, Eeo +oed to =*as! t!e An&or+ation on t!e ro*nd t!at t!e &acts c!ared do not constit*te an Pae (& o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ o7ense beca*se !is +arriae it! M'rna as declared n*ll and oid as o& -pril 2:: and beca+e fnal and eBec*tor' on Ma' 2::. Eeo ar*es t!at since t!e +arriae !ad been declared n*ll and oid &ro+ t!e beinnin, t!ere as act*all' no frst +arriae to spea o&. #!*s, absent t!e frst +arriae, t!e &acts alleed in t!e An&or+ation do not constit*te t!e cri+e o& bia+'. #!e prosec*tion ar*ed t!at t!e +arriae o& M'rna and Eeo on 196 as not seered prior to !is second +arriae on 1991, &or !ic! bia+' !as alread' been co++itted be&ore t!e co*rt declared t!e frst +arriae n*ll and oid on 2::.#!e "#$ s*stained t!e +otion to =*as! rel'in on Morigo v. People . Si+ilarl', t!e $o*rt o& -ppeals dis+issed t!e petition &or certiorari. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not a s*bse=*ent declaration o& n*llit' o& t!e frst +arriae onl' a&ter contrac tint!e s*bse=*ent +arriae is i++aterial in t!e cri+e o& bia+'. eld: Res. -rticle 4: o& t!e 0a+il' $ode !as reersed t!e preio*s r*lin o& People v. Mendoza (*nder t!e $iil $ode) declarin t!at8 (a) a case &or bia+' based on a oid ab initio +arriae ill not prosper beca*se t!ere is no need &or a <*dicial decree to establis! t!at a oid ab initio +arriae is inalid@ and (b) a +arriae declared oid ab initio !as retroactie leal e7ect s*c! t!at t!ere o*ld be no frst alid +arriae to spea o& a&ter all, !ic! renders t!e ele+ents o& bia+' co+plete. An &act, t!is as eB!a*stiel' disc*ssed in Mercado v. Tan.
At stated t!at, *nder t!e 0a+il' $ode a s*bse=*ent <*dicial declaration o& t!e n*llit' o& t!e frst +arriae is i++aterial in a bia+' case beca*se, b' t!en t!e cri+e !ad alread' been cons*++ated. Ot!erise stated, a person !o contracts a s*bse=*ent +arriae absent a prior <*dicial declaration o& n*llit' o& a preio*s +arriae is *ilt' o& bia+'. ;!ile Morigo v. People as pro+*lated a&ter Mercado, t!e &acts are di7erent. An Mercado, t!e frst +arriae as act*all' sole+nized, alt!o*! later declared oid ab initio. ;!ile in Mendoza, no +arriae cere+on' as per&or+ed b' a d*l' a*t!orized sole+nizin o>cer, beca*se !at occ*rred as a +ere sinin o& a +arriae contract t!ro*! a priate act. #!*s, t!ere is no need to sec*re a <*dicial declaration o& n*llit' be&ore Morigo can contract a s*bse=*ent +arriae. #!e r*lin o& Morigo is not applicable to t!is case.
Pae (( o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ +. Morigo vs. People. G. R. No. #$%&&+. ,er-ary +) &**$. $&& S"RA (1+. ,acts: E*cio Morio and E*cia %arrete ere board+ates in %o!ol. #!e' lost contacts &or a !ile b*t a&ter receiin a card &ro+ %arrete and ario*s eBc!anes o& letters, t!e' beca+e seet!earts. #!e' ot +arried in 199:. %arrete ent bac to $anada &or or and in 1991 s!e fled petition &or diorce in Ontario $anada, !ic! as ranted. An 1992, Morio +arried E*+bao. Le s*bse=*entl' fled a co+plaint &or <*dicial declaration o& n*llit' on t!e ro*nd t!at t!ere as no +arriae cere+on'. Morio as t!en c!ared it! bia+' and +oed &or a s*spension o& arrain+ent since t!e ciil case pendin posed a pre<*dicial =*estion in t!e bia+' case. Morio pleaded not *ilt' clai+in t!at !is +arriae it! %arrete as oid ab initio. Petitioner contented !e contracted second +arriae in ood &ait!. Iss-e: ;!et!er Morio +*st !ae fled declaration &or t!e n*llit' o& !is +arriae it! %arrete be&ore !is second +arriae in order to be &ree &ro+ t!e bia+' case. eld: Morios +arriae it! %arrete is oid ab initio considerin t!at t!ere as no act*al +arriae cere+on' per&or+ed beteen t!e+ b' a sole+nizin o>cer instead t!e' <*st +erel' sined a +arriae contract. #!e petitioner does not need to fle declaration o& t!e n*llit' o& !is +arriae !en !e contracted !is second +arriae it! E*+bao. Lence, !e did not co++it bia+' and is ac=*itted in t!e case fled. "ases on Declaration o! Pres-5ptive Death #. Rep-lic vs. Nolasco. G. R. No. /$*%(. March #1) #//(. &&* S"RA &*. ,acts: Greorio olasco is a sea+an. Le +et anet Parer, a %ritis!, in bar in nland. -&ter t!at, anet started liin it! olasco in !is s!ip &or siB +ont!s. At lasted *ntil t!e contract o& olasco eBpired t!en !e bro*!t !er to !is !o+eton in -nti=*e. #!e' ot +arried in an*ar' 1962. *e to anot!er contract, olasco le&t t!e proince. An 196, olasco receied a letter &ro+ !is +ot!er in&or+in !i+ t!at !is son !ad been born b*t 15 da's a&ter, anet le&t. olasco ent !o+e and c*t s!ort !is contract to fnd anets !ereabo*ts. Le did so b' sec*rin anot!er sea+ans contract oin to Eondon. Le rote seeral letters to t!e bar !ere t!e' frst +et b*t it as all ret*rned. Greorio petitioned in 1966 &or a declaration o& pres*+ptie deat! o& anet. Pae ($ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ Iss-e: ;!et!er or not olasco !ad a ell3&o*nded belie& t!at !is i&e, anet, is alread' deadI eld: #!e S*pre+e $o*rt r*led t!at olascos e7orts to locate anet ere not persistent to s!o t!at !e !as a ell3&o*nded belie& t!at !is i&e as alread' dead beca*se instead o& seein assistance o& local a*t!orities and t!e %ritis! +bass', !e een sec*red anot!er contract. More so, !ile !e as in Eondon, !e did not een tr' to solicit !elp o& t!e a*t!orities to fnd !is i&e. &. Rep-lic vs. "o-rt o! Appeals and Alegro. G. R. No. #%/+#$. Dece5er /) &**%. $11 S"RA &11. ,acts: -lan -lero, t!e petitioner, as +arried it! Eea in an*ar' 1995. Eea arried !o+e late in 0ebr*ar' 1995 and -lan told !er t!at i& s!e en
dead. eld: #!e co*rt r*led t!at -lan &ailed to proe t!at !e !as a ell3 &o*nded belie&, be&ore !e fled !is petition it! "#$, t!at !is spo*se as dead. Le &ailed to present a itness ot!er t!an t!e %arana' $aptain. Le een &ailed to present t!ose &riends o& Eea !ic! !e in=*ired to corroborate !is testi+on'. Le also &ailed to +ae in=*iries &ro+ !is parents3in3la reardin Eeas !ereabo*ts be&ore flin !is petition in t!e "#$. At co*ld !ae en!anced !is credibilit' !ad !e +ade in=*iries &ro+ !is parents3in3la abo*t EeaHs !ereabo*ts considerin t!at EeaHs &at!er as t!e oner o& "adio RMS. Le did report and see !elp o& t!e local police a*t!orities and %A to locate Eea b*t !e did so onl' a&ter t!e OSG fled its notice to dis+iss !is petition in "#$.
Pae (% o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ (. 9alde vs. Rep-lic. G. R. No. #'*'+(. Septe5er ') &**/. %/' S"RA +$+. ,acts: -nelita aldez as +arried it! Sofo in an*ar' 191. S!e ae birt! to a bab' irl na+ed anc'. #!e' ar*ed constantl' beca*se Sofo as *ne+plo'ed and did not brin !o+e an' +one'. An Marc! 192, t!e latter le&t t!eir !o*se. -nelita and !er c!ild aited *ntil in Ma' 192, t!e' decided to o bac to !er parents !o+e. 'ears !ae passed it!o*t an' ord &ro+ Sofo *ntil in October 195 !en !e s!oed *p and t!e' areed to separate and eBec*ted a doc*+ent to t!at e7ect. At as t!e last ti+e t!e' sa eac! ot!er and !ad neer !eard o& eer since. %eliein t!at Sofo as alread' dead, petitioner +arried irilio "e'es in *ne 1965. irilios application &or nat*ralization in FS as denied beca*se petitioners +arriae it! Sofo as s*bsistin. Lence, in Marc! 2::, petitioner fled a petition seein declaration o& pres*+ptie deat! o& So fo. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not petitioners +arriae it! irilio is alid despite lac o& declaration o& pres*+ptie deat! o& Sofo. eld: #!e co*rt r*led t!at no decree on t!e pres*+ption o& Sofos deat! is necessar' beca*se $iil $ode oerns d*rin 191 and not 0a+il' $ode !ere at least consec*tie 'ears o& absence is onl' needed. #!*s, petitioner as capacitated to +arr' irilio and t!eir +arriae is leal and alid. $. Rep-lic vs.
An 2:::, nine 'ears a&ter leain !er !*sband, Gloria fled a erifed petition it! t!e "#$ *nder t!e r*les on S*++ar' *dicial Proceedins in t!e 0a+il' Ea. #!e loer co*rt iss*ed an order &or t!e p*blication o& t!e petition in a nespaper o& eneral circ*lation.
Pae (+ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ An oe+ber , 2::1, t!e "#$ ranted t!e s*++ar' petition. -lt!o*! t!e <*d+ent as fnal and eBec*tors *nder t!e proisions o& -ct. 24 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode, t!e OSG &or t!e "ep*blic o& t!e P!ilippines fled a notice o& appeal. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not t!e &act*al and leal bases &or a <*dicial declaration o& pres*+ptie deat! *nder -rt 41 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode ere d*l' establis!ed. eld: -rt. 26 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode *nder #itle VA S*++ar' *dicial Proceedin in t!e 0a+il' Ea, sets t!e tenor &or cases sco*red b' t!ese r*les, to it8 -rt26. Fntil +odifed b' t!e S*pre+e $o*rt, t!e proced*ral r*les in t!is #itle s!all appl' in all cases proided &or in t!is $ode re=*irin s*++ar' co*rt proceedin. S*c! cases s!all be decided in an eBpeditions +anner it! o*t reards tec!nical r*les. #!e <*de o& t!e "#$ &*ll' co+plied it! t!e aboe3cited proision b' eBpeditio*sl' rendin <*d+ent it!in ninet' (9:) da's a&ter t!e &or+al o7er o& eidence b' t!e petitioner.
%. Rep-lic vs. 7ango. G. R. No. #+#*+&. 0-ly (#) &**/. %/$ S"RA %+*. ,acts: An 196, 0erentino #ano, respondent, and Maria ose illarba ere +arried in ciil rites. #ano and illarba !ad onl' spent a ni!t toet!er and !ad been inti+a te once !en illarba told0erentino t!at s!e and !er &a+il' ill soon be leain &or t!e FS-. illarba ass*red #ano t!at t!e &or+er ill fle a petition so t!at t!e latter can lie it! !er in t!e FS- and in t!e eent t!at t!e petition is denied, illarba pro+ised to ret*rn to t!e P!ilippines to lie it! #ano. #!erea&ter, illarba and !er &a+il' Ne to Seattle, FS-. #ano and illarba ept in to*c! &or a 'ear be&ore illarba stopped respondin to #anos letters. #ano !ad in=*ired &ro+ illarbas *ncle o& illarbas !ereabo*ts b*t it t*rned o*t t!at een t!e latters relaties !ad no idea. #ano solicited t!e assistance o& a &riend in #eBas, b*t to no aail. 0inall', #ano so*!t t!e aid o& !is parents in Eos -neles and !is a*nt in Seattle, b*t aain, to no aail. #!is pro+pted #ano to fle a petition be&ore t!e "#$ &or t!e declaration o& pres*+ptie deat! o& illarba *nder -rticle 41 o& t!e
Pae (1 o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ 0a+il' $ode. #!e "#$ iss*ed an Order declarin illarba pres*+ptiel' dead. On appeal b' t!e "ep*blic o& t!e P!ilippines, t!e $- a>r+ed t!e "#$s order. ;!et!er #ano !as establis!ed a basis to &or+ Iss-e: &o*nded belie& t!at !is absent spo*se is alread' dead.
a ell3
eld: %' eBpress proision o& la, t!e <*d+ent o& t!e co*rt in a s*++ar' proceedin s!all be i++ediatel' fnal and eBec*tor'. -s a +atter o& co*rse, it &ollos t!at no appeal can be !ad o& t!e trial co*rts <*d+ent in a s*++ar' proceedin &or t!e declaration o& pres*+ptie deat! o& an absent spo*se *nder -rticle 41 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. At oes it!o*t sa'in, !oeer, t!at an arieed part' +a' fle a petition &or certiorari to =*estion ab*se o& discretion a+o*ntin to lac o& <*risdiction. S*c! petition s!o*ld be fled in t!e $o*rt o& -ppeals in accordance it! t!e octrine o& Lierarc!' o& $o*rts. #o be s*re, een i& t!e $o*rts oriinal <*risdiction to iss*e a rit o& certiorari is conc*rrent it! t!e "#$s and t!e $o*rt o& -ppeals in certain cases, s*c! conc*rrence does not sanction an *nrestricted &reedo+ o& c!oice o& co*rt &or*+. 0ro+ t!e decision o& t!e $o*rt o& -ppeals, t!e losin part' +a' t!en fle a petition &or reie on certiorari *nder "*le 45 o& t!e "*les o& $o*rt it! t!e S*pre+e $o*rt. #!is is beca*se t!e errors !ic! t!e co*rt +a' co++it in t!e eBercise o& <*risdiction are +erel' errors o& <*d+ent !ic! are t!e proper s*b
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ clai+ed t!at t!reats o& iolence and d*ress &orced !i+ to +arr' Eilia. Le said t!at !e !ad been receiin p!one calls t!reatenin !i+ and t!at Eilia een !ired t!e serice o& a certain Wa $elso, a +e+ber o& t!e P-, to t!reaten !i+. Orl' also said !e as de&ra*ded b' Eilia b' clai+in t!at s!e as prenant !ence !e +arried !er b*t !e no raises t!at !e neer i+prenated Eilia prior to t!e +arriae. Eilia on t!e ot!er !and denied Orl's alleations and s!e said t!at Orl' &reel' co!abited it! !er a&ter t!e +arriae and s!e s!oed 14 letters t!at s!os Orl's a7ection and care toards !er. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not t!ere is d*ress and &ra*d attendant in t!e case at bar. eld: #!e S$ r*led t!at Orl's alleation o& &ra*d and inti+idation is *ntenable. On its &ace, it is obio*s t!at Orl' is onl' seein to ann*l !is +arriae it! Eilia so as to !ae t!e pendin appealed bia+' case Jfled aainst !i+ b' EiliaK to be dis+issed. On t!e +erits o& t!e case, Orl's alleation o& &ear as not concretel' establis!ed. Le as not able to proe t!at t!ere as a reasonable and ell ro*nded reason &or &ear to be created in !is +ind b' t!e alleed inti+idation bein done aainst !i+ b' Eilia and !er part'. Orl' is a sec*rit' *ard !o is ell abreast it! sel&3de&ense and t!at t!e t!reat !e so described done aainst !i+ is not s*>cient eno*! to itiate !i+ &ro+ &reel' +arr'in Eilia. 0ra*d cannot be raised as a ro*nd as ell. Lis alleation t!at !e neer !ad an erection d*rin t!eir seB*al interco*rse is incredible and is an o*tri!t lie. -lso, t!ere is a proloned inaction on t!e part o& Orl' to attac t!e +arriae. At too !i+ 4 and a !al& 'ears to fle an action !ic! brins +erit to Eilias contention t!at Orl' &reel' co!abited it! !er a&ter t!e +arriae. &. Rep-lic vs. Iyoy. G. R. No. #%&%11. Septe5er &#) &**%. $1* S"RA %*'. ,acts: #!e case is a petition &or reie b' t!e "P represented b' t!e O>ce o& t!e Solicitor General on certiorari pra'in &or t!e reersal o& t!e decision o& t!e $- dated *l' :, 2::1 a>r+in t!e <*d+ent o& t!e "#$ declarin t!e +arriae o& $ras*s E. A'o' (respondent) and -da "osal3A'o' n*ll and oid based on -rticle /.
On ece+ber 1/, 19/1 $ras*s A'o' and -da "osal3A'o' +arried eac! ot!er, t!e' !ad 5 c!ildren. An 1964, 0el' ent to t!e FS, in t!e sa+e 'ear s!e sent letters to $ras*s asin !i+ to sin diorce papers. An 1965, $ras*s learned t!at 0el' +arried an -+erican and !ad a c!ild. 0el' ent bac to t!e Pae (/ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ P!ilippines on seeral occasions, d*rin one s!e attended t!e +arriae o& one o& !er c!ildren in !ic! s!e *sed !er !*sbands last na+e as !ers in t!e initation. Marc! 25, 199, $ras*s fled a co+plaint &or declaration o& n*llit' allein t!at 0el's acts bro*!t Cdaner and dis!onorD to t!e &a+il' and ere +ani&estations o& !er ps'c!oloical incapacit'. $ras*s s*b+itted !is testi+on', t!e certifcation o& t!e recordin o& t!eir +arriae contract, and t!e initation !ere 0el' *sed !er ne !*sbands last na+e as eidences. 0el' denied t!e clai+s and asserted t!at $ras*s as a dr*nard, o+anizer, !ad no cient and ranted t!e decree@ it as a>r+ed in t!e $-. Iss-e: oes abandon+ent and seB*al infdelit' per se constit*te ps'c!oloical incapacit'I eld: #!e eidences presented b' t!e respondent &ail to establis! ps'c!oloical incapacit'. 0*rt!er+ore, -rticle / Cconte+plates donri!t incapacit' or inabilit' to tae conizance o& and to ass*+e t!e basic +arital obliations@ not a +ere re&*sal, nelect or di>c*lt', +*c! less, ill ill, on t!e part o& t!e errant spo*se. Arreconcilable di7erences, conNictin personalities, e+otional i++at*rit' and irresponsibilit', p!'sical ab*se, !abit*al alco!olis+, seB*al infdelit' or perersion, and abandon+ent, b' t!e+seles, also do not arrant a fndin o& ps'c!oloical incapacit' *nder t!e said -rticle.D
0inall', -rticle / Cis not to be con&*sed it! a diorce la t!atc*ts t!e +arital bond at t!e ti+e t!e ca*ses t!ere&ore +ani&est t!e+seles. At re&ers to a serio*s ps'c!oloical illness aQictin apart' een be&ore t!e celebration o& +arriae. At is a +alad' so rae and so per+anent as to deprie one o& aareness o& t!e d*ties and responsibilities o& t!e +atri+onial bond one is abo*t to ass*+e.D (. "orp-s vs. Ochotorena. A. M. No. R706 *$6#'+#. 0-ly (*) &**$. $. Ma-ilan vs. Ma-ilan. G. R. No. #%%$*/. 0-ne ') &**1. ,acts: Lerein petitioner and !erein priate respondent are spo*ses !o once !ad a bliss&*l +arried li&e and o*t o& !ic! ere blessed to !ae a son. Loeer, t!eir once s*ar coated ro+ance t*rned bitter !en petitioner discoered t!at priate respondent as !ain illicit seB*al a7air it! !er Pae $* o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ para+o*r, !ic! t!*s, pro+pted t!e petitioner to fle a case o& ad*lter' aainst priate respondent and t!e latterHs para+o*r. $onse=*entl', bot! acc*sed ere conicted o& t!e cri+e c!ared. #!erea&ter, priate respondent, t!ro*! co*nsel, fled a Petition &or eclaration o& *llit' o& Marriae, issol*tion and Ei=*idation o& $on<*al Partners!ip o& Gains and a+aes i+p*tin ps'c!oloical incapacit' on t!e part o& t!e petitioner. *rin t!e pre3trial o& t!e said case, petitioner and priate respondent entered into a $OMP"OMAS -G"M#. S*bse=*entl', petitioner fled a +otion &or t!e rep*diation o& t!e -G"M#. #!is +otion as denied. Petitioner t!en fled a Petition &or $ertiorari and Pro!ibition it! t!e $o*rt o& -ppeals on t!e ro*nd t!at t!e coniction o& t!e respondent o& t!e cri+e o& ad*lter' dis=*ali&' !er &ro+ s!arin in t!e con<*al propert'. #!e Petition as dis+issed. Iss-e: As t!e coniction o& t!e respondent o& t!e cri+e o& ad*lter' a dis=*alifcation &or !er to s!are in t!e con<*al propert'I eld: o. #!e coniction o& ad*lter' does not carr' t!e accessor' o& ciil interdiction. -rticle 4 o& t!e "eised Penal $ode proides &or t!e conse=*ences o& ciil interdiction8
-rt. 4. $iil Anterdiction. U $iil interdiction s!all deprie t!e o7ender d*rin t!e ti+e o& !is sentence o& t!e ri!ts o& parental a*t!orit', or *ardians!ip, eit!er as to t!e person or propert' o& an' ard, o& +arital a*t!orit', o& t!e ri!t to +anae !is propert' and o& t!e ri!t to dispose o& s*c! propert' b' an' act or an' cone'ance inter ios. Fnder -rticle o& t!e sa+e $ode, t!e penalt' &or ad*lter' is prision correccional in its +edi*+ and +aBi+*+ periods. -rticle s!o*ld be read it! -rticle 4 o& t!e sa+e $ode. #!e latter proides8 -rt. 4. Prision correccional U Ats accessor' penalties. U #!e penalt' o& prision correccional s!all carr' it! it t!at o& s*spension &ro+ p*blic o>ce, &ro+ t!e ri!t to &ollo a pro&ession or callin, and t!at o& perpet*al special dis=*alifcation &ro+ t!e ri!t o& s*7rae, i& t!e d*ration o& said i+prison+ent s!all eBceed ei!teen +ont!s. #!e o7ender s!all s*7er t!e dis=*alifcation proided in t!is article alt!o*! pardoned as to t!e principal penalt', *nless t!e sa+e s!all !ae been eBpressl' re+itted in t!e pardon. At is clear, t!ere&ore, and as correctl' !eld b' t!e $-, t!at t!e cri+e o& ad*lter' does not carr' t!e accessor' penalt' o& ciil interdiction !ic! Pae $# o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ depries t!e person o& t!e ri!ts to +anae !er propert' and to dispose o& s*c! propert' inter vivos . %. Dino vs. Dino. G. R. No. #1'*$$. 0an-ary #/) &*##. ,acts: an*ar' 1996 petitioner and respondent ot +arried. On Ma' 2::1, petitioner fled an action &or eclaration o& *llit' o& Marriae aainst respondent citin ps'c!oloical incapacit' *nder article /. Petitioner alleed t!at respondent &ailed in !er +arital obliation to ie loe and s*pport to !i+, and !ad abandoned !er responsibilit' to t!e &a+il', c!oosin instead to o on s!oppin sprees and alliantin it! !er &riends t!at depleted t!e &a+il' assets. Petitioner &*rt!er alleed t!at respondent as not &ait!&*l, and o*ld at ti+es beco+e iolent and !*rt !i+. #!e trial co*rt declared t!eir +arriae oid ab initio.
#!e co*rt r*led t!at - $" O0 -%SOEF# FEEA#R O0 M-""A-G s!all onl' be iss*ed *pon co+pliance it! -rticleJsK 5: and 51 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. At later altered it toD - $" O0 -%SOEF# FEEA#R O0 M-""A-G s!all be iss*ed a&ter li=*idation, partition and distrib*tion o& t!e parties properties *nder -rticle 14 o& t!e 0a+il' $odeD Iss-e: ;O t!e trial co*rt erred !en it ordered t!at a decree o& absol*te n*llit' o& +arriae s!all onl' be iss*ed a&ter li=*idation, partition, and distrib*tion o& t!e parties properties *nder -rticle 14 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode eld: #!e co*rt erred. #!e $o*rt !as r*led in aldes . "#$, %ranc! 1:2, *ezon $it' t!at in a oid +arriae, reardless o& its ca*se, t!e propert' relations o& t!e parties d*rin t!e period o& co!abitation is oerned eit!er b' -rticle 14 or -rticle 146 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. -rticle 14 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode applies to *nion o& parties !o are leall' capacitated and not barred b' an' i+pedi+ent to contract +arriae, b*t !ose +arriae is nonet!eless oid, s*c! as petitioner and respondent in t!e case be&ore t!e $o*rt.
0or -rticle 14 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode to appl', t!e &olloin ele+ents +*st be present8 1. #!e +an and t!e o+an +*st be capacitated to +arr' eac! ot!er@ 2. #!e' lie eBcl*siel' it! eac! ot!er as !*sband and i&e@ and . #!eir *nion is it!o*t t!e beneft o& +arriae, or t!eir +arriae is oid -ll t!ese ele+ents are present in t!is case and t!ere is no =*estion Pae $& o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ t!at -rticle 14 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode applies to t!e propert' relations beteen petitioner and respondent. At is clear &ro+ -rticle 5: o& t!e 0a+il' $ode t!at Section 19(1) o& t!e "*le applies onl' to +arriaes !ic! are declared oid ab initio or ann*lled b' fnal <*d+ent *nder -rticles 4: and 45 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. An s!ort, -rticle 5: o& t!e 0a+il' $ode does not appl' to +arriaes !ic! are declared oid ab initio *nder -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode, !ic! s!o*ld be declared oid it!o*t aitin &or t!e li=*idation o& t!e properties o& t!e parties. Since t!e propert' relations o& t!e parties in art 4: and 45 are oerned b' absol*te co++*nit' o& propert' or con<*al partners!ip o& ains, t!ere is a need to li=*idate, partition and distrib*te t!e properties be&ore a decree o& ann*l+ent co*ld be iss*ed. #!at is not t!e case &or ann*l+ent o& +arriae *nder -rticle / o& t!e 0a+il' $ode beca*se t!e +arriae is oerned b' t!e ordinar' r*les on co3oners!ip. An t!is case, petitioners +arriae to respondent as declared oid *nder -rticle /15 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode and not *nder -rticle 4: or 45. #!*s, !at oerns t!e li=*idation o& properties oned in co++on b' petitioner and respondent are t!e r*les on co3oners!ip. An aldes, t!e $o*rt r*led t!at t!e propert' relations o& parties in a oid +arriae d*rin t!e period o& co!abitation is oerned eit!er b' -rticle 14 or -rticle 146 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode. #!e r*les on co3oners!ip appl' and t!e properties o& t!e spo*ses s!o*ld be li=*idated in accordance it! t!e $iil $ode proisions on co3 oners!ip. Fnder -rticle 49/ o& t!e $iil $ode, CJpKartition +a' be +ade b' aree+ent beteen t!e parties or b' <*dicial proceedins. B B B.D At is not necessar' to li=*idate t!e properties o& t!e spo*ses in t!e sa+e proceedin &or declaration o& n*llit' o& +arriae. "ases on 3egal Separation: #. Gandionco vs. Penaranda. G. R. No. 361&/'$. Nove5er &1) #/'1. ,acts: Priate respondent, #eresita Gandionco, fled a co+plaint aainst !erein petitioner, 0roilan Gandionco &or leal separation on t!e ro*nd o& conc*binae as a ciil case. #eresita also fled a cri+inal co+plaint o& conc*binae aainst !er !*sband. S!e lieise fled an application &or t!e proisional re+ed' o& s*pport pendent elite !ic! as approed and ordered b' t!e respondent <*de. Petitioner +oed to s*spend t!e action &or leal separation and t!e incidents conse=*ent t!ereto s*c! as t!e s*pport &or pendent elite, in ie o& t!e cri+inal case &or conc*binae fled aainst !i+. Pae $( o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ Le contends t!at t!e ciil action &or leal separation is ineBtricabl' tied it! t!e cri+inal action t!*s, all proceedins related to leal separation ill !ae to be s*spended and aait t!e coniction or ac=*ittal o& t!e cri+inal case. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not a ciil case &or leal separation can proceed pendin t!e resol*tion o& t!e cri+inal case &or conc*binae. eld: S*pre+e $o*rt r*led t!at t!e contentions o& t!e petitioner ere incorrect. - ciil action &or leal separation on t!e ro*nd o& conc*binae +a' proceed a!ead o&, or si+*ltaneo*sl' it!, a cri+inal action &or conc*binae, beca*se said ciil action is not one to en&orce t!e ciil liabilit' arisin &ro+ t!e o7ense, een i& bot! t!e ciil and cri+inal actions arise &ro+ or are related to t!e sa+e o7ense. S*c! ciil action is one intended to obtain t!e ri!t to lie separatel', it! t!e leal conse=*ences t!ereo& incl*din t!e dissol*tion o& t!e con<*al partners!ip o& ains, c*stod' o& t!e c!ildren, s*pport and dis=*alifcations &ro+ in!eritin &ro+ t!e innocent spo*se. ecree o& leal separation +a' be iss*ed *pon proo& b' preponderance o& eidence, !ere no cri+inal proceedin or coniction is necessar'.
0*rt!er+ore, t!e s*pport pendente lite, as a re+ed', can be aailed o& in an action &or leal separation, and ranted at t!e discretion o& t!e <*de. A& in case, t!e petitioner fnds t!e a+o*nt o& s*pport pendente lite ordered as too onero*s, !e can ala's fle a +otion to +odi&' or red*ce t!e sa+e. &.
#!e de&endants ere eac! sered it! s*++ons. #!e' fled an eBtension it!in !ic! to fle an anser, !ic! t!e co*rt partl' ranted. *e Pae $$ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ to *nanted +is*nderstandin, partic*larl' in co++*nication, t!e de&endants &ailed to fle an anser on t!e date set b' t!e co*rt. #!erea&ter, t!e plainti7 fled a +otion to declare t!e de&endants in de&a*lt, !ic! t!e co*rt &ort!it! ranted. #!e co*rt receied plainti7s eidence d*rin t!e !earins !eld on 0ebr*ar' 15, 2:, 21, and 22, 196:. -&ter trial, t!e co*rt rendered a decision in &aor o& t!e plainti7 on Marc! 1,196:. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not t!e "#$ rael' ab*sed its discretion in den'in petitioners +otion &or eBtension o& ti+e to fle t!eir anser, in declarin petitioners in de&a*lt and in renderin its decision on Marc! 1, 196: !ic! decreed t!e leal separation o& Pacete and -lanis and !eld to be n*ll and oid t!e +arriae o& Pacete to $larita. eld: #!e $iil $ode proides t!at Cno decree o& leal separation s!all be pro+*lated *pon a stip*lation o& &acts or b' con&ession o& <*d+ent. An case o& non3appearance o& t!e de&endant, t!e co*rt s!all order t!e prosec*tin attorne' to in=*ire !et!er or not coll*sion beteen parties eBists. A& t!ere is no coll*sion, t!e prosec*tin attorne' s!all interene &or t!e State in order to tae care t!at t!e eidence &or t!e plainti7 is not &abricated.D
#!e aboe stated proision callin &or t!e interention o& t!e state attorne's in case o& *ncontested proceedins &or leal separation (and o& ann*l+ent o& +arriaes, *nder -rticle 66) is to e+p!asize t!at +arriae is +ore t!an a +ere contract. -rticle 1: o& t!e $iil $ode, no -rticle 56 o& t!e 0a+il' $ode, &*rt!er +andates t!at an action &or leal separation +*st Cin no case be tried be&ore siB +ont!s s!all !ae elapsed since t!e flin o& t!e petition,D obio*sl' in order to proide t!e parties a Ccoolin3o7D period. An t!is interi+, t!e co*rt s!o*ld tae steps toard ettin t!e parties to reconcile. #!e sinifcance o& t!e aboe s*bstantie proisions o& t!e la is &*rt!er or *nderscored b' t!e incl*sion o& a proision in "*le 16 o& t!e "*les o& $o*rt !ic! proides t!at no de&a*lts in actions &or ann*l+ents o& +arriae or &or leal separation. #!ere&ore, Ci& t!e de&endant in an action &or ann*l+ent o& +arriae or &or leal separation &ails to anser, t!e co*rt s!all order t!e prosec*tin attorne' to inestiate !et!er or not a coll*sion beteen t!e parties eBists, and i& t!ere is no coll*sion, to interene &or t!e State in order to see to it t!at t!e eidence s*b+itted is not &abricated.D $. 3ap- vs. E-!e5io. No. 36(*/11. 0an-ary (#) #/1&. $( S"RA #11. Pae $% o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ ,acts: $ar+en Eap*z3S' fled a petition &or leal separation aainst *&e+io *&e+io on -**st 195. #!e' ere +arried ciill' on Septe+ber 21, 194 and canonicall' a&ter nine da's. #!e' !ad lied toet!er as !*sband and i&e contin*o*sl' it!o*t an' c!ildren *ntil 194 !en !er !*sband abandoned !er. #!e' ac=*ired properties d*rin t!eir +arriae. Petitioner t!en discoered t!at !er !*sband co!abited it! a $!inese o+an na+ed Go Lio on or abo*t 1949. S!e pra'ed &or t!e iss*ance o& a decree o& leal separation, !ic! a+on ot!ers, o*ld order t!at t!e de&endant *&e+io s!o*ld be depried o& !is s!are o& t!e con<*al partners!ip profts. *&e+io co*nterclai+ed &or t!e declaration o& n*llit' o& !is +arriae it! Eap*z3S' on t!e ro*nd o& !is prior and s*bsistin +arriae it! Go Lio. #rial proceeded and t!e parties add*ced t!eir respectie eidence. Loeer, be&ore t!e trial co*ld be co+pleted, respondent alread' sc!ed*led to present s*rreb*ttal eidence, petitioner died in a e!ic*lar accident on Ma' 19/9. Ler co*nsel d*l' notifed t!e co*rt o& !er deat!. *&e+io +oed to dis+iss t!e petition &or leal separation on *ne 19/9 on t!e ro*nds t!at t!e said petition as fled be'ond t!e one3'ear period proided in -rticle 1:2 o& t!e $iil $ode and t!at t!e deat! o& $ar+en abated t!e action &or leal separation. Petitioners co*nsel +oed to s*bstit*te t!e deceased $ar+en b' !er &at!er, Macario Eap*z. Iss-e: ;!et!er t!e deat! o& t!e plainti7, be&ore fnal decree in an action &or leal separation, abate t!e action and ill it also appl' i& t!e action inoled propert' ri!ts. eld: -n action &or leal separation is abated b' t!e deat! o& t!e plainti7, een i& propert' ri!ts are inoled. #!ese ri!ts are +ere e7ects o& decree o& separation, t!eir so*rce bein t!e decree itsel&@ it!o*t t!e decree s*c! ri!ts do not co+e into eBistence, so t!at be&ore t!e fnalit' o& a decree, t!ese clai+s are +erel' ri!ts in eBpectation. A& deat! s*perenes d*rin t!e pendenc' o& t!e action, no decree can be &ort!co+in, deat! prod*cin a +ore radical and defnitie separation@ and t!e eBpected conse=*ential ri!ts and clai+s o*ld necessaril' re+ain *nborn.
#!e petition o& *&e+io &or declaration o& n*llit' is +oot and acade+ic and t!ere co*ld be no &*rt!er interest in contin*in t!e sa+e a&ter !er de+ise, t!at a*to+aticall' dissoled t!e =*estioned *nion. -n' propert' ri!ts ac=*ired b' eit!er part' as a res*lt o& -rticle 144 o& t!e $iil $ode o&
Pae $+ o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ t!e P!ilippines / co*ld be resoled and deter+ined in a proper action &or partition b' eit!er t!e appellee or b' t!e !eirs o& t!e appellant. %. "orp-s vs. Ochotorena. A. M. R706*$6#'+#. 0-ly (*) &**$. $(% S"RA $$+. "ases on Essential Marital Oligations #. Arroyo vs. Arroyo. G. R. No. 36#1*#$. A-g-st ##) #/&#. &. 7enchave vs. Escano. No. 36#/+1#. Nove5er &/) #/+%. #% S"RA (%%. ,acts: 2 'ears old icenta scano !o belon to a pro+inent 0ilipino 0a+il' o& Spanis! ancestr' ot +arried on 0eb*rar' 24, 1946 it! Pastor #enc!aez, 2 'ears old enineer, and eB3ar+' o>cer be&ore $at!olic c!aplain Et. Moises Eaares. #!e +arriae as a c*l+ination o& t!e loe a7air o& t!e co*ple and as d*l' reistered in t!e local ciil reistr'. certain Pacita oel ca+e to be t!eir +atc!3+aer and o3beteen !o !ad an a+oro*s relations!ip it! #enc!aez as ritten b' a San $arlos collee st*dent !ere s!e and icenta are st*d'in. icenta and Pastor are s*pposed to rene t!eir os +arriae in a c!*rc! as s*ested b' icentas parents. Loeer a&ter translatin t!e said letter to icentas dad , !e disareed &or a ne +arriae. icenta contin*ed leain it! !er parents in $eb* !ile Pastor ent bac to or in Manila.
icenta applied &or a passport indicatin t!at s!e as sinle and !en it as approed s!e le&t &or t!e Fnited States and fled a co+plaint &or diorce aainst Pastor !ic! as later on approed and iss*ed b' t!e Second *dicial $o*rt o& t!e State o& eada. S!e t!en so*!t &or t!e ann*l+ent o& !er +arriae to t!e -rc!bis!op o& $eb*. icenta +arried "*ssell Eeo Moran, an -+erican, in eada and !as beotten c!ildren. S!e ac=*ired citizens!ip on -**st 6, 1956. Petitioner fled a co+plaint aainst icenta and !er parents !o+ !e alleed to !ae diss*aded icenta &ro+
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ S*c! rant o*ld arise to discri+ination in &aor o& ric! citizens !o can a7ord diorce in &orein co*ntries. #!e ad*ltero*s relations!ip o& scano it! !er -+erican !*sband is eno*! ro*nds &or t!e leal separation pra'ed b' #enc!aez. An t!e e'es o& P!ilippine las, #enc!aez and scano are still +arried. - &orein diorce beteen 0ilipinos so*!t and decreed is not entitled to reconition neit!er is t!e +arriae o& t!e diorcee entitled to alidit' in t!e P!ilippines. #!*s, t!e desertion and sec*rin o& an inalid diorce decree b' one spo*se entitled t!e ot!er &or da+aes. ;L"0O", t!e decision *nder appeal is !ereb' +odifed as &ollos@ (1) -d<*din plainti73appellant Pastor #enc!aez entitled to a decree o& leal separation &ro+ de&endant icenta 0. scao@ (2) Sentencin de&endant3appellee icenta scao to pa' plainti73 appellant #enc!aez t!e a+o*nt o& P25,::: &or da+aes and attorne'sH &ees@ () Sentencin appellant Pastor #enc!aez to pa' t!e appellee, Ma+erto scao and t!e estate o& !is i&e, t!e deceased Mena scao, P5,::: b' a' o& da+aes and attorne'sH &ees. "ases on Donation y Reason o! Marriage: #. Mata-ena vs. "ervantes. No. 36&'11#. March (#) #/1#. (' S"RA &'$. ,acts: 0eliB Matab*ena co!abitated it! "espondent. *rin t!is period, 0eliB Matab*ena donated to "espondent a parcel o& land. Eater t!e to ere +arried. -&ter t!e deat! o& 0eliB Matab*ena, !is sister, Petitioner, so*!t t!e n*llifcation o& t!e donation citin -rt.1 o& t!e $iil $ode Cer' donation beteen t!e spo*ses d*rin t!e +arriae s!all be oid.D
#!e trial co*rt r*led t!at t!is case as not coered b' t!e pro!ibition beca*se t!e donation as +ade at t!e ti+e t!e deceased and "espondent ere not 'et +arried and ere si+pl' co!abitatin. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not t!e pro!ibition applies to donations beteen lie3in partners. eld: Res. At is a &*nda+ental principle in stat*tor' constr*ction t!at !at is it!in t!e spirit o& t!e la is as +*c! a part o& t!e la as !at is ritten. Since t!e reason &or t!e ban on donations beteen spo*ses d*rin t!e +arriae is to pr Pae $' o& %&
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ eent t!e possibilit' o& *nd*e inN*ence and i+proper press*re bein eBerted b' one spo*se on t!e ot!er, t!ere is no reason !' t!is pro!ibition s!all not appl' also to co++on3la relations!ips. #!e co*rt, !oeer, said t!at t!e lac o& t!e donation +ade b' t!e deceased to "espondent does not necessaril' +ean t!at t!e Petitioner ill !ae eBcl*sie ri!ts to t!e disp*ted propert' beca*se t!e relations!ip beteen 0eliB and "espondent ere leiti+ated b' +arriae.
&. Agapay vs. Palang. G. R. No. ##+++'. 0-ly &') #//1. '% S"AD #$%. ,acts: Mi*el Palan contracted +arriae it! $arlina in Panasinan on 1949. Le le&t to or in Laaii a &e +ont!s a&ter t!e eddin. #!eir onl' c!ild Ler+inia as born in Ma' 195:. #!e trial co*rt &o*nd eident t!at as earl' as 195, Mi*el atte+pted to iorce $arlina in Laaii. ;!en !e ret*rned &or ood in 192, !e re&*sed to lied it! $arlina and sta'ed alone in a !o*se in Pozzor*bio Panasinan.
#!e / 'ear old Mi*el contracted a s*bse=*ent +arriae it! 19 'ear old rlinda -apa', !erein petitioner. 2 +ont!s earlier, t!e'
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ proportion to t!eir respectie contrib*tions. At is re=*ired t!at t!ere be an act*al contrib*tion. A& act*al contrib*tion is not proed, t!ere ill be no co3 oners!ip and no pres*+ption o& e=*al s!ares. rlinda establis!ed in !er testi+on' t!at s!e as enaed in t!e b*siness o& b*' and sell and !ad a sari3sari store. Loeer, s!e &ailed to pers*ade t!e co*rt t!at s!e act*all' contrib*ted +one' to b*t t!e s*b
Mendoza, Glenn S. ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________ Ans*rance co+pan' areed to ins*re t!e li&e o& Gercio &or t!e s*+ o& P2,:::, to be paid !i+ on 0ebr*ar' 1, 19:, or i& t!e ins*red s!o*ld die be&ore said date, t!en to !is i&e, Mrs. -ndreaXialcita, s!o*ld s!e s*rie !i+@ ot!erise to t!e eBec*tors, ad+inistrators, or assins o& t!e ins*red. Polic' did not incl*de an' proision reserin to t!e ins*red t!e ri!t to c!ane t!e benefciar'. nd o& 19198 s!e as conicted o& t!e cri+e o& ad*lter'. Septe+ber 4, 192:8 a decree o& diorce as iss*ed. Marc! 4, 19228 Gercio &or+all' notifed t!e S*n Ei&e t!at !e !ad reoed !is donation in &aor o&-ndrea Xialcita, and t!at !e !ad desinated in !er stead !is present i&e, -dela Garcia de Gercio, as t!e benefciar' o& t!e polic'. S*n Ei&e re&*sed. Gercio fled a petition &or +anda+*s to co+pel S*n Ei&e. #rial $o*rt8 &aored Gercio. Iss-e: ;!et!er or not Gercio !as t!e ri!t to c!ane t!e benefciar' o& t!e polic' eld: O. is+issed.
#!e i&e !as an ins*rable interest in t!e li&e o& !er !*sband. #!e benefciar' !as an absol*te ested interest in t!e polic' &ro+ t!e date o& its iss*ance and delier'. So !en a polic' o& li&e ins*rance is taen o*t b' t!e !*sband in !ic! t!e i&e is na+ed as benefciar', s!e !as a s*bsistin interest in t!e polic'. -pplies to a polic' to !ic! t!ere are attac!ed t!e incidents o& a loan al*e, cas! s*rrender al*e, an a*to+atic eBtension b' pre+i*+s paid, and to an endo+ent polic', as ell as to an ordinar' li&e ins*rance polic'. A& t!e !*sband is!es to retain to !i+sel& t!e control and oners!ip o& t!e polic' !e +a' so proide in t!e polic'. %*t i& t!e polic' contains no proision a*t!orizin a c!ane o& benefciar' it!o*t t!e benefciar'Hs consent, t!e ins*red cannot +ae s*c! c!ane. Pae %# o& %&
