JimenezvsCanizares

Jimenezvs.Canizares
L12790,August31,1960
FACTS:
JoelJimenez,thepetitioner,filedapetitionfortheannulmentofhis
marriagewithRemediosCanizaresonthegroundthattheorificeofher
genitalsorvaginawastoosmalltoallowthepenetrationofamale
organforcopulation.Ithasexistedatthetimeofthemarriageand
continuestoexistthatledhimtoleavetheconjugalhometwonights
andonedayafterthemarriage.Thecourtsummonedandgaveacopy
tothewifebutthelatterdidnotfileanyanswer.Thewifewasordered
tosubmitherselftophysicalexaminationandtofileamedical
certificatewithin10days.Shewasgivenanother5daystocomplyor
elseitwillbedeemedlackofinterestonherpartandtherefore
renderingjudgmentinfavorofthepetitioner.
ISSUE:Whetherornotthemarriagecanbeannulledwithonlythe
testimonyofthehusband.
HELD:
Thewifewhowasclaimedtobeimpotentbyherhusbanddidnotavail
oftheopportunitytodefendherselfandassuch,claimcannotbe
convincinglybeconcluded.Itisawellknownfactthatwomeninthis

countryareshyandbashfulandwouldnotreadilyandunhesitatingly
submittoaphysicalexaminationunlesscompelledbycompetent
authority.Suchphysicalexaminationinthiscaseisnotself
incriminating.Sheisnotchargedwithanyoffenseandlikewiseisnot
compelledtobeawitnessagainstherself.Impotencebeingan
abnormalconditionshouldnotbepresumed.Thecasewasremanded
totrialcourt.