Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
FACTS:
Petittioners seek a writ of mandamus to compel respondent government
officials to publish and/ or cause the publication in the Official Gazette of
various presidential decrees, letters of instructions, general orders,
proclamations, executive orders, letters of implementation and
administrative orders. The petitioners are invoking the right to be informed
on matters of public concern (Sec. 6, Article IV of the 1973 Constitution).
The petitioners are also invoking that for laws to be valid and enforceable,
they must be published in the Official Gazette.
The respondents contended that the case should be dismissed outright on
the ground that petitioners have no legal standing to carry out such petition
since they are not personally and directly prejudiced by the non-publication
of the issuances in question. Respondents also contended that the
publication in the Official Gazette is a non-requirement for laws which
provide their own affectivity date. Since the issuances in question contain
the date of effectivity, publication is not necessary.
ISSUES:
Whether or not the petitioners have the legal personality or standing to
carry out the instant petition and whether publication is necessary for laws
which have its own effectivity date.
HELD:
The Court recognizes a private citizen’s legal personality since the right
sought to be enforced by the petitioners is a public right recognized by the
Constitution.
The Court anchored on Article 2 of the Civil Code which states that:
“Laws shall take effect after fifteen days following the completion of their
publication in the Official Gazette, unless it is otherwise provided.”
FACTS:
Que Po Lay was convicted at the Court of First Instance of Manila for
violating Central Bank Circular No. 20 in connection with Section 34 of
Republic No. 265. The appellant was in possession of foreign exchange
consisting of U.S dollars, checks and money orders amounting to about $
7,000. He failed to sell the said currency to the Central Bank through its
agents one day following the receipt of such currency as required by
Circular No.20. The appellant was sentenced to six months imprisonment
and a fine of Php 1, 000.
The appellant based the appeal on the claim that said circular was not
published on the Official Gazette prior to the act of omission of the
appellant, thus, said circular has no force and effect.
Circular No. 20 of the Central Bank was issued in the year 1949. It was not
published until November 1951, or after three months after appelant’s
conviction of its violation.
ISSUES:
Whether or not:
1. Circular No. 20 of the Central Bank, not being a statute or a law should be
subjected to publication requirement stated in Article 2 of the Civil Code;
2. The appellant is liable to the said Circular No. 20 when the latter was only
published after about three months of his conviction.
HELD:
1. Circular No. 20 is not a statute or a law but it is being issued for the
implementation of the law authorizing its issuance, therefore it has the force
and effect of the law. Circulars and regulations which prescribe a penalty for
its violation should be published before becoming effective. It is based on
the general principle that before the public is bound by penal provisions, the
people should be officially informed of its contents and penalties.
2. Appellant could not be held liable for the violation of Circular No. 20 for it
was not binding at the time he was found to have failed to sell the foreign
exchange.
FACTS:
At around 1:30 p.m., November 2, 1990, Jose Juego, a construction worker
of D. M. Consunji, Inc., fell 14 floors from the Renaissance Tower, Pasig
City to his death. On May 9, 1991, Jose Juego’s widow, Maria, filed a
complaint for damages at the RTC of Pasig against the deceased’s employer,
D.M. Consunji, Inc.
The employer raised, among other defenses, the widow’s prior availment of
the benefits from the State Insurance Fund. The RTC rendered a decision in
favor of the widow Maria Juego.
ISSUES:
Whether or not:
HELD:
The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur “the thing or transaction speaks for itself”
recognizes that prima facie negligence may be established without direct
proof. It has the following requisites: (1) the accident was of a kind which
does not ordinarily occur unless someone is negligent; (2) the
instrumentality or agency which caused the injury was under the exclusive
control of the person charged with negligence; and (3) the injury suffered
must not have been due to any voluntary action or contribution on the part
of the person injured. All the requisites for the application of the rule of res
ipsa loquitur are present in the case at bar, thus a reasonable presumption or
inference of appellant’s negligence arises.
Claims for damages sustained by workers in the course of their employment
could be filed only under the Workmen´s Compensation Law. In availing
its remedies, claimants are deemed to have waived their right of the
remedies provided by other laws. However, this is an exception because
private respondent was unaware of petitioner´s negligence when she filed
her claim for death benefits, otherwise, she would have opted to avail of a
better remedy than that of which she already had.
30 May 1961
FACTS:
Emeterio Cui enrolled in the defendant university where plaintiff finished
his law studies up to the first semester of his fourth year. Plaintiff was
awarded with scholarship grants and his tuition fees were returned to him
at the end of each semester. Plaintiff left the defendant’s law school and
enrolled for the last semester of his fourth year at the College of Law of
Abad Santos University where he graduated.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the contract between Cui and the respondent university,
whereby the former waives his right to transfer to another school without
having refunded to the defendant the equivalent of the scholarship is valid
or not.
HELD:
The contract of waiver between the plaintiff and respondent on September
10, 1951, is a direct violation of Memorandum No. 38 and hence null and
void. The contract was contrary to sound policy and civic honesty. The
policy enunciated in Memorandum No.38, 1949 is sound policy.
When students are given full or partial scholarships it is understood that
such scholarships are merited and earned. The amount in tuition and other
fees corresponding to these scholarships should not be subsequently
charged to the recipient students when they decide to quit school or to
transfer to another institution.
FACTS:
ISSUE:
HELD:
A testator’s wishes must be given paramount importance, however, if the
wishes of the testator contravene a specific provision of law, then that
provision in a will should not be given effect. A person’s will is merely an
instrument which is PERMITTED, so his right is not absolute. It should be
subject to the provisions of the Philippine laws.
The case at bar falls under the Lex Rei Sitae doctrine; where the estate of a
decedent shall be distributed in accordance with his national law. He
cannot provide otherwise.
The Supreme Court held that those who opposed would not forfeit their
inheritance because that provision is not legal.
30 June 1989|
FACTS:
Imelda M. Pilapil, a Filipino citizen, was married in Germany to private
respondent, Erich Ekkehard Geiling, a German national. They have a child
who was born on April 20, 1980 and named Isabella Pilapil Geiling. Private
respondent Erich Ekkehard Geiling initiated a divorce proceeding against
petitioner in Germany on January 1983.The divorce decree was
promulgated on January 15, 1986 on the ground of failure of marriage of
the spouses. The custody of the child was granted to the petitioner.
Six months after the divorce was granted private respondent filed 2
complaints for adultery before the City Fiscal of Manila alleging that while
still married to Imelda, latter “had an affair with William Chia as early as
1982 and another man named Jesus Chua sometime in 1983”.
ISSUE:
HELD:
The law specifically provides that in prosecution for adultery and
concubinage, the person who can legally file the complaint should be the
offended spouse and nobody else. Though in this case, it appeared that
private respondent is the offended spouse, the latter obtained a valid
divorce in his country and said divorce and its legal effects may be
recognized in the Philippines.
FACTS:
Petitioner Wolfgang O. Roehr, a German citizen, married private
respondent Carmen Rodriguez, a Filipina, on December 11, 1980 in
Germany. Their marriage was subsequently ratified on February 14, 1981 in
Tayasan, Negros Oriental. Out of their union were born Carolynne and
Alexandra Kristine.
Carmen filed a motion with a prayer that the case should proceed for the
purpose of determining the issues of custody of children and the
distribution of the properties between her and Wolfgang. Judge Salonga
partially set aside her previous order for the purpose of tackling the issues
of support and custody of their children.
ISSUES:
Whether or not the granting the motion to dismiss the nullity case valid ; it
is valid to assume jurisdiction to tackle child custody and support.
HELD:
A judge can order a partial reconsideration of a case that has not yet
attained finality. The court can modify or alter a judgment even after the
same has become executory whenever circumstances transpire rendering
its decision unjust and inequitable. Where certain facts and circumstances
justifying or requiring such modification or alteration transpired after the
judgment has become final and executory and when it becomes imperative
in the higher interest of justice or when supervening events warrant it.
GARCIA-RECIO vs RECIO
366 SCRA 4372
2 October 2002
FACTS:
Rederick A. Recio, a Filipino, was married to Editha Samson, an Australian
Citizen, in Malabon, Rizal on March 1, 1987. They lived as husband and
wife in Australia. On May 18, 1989, their marriage was dissolved by a
divorce decree, issued by an Australian Family Court.
ISSUE:
Whether the divorce decree submitted by Rederick Recio is admissible as
evidence to prove his legal capacity to marry petitioner and absolve him of
bigamy.
HELD:
The nullity of Rederick’s marriage with Editha as shown by the divorce
decree issued was valid and recognized in the Philippines since the
respondent is a naturalized Australian. However, it does not prove
respondent’s legal capacity to marry petitioner. The decree, being a foreign
document was inadmissible to court because it was not authenticated by the
consul/ embassy of the country where it will be used.
1. an official publication;
2. attested by the officer having legal custody of the document;
3. If the record is not kept in the Philippines, such copy must be:
4. accompanied by a certificate issued by the proper Philippine diplomatic or
consular officer stationed in the foreign country in which the record is kept
and
5. authenticated by the seal of his office.
The Court ordered thr RTC to remand trial in the purpose of submitting
evidence that Recio was legally capacitated to marry Garcia in 1994,
otherwise declare the marriage null and void on the ground of bigamy for
having established two subsisting marriages.
FACTS:
On the eve of October 13, 1994, Mr. Reyes while having coffee at the lobby
of Nikko Hotel was approached by Dr. Violet Filart, a friend several years
back. According to Mr. Reyes, Dr. Filart invited him to join a birthday
party at the penthouse for the hotel’s former General Manager, Mr.
Tsuruoka. Plaintiff agreed as Dr. Filart agreed to vouch for him and carried
a basket of fruits, the latter’s gift. He lined up at the buffet table as soon as
it was ready but to his embarrassment, Ruby Lim, Hotel’s Executive
Secretary, asked him to leave in a loud voice enough to be heard by the
people around them. He was escorted by a policeman out of the hotel. All
these time, Dr Filart ignored him adding to his shame and humiliation.
Ms. Ruby Lim admitted asking Mr. Reyes to leave the party but not in the
manner claimed by the plaintiff. Ms. Lim approached several people
including Dr. Filart’s sister, Ms. Zenaida Fruto, if Dr. Filart did invite him
as the captain waiter told Ms. Lim that Mr. Reyes was with Dr. Filart’s
group. She wasn’t able to ask it personally with Dr. Filart since the latter
was talking over the phone and doesn’t want to interrupt. She asked Mr.
Reyes to leave because the celebrant specifically ordered that the party
should be intimate consisting only of those who part of the list. She was
even polite in asking the plaintiff to finish his food then leave the party.
HELD:
Supreme Court held that petitioners did not act abusively in asking Mr.
Reyes to leave the party. Plaintiff failed to establish any proof of ill-motive
on the part of Ms. Lim who did all the necessary precautions to ensure that
Mr. Reyes will not be humiliated in requesting him to leave the party.
Petitioners cannot be held liable for damages brought under Article 19 and
20 of the Civil Code.
Under the doctrine of violenti non fit injuria, to which a person assents is not
esteemed in law as injury. The doctrine refers to self-inflicted injuries or to
consent to it which precludes the recovery of damages by one knowingly
and voluntarily exposed himself to danger.
QUISUMBING vs MERALCO
GR No. 142943, 3 April 2002
FACTS:
The plaintiff, spouses Antonio and Lorna Quisumbing are owners of a
house located at Greenmeadows Avenue, Quezon City. Around 9AM on
March 3, 1995, defendant’s inspectors were conducting a routine on the
spot inspection of all single phase meters at the house. Permission was
granted by the plaintiff’s secretary. It was found that the meter had been
tampered with and the information was relayed to the secretary who
conveyed the information to the owners of the house. The inspectors
brought the meter to their laboratory for further verifications. If proven
that the meter was indeed tampered, defendant had to temporarily
disconnect the electric services.
The plaintiff filed complaint for damages with a prayer for the issuance of a
writ of preliminary injunction despite the immediate reconnection.
ISSUE:
Whether or not
1. MERALCO acted without due process and lack of regard for Quisumbings’
rights and reputation.
2. The Quisumbings be entitled for damages.
HELD:
Moral damages may be recovered when rights of individuals including right
against the deprivation of property without due process of law are violated.
Exemplary damages on the other hand are imposed by way of example or
correction for public.
FACTS:
Marilou Gonzales, filed a complaint dated October 27, 1987 for damages
against the petitioner for the alleged breach of their agreement to get
married. She met the petitioner in Dagupan, he was an Iranian medical
exchange student. He later courted her and proposed marriage. The
petitioner even went to Marilou’s house to secure approval of her parents.
The petitioner forced the respondent to live with him in his apartment. She
filed a complaint because the petitioner started maltreating and threatening
her. He even tied the respondent in the apartment while he was in school
and drugged her. Marilou at one time became pregnant but the petitioner
administered a drug to abort the baby.
Petitioner repudiated the marriage agreement and told Marilou to not live
with him since he is already married to someone in Bacolod. He claimed
that he never proposed marriage, neither sought consent and approval of
Marliou’s parents. He claimed that he asked Marilou to stay out of his
apartment since the latter deceived him by stealing money and his
passport. The private respondent prayed for damages and reimbursements
of actual expenses.
ISSUE:
Whether breach of promise to marry can give rise to cause claim for
damages.
HELD:
FACTS:
Pastor Tenchavez and Vicenta Escano were secretly married by a military
chaplain in one of Pastor’s friend’s house. Upon learning about the secret
marriage, Vicenta’s parents arranged for them to be married properly in a
church so as to validate their marriage as advised by a priest. Vicenta
opposed to a second marriage after receiving an anonymous letter alleging
that Pastor and is having an amorous relationship with matchmaker Pacita
Noel. Vicenta continued to live with her parents and Pastor went back to
work in Manila. Although still solicitous of her husband’s welfare in her
letters, she was not as endearing and becomes less and less until they
became estranged.
Vicenta filed for a petition to annul her marriage but it was dismissed for
non-prosecution because she never went to any of the set hearings. Without
informing her husband, she applied for a passport, indicating in her
application that she was single and left for the United States. She filed for
divorce (1950) against Pastor in Nevada on the ground of “extreme cruelty,
entirely mental in character” which the Nevada court granted even when
she was not yet an American citizen (1958).
Tenchavez had initiated a complaint in the against Vicenta F. Escaño, her
parents Mamerto and Mena Escaño, whom he charged with having
dissuaded and discouraged Vicenta from joining her husband, and
alienating her affections. He asked for legal separation and one million
pesos in damages.
ISSUES:
1. Whether or not the divorce decree granted by the Nevada Court is valid
2. Can the parents be held liable for the failure of the marriage
HELD:
That a foreign divorce between Filipino citizens, is not entitled to
recognition as valid in this jurisdiction; and neither is the marriage
contracted with another party. That the remarriage of divorced wife and her
co-habitation with a person other than the lawful husband entitle the latter
to a decree of legal separation conformably to Philippine law;
That the desertion and securing of an invalid divorce decree by one party
entitles the other to recover damages;
That an action for alienation of affections against the parents of one consort
does not lie in the absence of proof of malice or unworthy motives on their
part.
FACTS:
Salvador Abunado married Zenaida Binas in 1955 and they separated in
1966. He contracted a second marriage to Narcisa Arcena in 1966 then
Narcisa went to Japan. While Narcisa was in Japan, he married Zenaida for
the second time in 1989.
ISSUES:
Is the resolution of the annulment case a requisite for the bigamy case to
prosper?
HELD:
Annulment has no bearing upon determination of petitioner’s innocence or
guilt in bigamy. The only requirement for bigamy to prosper is that the first
marriage be subsisting when the second marriage was contracted.
Even void and voidable marriages shall be deemed valid until declared
otherwise by the Court. Salvador’s marriages to Zenaida and Narcisa are
both subsisting, which makes him guilty of bigamy.
FACTS:
The petitioner Carmen Quimiguing and the defendant Felix Icao, were
neighbors in Dapitan City. They had close and confidential relations.
Despite the fact that Icao was married, he succeeded to have carnal
knowledge with plaintiff several times under force and intimidation and
without her consent. Carmen got pregnant despite of the drugs supplied by
defendant. As a consequence, Carmen stopped studying.
Plaintiff claimed for support at P120 per month, damages and attorney’s
fees. The complaint was dismissed by the lower court in Zamboanga del
Norte on the ground of lack of cause of action. Plaintiff moved to amend
the complaint that as a result of the intercourse, she gave birth to a baby
girl but the court ruled that “no amendment was allowable since the
original complaint averred no cause of action”.
ISSUE:
Whether plaintiff has a right to claim support and damages.
HELD:
The Supreme Court held that “a conceive child, yet unborn, is given by law
a provisional personality of its own for all purposes favorable to it, as
explicitly provided in Article 40 of the Civil Code of the Philippines”. The
conceive child may also receive donations and be accepted by those persons
who will legally represent them if they were already born as prescribed in
Article 742.
Lower court’s theory on article 291 of the civil code declaring that support is
an obligation of parents and illegitimate children does not contemplate
support to children as yet unborn violates article 40 aforementioned.
Another reason for reversal of the order is that Icao being a married man
forced a woman not his wife to yield to his lust and this constitutes a clear
violation of Carmen’s rights. Thus, she is entitled to claim compensation
for the damage caused.
GELUZ vs. CA
2 SCRA 801
FACTS:
Respondent Oscar Lazo’s wife Nita Villanueva, came to know petitioner
physician Antonio Geluz, through her aunt Paula Yambot. Nita became
pregnant some time in 1950 before she and Oscar were legally married. To
conceal the pregnancy from her parents, she decided to have it aborted by
Geluz. She had an abortion again on October 1953 since she found it
inconvenient as she was employed at COMELEC.
After two years, on February 21, 1955, she got pregnant again and had yet
another abortion at Geluz’ clinic. Oscar at this time was in the province of
Cagayan campaigning for his election to the provincial board. He doesn’t
have any idea nor has he given consent on the abortion.
ISSUE:
HELD:
The concept of provisional personality cannot be invoked to obtain
damages in behalf of an aborted child. Both trial court and Court of Appeals
were unable to find any basis for an award of moral damages. Oscar’s
indifference to the previous abortions of Nita clearly indicates that he was
unconcerned with the frustration of his parental affections.
It shows that his real motive is to obtain large money from the payment to
be made since he sued Geluz for P50,000 damages and P3,000 attorney’s
fees that serves as indemnity claim, which under the circumstances was
clearly exaggerated.
FACTS:
Antonia Loanco was a cashier in a barber shop owned by the defendant’s
brother in law Vicente Mendoza. Cesar Syquia, the defendant was an
unmarried scion of a prominent family in Manila. He got acquainted with
Antonio and had an amorous relationship. As a consequence, Antonia got
pregnant and a baby boy was born on June 17, 1931.
After giving birth, they lived together for about a year. When Antonia
showed signs of second pregnancy, defendant suddenly departed and
married another woma.
It should be noted that during the christening of the child, the defendant
who was in charge of the arrangement of the ceremony caused the name
Ismael Loanco to be given instead of Cesar Syquia Jr. that was first
planned.
ISSUES:
1. Whether the note to the padre and the other letters written by defendant to
Antonia during her pregnancy proves acknowledgement of paternity.
2. Whether the defendant should be compelled to acknowledge the child Ismael
Loanco.
HELD:
The letter written by Syquia to Rev. Father and the other letters to Antonia
are sufficient proof of paternity. The mere requirement is that the writing
shall be indubitable.
“The law fixes no period during which a child must be in the continuous
possession of the status of a natural child; and the period in this case was
long enough to reveal the father’s resolution to admit the status”.
The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the lower court compelling
Syquia to provide support for the child Ismael Loanco.
FACTS:
Pedro Fragante, a Filipino citizen at the time of his death, applied for a
certificate of public convenience to install and maintain an ice plant in San
Juan Rizal. His intestate estate is financially capable of maintaining the
proposed service. The Public Service Commission issued a certificate of
public convenience to Intestate Estate of the deceased, authorizing said
Intestate Estate through its special or Judicial Administrator, appointed by
the proper court of competent jurisdiction, to maintain and operate the said
plant. Petitioner claims that the granting of certificate applied to the estate
is a contravention of law.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the estate of Fragante may be extended an artificial judicial
personality.
HELD:
The estate of Fragante could be extended an artificial judicial personality
because under the Civil Code, “estate of a dead person could be considered
as artificial juridical person for the purpose of the settlement and
distribution of his properties”. It should be noted that the exercise of
juridical administration includes those rights and fulfillment of obligation
of Fragante which survived after his death. One of those surviving rights
involved the pending application for public convenience before the Public
Service Commission.
Supreme Court is of the opinion that “for the purposes of the prosecution of
said case No. 4572 of the Public Service Commission to its final conclusion,
both the personality and citizenship of Pedro O. Fragrante must be deemed
extended, within the meaning and intent of the Public Service Act, as
amended, in harmony with the constitution.
FACTS:
On February 28, 1962 the CFI of Pangasinan rendered a judgment ordering
defendants Vicente Soliven, Pedro Oria, Santiago Laurencio, Marcelino
Sumalbag and Juana Darang to pay solidarity Quality Plastic Products, Inc.
the sum of P3,667.03 plus the legal rate of interest from November, 1958.
The lower court directed that in case the defendants failed to pay the said
amount before its decision became final, then Quality Plastic Products, Inc.
“is hereby authorized to foreclose the bond, Exhibit A, in accordance with
law, for the satisfaction of the judgment”.
Upon defendants’ failure to pay the amount of the judgment and after the
decision had become final, the lower court, on motion of Quality Plastic
Products, Inc., ordered the “foreclosure” of the surety bond and the sale at
public auction of the land of Pedro Oria which he had given as security
under the bond. The sale was confirmed by the lower court in its order of
November 20, 1962.
It turned out that Oria died on April 23, 1959 or long before June 13, 1960
when the action was filed. Oria’s death was not known to Quality Plastic
AND that Testate Estate of the deceased Pedro Oria, was pending. On
March 1, 1963 all testamentary heirs in Oria’s duly probated will, sued
Quality Plastic Products, Inc., for the annulment of the judgment against
Oria and the execution against his land.
ISSUE:
Does the Court have jurisdiction for the execution of Oria’s estate?
HELD:
The lower court’s judgment against Oria is void for lack of jurisdiction over
his person. He had no more civil personality and his juridical capacity,
which is the fitness to be the subject of legal relations, was lost through
death. (Arts. 37 and 42, Civil Code).
The execution sale of Oria’s land is also void. However, Quality plastics
cannot be held liable for damages and other costs because they were in
good faith in including Oria as defendant for no one informed them of his
death.
FACTS:
Lau Yuen Yeng came to the Philippines from Hongkong in a temporary
visitor’s visa good for 1 month. She was asked to pay a bond of P1, 000 with
the condition to depart on before the expiration period to stay. She was able
to obtain repeated extensions until Feruary 13 1962, in a period of 10
months.
On January 1962, she got married to Mo Ya Lim Yao a.k.a Edilberto
Aguinaldo, a Filipino citizen. 18 months after her first arrival, the Comm.
On Immigration confiscated her bond and ordered immediate arrest and
deportation on the grounds of expiration of authorized stay. Defendant
filed for injunction but was denied.
ISSUES:
1. Can the Court rightfully allege that the marriage was done for convenience?
2. Is the inability to speak or write English or Tagalog a ground for
disqualification to be a citizen?
3. Does marriage to a Filipino citizen automatically makes an alien into a
citizen?
HELD:
No one, not even the Court can rightfully allege that a marriage is done for
convenience to avoid deportation. Marriage is a sacred vow between two
people in accordance with law and no person can be a judge to the motives
of those who contract marriage. Lau Yuen Yeung became a citizen of the
Philippines by virtue of her marriage to Edilberto Aguinaldo.
FACTS:
Juan Frivaldo filed a Certificate of Candidacy (COC) on March 20, 1995.
Raul Lee made a petition to cancel the COC for being disqualified to seek
public office because he was not a Filipino Citizen, which was granted by
the COMELEC.
Frivaldo filed a motion for reconsideration which remained unacted upon
until after May 1995 election. His candidacy continued and he was elected
as Governor. However, the COMELEC affirmed his disqualification on May
11, 1995. Raul Lee having garnered the 2nd highest number of votes was
proclaimed Governor.
Frivaldo filed a petition to annul the proclamation on the grounds that: 1.
He took an Oath of Allegiance on June 30 as his petition for naturalization
in September 1994 had been granted; 2. There is no more legal impediment
for his proclamation; 3. The Vice Governor and not Lee should occupy the
seat as Governor in case of vacancy due to disqualification.
ISSUE:
Is Juan Frivaldo a Filipino Citizen during his election as Governor?
HELD:
Yes. It is true that he was disqualified by the Court in the 1988 and 1992
elections on the issue of his citizenship and he was stateless when he filed
his COC for the 1995 elections, thus making him ineligible to hold public
office. But his case is unique and the law should be interpreted liberally on
his favor.
Petitioner contends, and the lower court held, that the word “residence”, as
used in the aforesaid provision of the Naturalization Law, is synonymous
with domicile, which, once acquired, is not lost by physical absence, until
another domicile is obtained, and that, from 1946 to 1951, he continued to
be domiciled in, and hence a resident of the Philippines, his purpose in
staying in the United States, at that time being, merely to study.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the application for naturalization may be granted, when
petitioner left the Philippines immediately after the filing of his petition.
HELD:
While domicile and residence mean the same thing, residence combined
with intention to remain, constitutes domicile while an established abode,
fixed permanently for a time for business or other purposes, constitutes a
residence, though there may be an intent, existing all the while, to return to
the true domicile.
Where the petitioner left the Philippines immediately after the filing of his
petition for naturalization and did not return until several months after the
first date set for the hearing, notwithstanding his explicit promise, under
oath, that he would reside continuously in the Philippines “from the date of
the filing of his petition up to the time of his admission to Philippine
citizenship”, he has not complied with the requirements of section 7 of
Commonwealth Act No. 473, and, consequently, not entitled to a judgment
in his favor.
However, the denial of his petition does not bar him to reapply for
citizenship and undergo the same process again. He has to be committed to
comply with the requirements.
FACTS:
Imelda was a little over 8 years old when her parents established domicile
in Tacloban, Leyte. She finished her studies and got her degree in Tacloban.
Subsequently, she taught in Leyte Chinese School still in Tacloban. She
went to Manila in 1952 to work for her cousin, the late speaker Daniel
Romualdez in his office at the House of Representatives. In 1954, she
married late President Ferdinand Marcos when he was still a Congressman
of Ilocos Norte and consequently became a registered voter there.
When Pres. Marcos was elected as Senator in 1959, they lived together in
San Juan. In 1965, when Marcos won presidency, they lived in Malacanang
Palace and registered as a voter in San Miguel Manila. She served as
member of the Batasang Pambansa and Governor of Metro Manila during
1978.
HELD:
Residence is used synonymously with domicile for election purposes. The
court favors the conclusion supporting petitioner’s claim of legal residence
or domicile in the First District of Leyte despite her own declaration of 7
months residency in the district for the following reasons:
ISSUE:
Whether the policy of the employer banning spouses from working in the
same company violates the rights of the employee under the Constitution
and the Labor Code or is it a valid exercise of management prerogative
HELD:
There are two types of employment policies involving spouses:
FACTS:
PT&T (Philippine Telegraph & Telephone Company) initially hired Grace de
Guzman as reliever for employees on leave in two instances. On September
2, 1991, de Guzman was asked to join PT&T as a probationary employee
where probationary period will cover 150 days. She indicated in the
application form that she was single although she had contracted marriage
a few months earlier. When petitioner learned later about the marriage, its
branch supervisor required her to explain the discrepancy. Included in the
memorandum, was a reminder about the company’s policy of not accepting
married women for employment.
She was dismissed from the company effective January 29, 1992. Labor
Arbiter handed down decision on November 23, 1993 declaring that
petitioner illegally dismissed De Guzman, who had already gained the
status of a regular employee. Furthermore, it was apparent that she had
been discriminated on account of her having contracted marriage in
violation of company policies.
ISSUE:
Whether the alleged concealment of civil status can be grounds to terminate
the services of an employee.
HELD:
Article 136 of the Labor Code, one of the protective laws for women,
explicitly prohibits discrimination merely by reason of marriage of a female
employee. It is recognized that company is free to regulate manpower and
employment from hiring to firing, according to their discretion and best
business judgment, except in those cases of unlawful discrimination or
those provided by law.
FACTS:
Soledad Escritor is a widow and works as a court interpreter. She was
charged with committing “Disgraceful and Immoral Conduct” under the
Administrative Code for living with a man not her husband and having
borne a child within the live-in set-up. She asserted that her conjugal
arrangement is in conformity with their religious belief and has the
approval of her congregation with the “Declaration of Pledging
Faithfulness.” It allows members of the congregation who have been
abandoned by their spouses to enter into marital relations, thus making the
union moral and bindings.
Soledad was abandoned by her husband when she started the live-in set-up.
Eventually, he died which lifts her legal impediment to marry but her
partner is not eligible for marriage yet. The above-mentioned declaration is
done with diligent investigation as to backgrounds of the members who
avail of it.
Once all legal impediments are lifted, the validity of the declaration ceases
and the couple should legalize their union.
ISSUE:
Can ones religious belief and practice enough reason to dismiss the charge
and to justify a conjugal arrangement?
HELD:
Soledad’s conjugal arrangement cannot be penalized as she made out a case
for exemption from the law based on her fundamental right to “freedom of
religion”.
GOITIA vs CAMPOS-RUEDA
35 PHIL 252
FACTS:
Eloisa Goitia and Jose Campos Rueda were legally married in Manila on
January 7, 1915. They established their residence and lived together for a
month.
The husband demanded from his wife to perform unchaste and lascivious
acts on his genital organs which the wife refused to perform. The husband
continually demanded such lewd acts from his wife. The constant refusal of
the wife induced the husband to inflict physical injuries. This forced Eloisa
to leave the conjugal home and take refuge in the home of her parents.
Eloisa demanded financial support from Jose. The Court held that the
defendant cannot be compelled to support the wife except in his own house,
unless it is by virtue of a judicial decree granting her a divorce or
separation.
ISSUE:
Would the husband be compelled to provide financial support for his wife
who refuses to live with him?
HELD:
The act of marriage creates an obligation on the part of the husband to
support his wife as a natural and legal duty. This obligation is not
terminated by his own wrongful acts in driving his wife to seek protection.
FACTS:
Vitaliana Vargas a 25 y.o single was forcibly taken from her residence
sometime in 1987 and was confined by the petitioner, Tomas Eugenio in his
palacial residence in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental. She cohabited with the
petitioner against her will and always had the intention of escaping. She
died of heart failure due to toxemia of pregnancy in Eugenio’s residence on
Aug. 28, 1988.
Unaware of her death her brothers and sisters (Vargases) filed a petition for
Habeas Corpus on September 27, 1988 before the RTC of Misamis Oriental
alleging. The court then issued a writ of habeas corpus but petitioner
refused to surrender the Vitaliana’s body to the sheriff on the ground that a
corpse cannot be subjected to habeas corpus proceedings. The court
ordered that the body should be delivered to a funeral parlor for autopsy
but Eugenio assailed the lack of jurisdiction of the court.
ISSUE:
Who has the right to claim custody of the deceased?
HELD:
The court held that the custody of the dead body of Vitaliana was correctly
awarded to the surviving brothers and sisters pursuant to Section 1103 of
the Revised Administrative Code which provides:
“Persons charged with duty of burial if the deceased was an unmarried man
or woman or a child and left any kin; the duty of the burial shall devolve
upon the nearest kin of the deceased.”
In addition, it requires that the man and woman living together must not in
any way be incapacitated to contract marriage. Whereas, the petitioner has
a subsisting marriage with another woman, legal impediment that
disqualified him from even legally marrying Vitaliana.
FACTS:
Complainants work in MTC-Tinambak, Camarines Sur. They alleged that
Judge Palaypayon solemnized marriages even without the requisite of a
marriage license. Hence, couples were able to get married just by paying
the marriage fees to respondent. As a consequence, the marriage contracts
of the couples did not reflect any marriage license number. In addition,
Palaypayon did not sign the marriage contracts and did not indicate the
date of solemnization reasoning out that he had to wait for the marriage
license to be submitted by the parties which happens usually several days
after the marriage ceremony.
The other five marriages were not illegally solemnized because Palaypayon
did not sign their marriage contracts and the date and place of marriage are
not included. The marriage of Bocaya & Bismonte was celebrated even
without the requisite license due to the insistence of the parties to avoid
embarrassment with the guests which he again did not sign the marriage
contract.
ISSUE:
Whether the marriage solemnized by Judge Palaypayon were valid.
HELD:
Article 4 of the Family Code pertinently provides that “in the absence of any
of the essential or formal requisites shall render the marriage void ab
initio whereas an irregularity in the formal requisite shall not affect the
validity of the marriage but the party or parties responsible for the
irregularity shall be civilly, criminally, and administratively liable. He was
found guilty of solemnizing marriages without a marriage license
His claim that Abellano and Edralin executed a joint affidavit that they have
been living together as husband and wife for almost 6 years already would
show that Abellano is less than 13 years old when they started living
together which. He is found to be negligent in his duty to ascertain the
qualification of the contracting parties who might have executed a false
joint affidavit in order to avoid the marriage license requirement.
FACTS:
Beatriz Wassmer and Francisco Velez decided to get married. They applied
and acquired marriage license and set the wedding on September 4, 1954.
Necessary publication and preparations including sending off invitations
were done.
Two days before the scheduled wedding, Francisco went home to his
province without properly notifying Beatriz. He sent a telegram that they
have to postpone the wedding because his mother opposes it. He gave an
assurance that he will return but he never did.
Beatriz sued for damages, Francisco filed no answer and was declared in
default. The Court ordered Francisco to pay for actual damages, moral and
exemplary damages and attorney’s fees. Francisco filed a petition for relief
from orders and motion for a new trial. The court then proposed for
amicable settlement.
Francisco contended that his failure to marry beatriz was due to fortuitous
event and circumstances beyond his control.
ISSUE:
Can a person be held liable for walking out of his own wedding?
HELD:
YES. Breech of promise to marry per se is not an actionable wrong however,
that the extent to which acts not contrary to law may be perpetrated with
impunity, is not limitless for Article 21 of said Code provides that “any
person who willfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is
contrary to morals, good customs or public policy shall compensate the
latter for the damage.”
Per express provision of Article 2219 (10) of the New Civil Code, moral
damages are recoverable in the cases mentioned in Article 21 of said Code.
This Court’s opinion, considering the particular circumstances of this case,
P15, 000.00 as moral and exemplary damages is deemed to be a reasonable
award.
1. For solemnizing the wedding between Gaspar Tabadan and Arlyn Borga.
The groom is merely separated from his wife. The judge relied on the
affidavit by the MTC Judge of Basy that Mr. Tagadan and his first wife have
not seen each other for almost seven years, thus the presumption that she is
already dead.
2. For solemnizing a wedding between Floriano Dador Sumaylo and Gemma
Del Rosario outside his court’s jurisdiction
ISSUE:
Whether or not Judge Domagtoy can be held liable of the above acts.
HELD:
1. Gaspar Tagadan did not institute a summary proceeding for the declaration
of the first wife’s presumptive death. In the absence of which, he remains
married to the first wife thus, legally incapacitated to contract a subsequent
marriage. It was an error to have accepted a joint affidavit. The judge’s
negligence resulted to solemnizing a bigamous marriage.
2. The justification that the marriage of Sumaylo and Del Rosario was
solemnized in his home on the basis of an affidavit submitted by Gemma
alone is erroneous. According to the Family Code, marriage can be
solemnized outside of the Court’s jurisdiction upon “request of both parties
in writing in a sworn statement to this effect.”
Judge Domagtoy was suspended for six months and given a stern warning
that repetition of similar acts will be dealt with more severely.
FACTS:
Petitioner Mercedita Mata Arañes alleges that on 17 February 2000,
respondent judge solemnized her marriage to her late groom Dominador B.
Orobia without the requisite marriage license and at Nabua, Camarines Sur
which is outside his territorial jurisdiction.
Arañes and Orobia as husband and wife until her husband passed away.
Since the marriage was a nullity, she was deprived to inherit the “vast
properties” left by Orobia and to receive the pensions of Orobia, a retired
Commodore of the Philippine Navy.
He discovered that the parties did not possess the requisite marriage
license so he suggested resetting it. Due to the earnest pleas of the parties,
he proceeded to solemnize the marriage out of human compassion. He
reiterated the necessity for the marriage license and admonished the
parties that their failure to give it would render the marriage void.
Respondent judge followed it up with Arroyo but the latter only gave him
the same reassurance that the marriage license would be delivered to his
sala which never materialized.
Petitioner filed her Affidavit of Desistance dated 28 August 2001 with the
Office of the Court Administrator. That after reading the Comment filed by
respondent judge, she realized her own shortcomings and is now bothered
by her conscience.
ISSUES:
Can the judge be liable for solemnizing a marriage outside of his
jurisdiction and without the requisite of marriage license given his reason
of human compassion and given the fact that the petitioner already desisted
from her complaint?
HELD:
Under the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, or B.P.129, the authority
of the regional trial court judges and judges of inferior courts to solemnize
marriages is confined to their territorial jurisdiction as defined by the
Supreme Court. Where a judge solemnizes a marriage outside his court’s
jurisdiction, there is a resultant irregularity in the formal requisite laid
down in Article 3, which while it may not affect the validity of the marriage,
may subject the officiating official to administrative liability. The
respondent judge exhibited ignorance of elementary provisions of law, in an
area which has greatly prejudiced the status of married persons.”
FACTS:
Tan Put alleged that she is the widow of Tee Hoon Lim Po Chuan, a Chinese
citizen partner, owner with controlling interest of Glory Commercial Co.
Antonio Lim Tahhu and Alfonso Leonardo Ng Sua were partners in name
but wer mere employees of Chuan, both are naturalized Filipinos.
Tan Put alleged that Tan Hu and several others took actual/active
management of the partnership through fraud and machination. She is
claiming entitlement to the share of capital and profits including assets
acquired during the lifetime of Chuan, being the widow of the latter.
ISSUE:
Is Tan Put entitled to claim Chuan’s share in the company?
HELD:
Primary evidence of marriage is the authentic copy of the Marriage
certificate. Other competent evidence may also be accepted when the
absence of the Marriage Certificate is satisfactorily explained. Certification
of the person who solemnized the wedding is not admissible evidence of
marriage.
Agreement with Chuan which was signed by Tan Put that she received
settlement for property interests when they terminated their common-law
union has greater weight over the certification issued by Mons. Jose M.
Recoleto which does not show the reason why there was no Marriage
Certificate. In as much as the bishop did not testify, the same is hearsay.
FACTS:
Florita Vallejo lived out of wedlock with Roberto Lim Chua, single and
begot two children with him. Chua died intestate in May 28, 1992. Florita
filed for petition for declaration of heirship and guardianship for her sons
and real and personal properties of their minor children.
During the hearing, Garcia contended that she was the legal wife and that
Chua resides in Davao at the time of his death. She presented a photocopy
of their Marriage Certificate. She also submitted TCT, Residence certificate,
ITR and passport all stating that he is married.
ISSUE:
Where is the deceased’s residence and could Antoinetta be the legal wife
and heir of Chua?
HELD:
Evidence proved that Chua’s residence is in Cotabato although he frequents
Davao and usually stays there for business purposes.
FACTS:
Angelina M. Castro file a petition for judicial decree of nullity of marriage
with Edwin Cardenas on the ground that no Marriage License was ever
issued to them prior to the solemnization of the marriage. Edwin failed to
file an answer and was declared in default.
Angelina and Edwin had a civil wedding with Judge Pablo Malvar in Pasay
City without the knowledge of Castro’s parents. Cardenas procured the
requirements including the marriage license in Pasig MM. They cohabited
for four months and bore a child. They parted and the child was adopted by
Castro’s brother with the consent of Cardenas.
The lower court denied the petition stating that the certification is
inadequate to establish non-issuance of the marriage license. The inability
to locate the marriage license is not conclusive to show that there was none
issued.
ISSUE:
Would the documentary and testimonial evidence presented be sufficient to
grant a decree of nullity?
HELD:
At the time of their marriage the governing law was the New Civil code
which states that the absence of a marriage license would render the
marriage void ab initio.
The fact that only Castro testified cannot be held against her. Her husband’s
default after duly served with notice cannot be faulted on Castro.
Upton filed a suit in June 1983 stating that Reyes’ business in Manila is
conjugal property. He demands to render an accounting to the business and
declare his right to manage the business. Reyes moved to dismiss the case
on the ground that the action is barred by the previous judgment in Nevada
divorce wherein they both acknowledged having no community property as
of June 11, 1982.
Reyes’ motion was denied by the lower court stating that the property is
located in the Philippines so that the divorce decree has no bearing.
ISSUE:
What is the effect of the foreign divorce of the parties to their property in
the Philippines?
HELD:
Pursuant to his national law, Upton is no longer the husband of the
petitioner. He has no standing to sue in the case where the husband is
entitled to control over conjugal assets.
The divorce obtained abroad being valid in his country’s court may be
recognized in the Philippines. The divorce decree granted in Nevada
released Reyes from the marriage for the marriage had been severed by one
party ceases to bind either.
Getting a divorce decree in the US court and contending that it is not valid
and binding in the Philippines being contrary to local law and public policy
estopped Upton’s declaration.
REPUBLIC vs. ORBECINDO
G.R. No. 154380, 5 October 2005
FACTS:
Cipriano Orbecindo and Lady Myros Villanueva got married in May 24,
1981. Both are Filipino citizens. They cohabited and had two children.
Villanueva went to the U.S. in 1986 with one son.
ISSUE:
Whether or not respondent can remarry under Article 26 of the Family
Code
HELD:
Petition for authority to remarry constituted a petition for the declaratory
relief. The following are the requisites:
1. Justiciable controversy
2. Controversy must be between persons whose interest are adverse
3. That the party seeking relief has a legal interest
4. The issue is ripe for judicial determination
ARTICLE 26 Paragraph 2 of the Family Code should be interpreted to allow
a Filipino citizen who has been divorced by a spouse who acquired foreign
citizenship and remarried can also be allowed to remarry.
FACTS:
Pepito Niñal was married to Teodulfa Bellones on September 26, 1974. Out
of their marriage were born herein petitioners. Teodulfa was shot by Pepito
resulting in her death on April 24, 1985. Almst two years thereafter Pepito
and respondent Norma Badayog got married without any marriage license.
In lieu thereof, Pepito and Norma executed an affidavit dated December 11,
1986 stating that they had lived together as husband and wife for at least
five years and were thus exempt from securing a marriage license.
ISSUE:
May the heirs of a deceased person file a petition for the declaration of
nullity of his marriage after his death?
HELD:
The two marriages involved herein is the Civil Code which was the law in
effect at the time of their celebration. A valid marriage license is a requisite
of marriage under Article 53 of the Civil Code the absence of which renders
the marriage void ab initio.
The 5-year cohabitation period should be the years immediately preceding
the marriage and it should be characterized by exclusivity – meaning no
third party was involved at any time within the 5 years and continuity –
that is unbroken. In the case at bar Pepito had a subsisting marriage at the
time he cohabited with another.
FACTS:
Herminia Borja Manzano avers that she was the lawful wife of the late
David Manzano, having been married to him on 21 May 1966. They had 4
children. On 22 March 1993, however, her husband contracted another
marriage with one Luzviminda Payao before Judge Sanchez. The Judge
knew or ought to know that the same was void and bigamous, as the
marriage contract clearly stated that both contracting parties were
“separated.”
In his comment, at the time he officiated the marriage the two had been
living together as husband and wife for seven years already without the
benefit of marriage, as manifested in their joint affidavit. Had he known
that Manzano was married he would have refused to solemnize the
marriage
David Manzano and Luzviminda Payao expressly stated that they were
married to Herminia Borja and Domingo Relos, respectively; and that since
their respective marriages had been marked by constant quarrels, they had
both left their families and had never cohabited or communicated with
their spouses anymore”
ISSUE:
Is the judge guilty of solemnizing a bigamous marriage?
HELD:
Respondent Judge knew or ought to know that a subsisting previous
marriage is a legal impediment, which would make the subsequent
marriage null and void.
The fact that Manzano and Payao had been living apart from their
respective spouses for a long time is immaterial. Legal separation does not
dissolve the marriage tie, much less authorize the parties to remarry. This
holds true all the more when the separation is merely de facto, as in the
case at bar.
MARIATEGUI Vs. CA
GR NO. 57062, January 24, 1992
FACTS:
Lupo Mariategui died without a will on June 26, 1953 and contracted 3
marriages during his lifetime. He acquired the Muntinlupa Estate while he
was still a bachelor. He had 4 children with his first wife Eusebia
Montellano, who died in 1904 namely Baldomera, Maria del Rosario,
Urbano and Ireneo. Baldomera had 7 children namely Antero, Rufina,
Catalino, Maria, Gerardo, Virginia and Federico, all surnamed Espina.
Ireneo on the other hand had a son named Ruperto.
ISSUE:
Whether the marriage of Lupo with Felipa is valid and entitles their
children of heirship for the properties left by Lupo.
HELD:
Although no marriage certificate was introduced to prove Lupo and Felipa’s
marriage, no evidence was likewise offered to controvert these facts.
Moreover, the mere fact that no record of the marriage exists does not
invalidate the marriage, provided all requisites for its validity are present.
FACTS:
GINA LAO-TSOI and Chi Ming Tsoi got married on May 22, 1988.
Distraught, Gina filed a petition for nullity of marriage on the ground of
psychological incapacity premised on the following reasons:
There was no sexual intercourse between them on the first night or on the
succeeding nights until they separated in March of 1989;
That the defendant is impotent, a closet homosexual;
Results of their physical examinations were that she is healthy, normal and
still a virgin, while that of her husband’s examination was kept confidential
up to this time.
Chi Ming Tsoi married her, to maintain his residency status here in the
country and to publicly maintain the appearance of a normal man.
Chi Ming Tsoi does not want his marriage with his wife annulled for several
reasons:
HELD:
Both defendant and appellant admitted that they did not have sexual
relations after almost ten months of cohabitation, when both are not
suffering from any physical disability. Such abnormal reluctance or
unwillingness to consummate his marriage is strongly indicative of a serious
personality disorder.
“To procreate is based on the universal principle that procreation of children
through sexual cooperation is the basic end of marriage.” Constant non-
fulfillment of this obligation destroys the integrity or wholeness of the
marriage. The senseless and protracted refusal of one of the parties to fulfill
the above marital obligation is equivalent to psychological incapacity, since
he was not physically impotent, but he refrained from sexual intercourse
during the entire time.
DOMINGO vs. CA
226 SCRA 572
FACTS:
On May 29, 1991, private respondent Delia Soledad A. Domingo filed a
petition before the Regional Trial Court of Pasig entitled “Declaration of
Nullity of Marriage and Separation of Property” against petitioner Roberto
Domingo. They were married on November 29, 1976 unknown to her, he
had a previous marriage with one Emerlina dela Paz on April 25, 1969
which marriage is valid and still existing. She came to know of the prior
marriage only sometime in 1983 when Emerlinda sued for bigamy.
Since January 23 1979 up to the present, she has been working in Saudi
Arabia while he has been unemployed and dependent. Out of her personal
earnings, she purchased properties amounting to P350k, which are under
the possession and administration of Roberto. In June 1989, she discovered
that he was cohabiting with another woman and he had been disposing of
some of her properties without her knowledge or consent.
ISSUE:
Whether or not a petition for judicial declaration should only be filed for
purposes of remarriage.
HELD:
The declaration of the nullity of marriage is required for the purpose of
remarriage. It is necessary for the protection of the subsequent spouse who
believed in good faith that his partner was not lawfully married thus free
from being charged with bigamy.
The marriage of Soledad and Roberto was celebrated while the former’s
previous marriage was still subsisting, thus, bigamous and void ab initio.
Law states that final judgment shall provide for the liquidation, partition
and distribution of the properties of the spouses, the custody and support
of the common children and the delivery of their presumptive legitimes.
There is no need for a separate action of partition of property because it will
simply be the necessary consequence of the judicial declaration of absolute
nullity of their marriage.
FACTS:
Respondent Roridel O. Molina filed of a petition for declaration of nullity of
her marriage to Reynaldo Molina. They were married on April 14, 1985 and
begot a son, Andre O. Molina was born. After a year of marriage, Reynaldo
showed signs of “immaturity and irresponsibility”. He preferred to spend
time with his peers and friends on whom he squandered his money. He
depended on his parents for aid and assistance, and was never honest with
his wife in regard to their finances, resulting in frequent quarrels.
Reynaldo was relieved of his job and since then Roridel had been the sole
breadwinner. In October 1986 the couple had a very intense fight, which
resulted to their estrangement until Reynaldo finally abandoned them.
Roridel desires to have the marriage declared null and void in order to free
them from what appeared to be an incompatible marriage from the start.
The parties are separated-in-fact for more than three years. The petitioner
is not asking support or for damages. Their common child is in the custody
of the petitioner.
ISSUES:
Are opposing and conflicting personalities equivalent to psychological
incapacity?
HELD:
The intendment of the law has been to confine the meaning of
‘psychological incapacity’ to the most serious cases of personality disorders
clearly demonstrative of an utter insensitivity or inability to give meaning
and significance to the marriage. Psychological condition must exist at the
time the marriage is celebrated.
The present case, does not show that the psychological defect spoken of is
an incapacity. It appears to be more of a “difficulty,” if not outright
“refusal” or “neglect” in the performance of some marital obligations.
Occasionally, the couple would fight over a number of things aside from the
interference of Julia’s parents into their family affairs. Julia left in 1988 to
work in the U.S. as a nurse despite Leouel’s pleas to dissuade her. She only
called her husband after 7 months; promised to return home upon the
expiration of her contract in July 1989 but she never did.
Julia opposed the complaint and denied the allegations, claiming that it
was the petitioner who had been irresponsible and incompetent.
ISSUE:
Does Julia’s behavior of refusing to come home in spite of the pleas of her
husband constitute psychological incapacity?
HELD:
Psychological incapacity must be characterized by (a) gravity- a true
inability to commit oneself to the essentials of marriage (b) juridical
antecedence-inability to commit oneself must refer to the essential
obligations of marriage: the conjugal act, the community of life and love,
the rendering of mutual help, the procreation and education of offspring,
and (c) incurability- inability must be tantamount to a psychological
abnormality. The incapacity must be grave or serious such that the party
would be incapable of carrying out the ordinary duties required in
marriage;
The factual settings in the case at bench, in no measure at all, can come
close to the standards required to decree a nullity of marriage. Undeniably
and understandably, Leouel stands aggrieved, even desperate, in his
present situation. Regrettably, neither law nor society itself can always
provide all the specific answers to every individual problem.
FACTS:
Lolita Quintero and Toshio Hamano started a common-law relationship in
Japan. They later lived in the Philippines for a month. Toshio went back to
Japan and stayed there for half of 1987. They had a child and in January 14,
1988, she and Toshio were married
ISSUES:
Can a mixed marriage be embraced in psychological incapacity?
Is failing to meet a duty to live with, care for and support a family and
abandonment constitute psychological incapacity?
HELD:
In proving psychological incapacity, court finds no distinction between an
alien spouse and a Filipino spouse. Court cannot be lenient in the
application of the rules merely because the spouse alleged to be
psychologically incapacitated happens to be a foreign national. However,
the totality of evidence presented fell short of proving that Toshio was
psychologically incapacitated.
FACTS:
A demurrer to evidence is defined as “an objection or exception by one of
the parties in an action at law, to the effect that the evidence which his
adversary produced is insufficient in point of law (whether true or not) to
make out his case or sustain the issue.” The demurrer challenges the
sufficiency of the plaintiff’s evidence to sustain a verdict.
The petitioner Leni Choa and Alfonso Choa, respondent were married on
March 15, 1981. Two children were born. The respondent filed a petition
for annulment of his marriage to petitioner based on her alleged
psychological incapacity.
ISSUES:
WON (1) lack of attention to their children, (2) immaturity and (3) lack of
an “intention of procreative sexuality constitute psychological incapacity
HELD:
None of the causes complained of against the petitioner separately or
collectively constitute psychological incapacity. Psychological incapacity
must be more than just a “difficulty,” a “refusal” or a “neglect” in the
performance of some marital obligations. A mere showing of irreconcilable
differences and conflicting personalities do not constitute psychological
incapacity.
DEDEL vs. CA
G.R. No. 151867, 29 January 2004
FACTS:
Petitioner David B. Dedel married respondent Sharon L. Corpuz Dedel
wedding on May 20, 1967. The union produced four children. The conjugal
partnership, nonetheless, acquired neither property nor debt.
Sharon turned out to be an irresponsible and immature wife and mother
and had extra-marital affairs with several men. Sharon once underwent
treatment with a clinical psychologist but it did not stop Sharon in her illicit
affairs where she even had two children out of wedlock.
ISSUES:
Does the totality of the evidence presented is enough to sustain a finding
that respondent is psychologically incapacitated?
HELD:
Respondent’s sexual infidelity can hardly qualify as being mentally or
psychically ill to such an extent that she could not have known the
obligations she was assuming. Neither could her emotional immaturity,
irresponsibility and abandonment constitute psychological incapacity. It
must be shown that these acts are manifestations of a disordered
personality which make respondent completely unable to discharge the
essential marital obligations. The manifestations presented refers only to
grounds for legal separation, not for declaring a marriage void.
MORIGO vs PEOPLE
G.R. No. 145226, 6 February 2004
FACTS:
Appellant Lucio Morigo and Lucia Barrete were boardmates for 4 years,
after which they lost contact with each other. They reconnected again in
1984 and became sweethearts when Lucia was in Singapore until she went
to Canada in 1986.
They got married in Aug.1990, the following month Lucia went back to
Canada leaving Lucio behind. Lucia filed for divorce in Canada which was
granted by the court to take effect on Feb 17, 1992. On Oct. 4, 1992, Lucio
Morigo married Maria Jececha Lumbago.
September 21, 1993, Lucio filed a complaint for judicial declaration of
nullity of marriage with Lucia, on the ground that no marriage ceremony
actually took place. Lucio was charged with Bigamy in information filed by
the City Prosecutor of Tagbilaran City, with the Regional Trial Court of
Bohol.
ISSUE:
Whether or not petitioner committed bigamy and if so, whether his defense
of good faith is valid.
HELD:
The elements of bigamy are: (1) the offender has been legally married; (2)
the first marriage has not been legally dissolved, or in case his or her spouse
is absent, the absent spouse has not been judicially declared presumptively
dead; (3) he contracts a subsequent marriage; and (4) the subsequent
marriage would have been valid had it not been for the existence of the first.
The trial court held that the marriage of Lucio and Lucia is void ab initio, in
accordance with the Family Code. What transpired was a mere signing of
the marriage contract by the two, without the presence of a solemnizing
officer.
The first element of bigamy as a crime requires that the accused must have
been legally married. But in this case, legally speaking, the petitioner was
never married to Lucia Barrete.
Petitioner has not committed bigamy. His defense of good faith or lack of
criminal intent is now moot and academic.
FACTS:
Karl Heinz Weigel asked for the declaration of Nullity of his marriage
celebrated on July, 1978 with herein petitioner Lilia Oliva Weigel on the g
round that Lilia has previous existing marriage to one Eduardo A. Maxion
performed on June 25, 1972
Lilia admitted the existence of said prior subsisting marriage claimed that
said marriage was null and void. She asked the respondent court for an
opportunity to present evidence that:
The first marriage was vitiated by force exercised upon both her and the first
husband; and
The first husband was at the time of the marriage in 1972 already married to
someone else.
Respondent judge ruled against the presentation of evidence because the
existence of force exerted on both parties of the first marriage had already
been agreed upon.
Lilia assailed the Order dated March 17, 1980 in which the parties were
compelled to submit the case for resolution based on “agreed facts;” and the
Order dated April 14, 1980, denying petitioner’s motion to allow her to
present evidence in her favor.
ISSUE:
Could the resolution of the facts of the first marriage change the result of
the annulment case filed by Weigel?
HELD:
There is no need for petitioner to prove that her first marriage was vitiated
by force committed against both parties because assuming as such, the
marriage will not be void but merely voidable (Art. 85, Civil Code), and
therefore valid until annulled. Since no annulment has yet been made, it is
clear that when she married the respondent she was still validly married to
her first husband, consequently, her marriage to respondent is VOID (Art.
80, Civil Code).
A marriage though void still needs a judicial declaration of such fact and for
all legal intents and purposes she would still be regarded as a married
woman at the time she contracted her marriage with respondent Karl Heinz
Wiegel. The marriage of Lilia and Karl would be regarded VOID under the
law.
FACTS:
The petition for review is purely on a question of law. Petitioner avers that
the court has failed to apply the correct law that should govern the
disposition of a family dwelling in a situation where a marriage is declared
void ab initio because of psychological incapacity on the part of either or
both of the parties to the contract.
Antonio Valdes and Consuelo Gomez were married on 05 January 1971 and
had five children. In 22 June 1992, Valdes sought the declaration of nullity
of the marriage pursuant to Article 36 of the Family Code. In 29 July 1994,
the court granted the petition. Judgment is hereby rendered as follows:
The marriage declared null and void under Article 36 of the Family Code on
the ground of their mutual psychological incapacity to comply with their
essential marital obligations;
The three older children shall choose which parent they would want to stay
with. The 2 younger ones shall be in the custody of their mother, herein
respondent Consuelo Gomez-Valdes.
The petitioner and respondent shall have visitation rights over the children
who are in the custody of the other.
Petitioner and respondent are directed to start proceedings on the liquidation
of their common properties as defined by Article 147 of the Family Code,
and to comply with the provisions of Articles 50, 51 and 52 of the same
code, within thirty (30) days from notice of this decision.
ISSUE:
What will govern the partition of property for annulled marriages on the
ground of psychological incapacity?
HELD:
The Court has already declared the marriage between petitioner and
respondent as null and void ab initio. The property regime shall be governed
by the rules on co-ownership.
The properties acquired during their union are presumed to have been
obtained through the joint efforts and will be owned by them in equal
shares. They own their ‘family home’ and all their other properties for that
matter in equal shares.
FACTS:
On September 28, 1925, Proceso Rosima, contracted marriage with a
certain Maria Gorrea in Cebu. While marriage with Maria Gorrea was
subsisting, Aragon, contracted a canonical marriage with Maria Faicol on
August 27, 1934. Accused and Maria Faicol established residence in Iloilo
while he maintained his first wife in Cebu.
Maria Gorrea died in Cebu City on August 5, 1939 and the accused brought
Maria Faicol to Cebu in 1940. Proceso and Maria Faicol did not live a happy
marital life. Faicol suffered injuries because of physical maltreatment in
the hands of the accused. Proceso sent Maria Faicol to Iloilo to undergo
treatment of her eyesight. During her absence, he contracted another
marriage with a certain Jesusa C. Maglasang on October 3, 1953.
CFI Cebu held that even in the absence of an express provision in Act No.
3613 authorizing the filing of an action for judicial declaration of nullity of a
marriage void ab initio, defendant could not legally contract marriage with
Jesusa C. Maglasang without the dissolution of his marriage to Maria
Faicol, either by the death of the latter or by the judicial declaration of the
nullity of such marriag.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the marriage to Jesusa Maglasang was bigamous.
HELD:
The statutory provision (section 29 of the Marriage Law or Act No. 3613)
plainly makes a subsequent marriage contracted by any person during the
lifetime of his first spouse illegal and void from its performance, and no
judicial decree is necessary to establish its invalidity, as distinguished from
mere annullable marriages.
It is to be noted that the action was instituted upon complaint of the second
wife, whose marriage with the appellant was not renewed after the death of
the first wife and before the third marriage was entered into. Hence,
marriage with Maglasang was a valid one and appellant’s prosecution for
contracting this marriage cannot prosper.
At the time of the celebration of the wedding with Tan, accused was actually
a married man, having been in lawful wedlock with Ma. Thelma Oliva in a
marriage ceremony solemnized on April 10, 1976
Both marriages were consummated: Ma. Thelma Oliva had two children
and Tan had one. On October 5, 1992, bigamy was filed by Tan; where he
was convicted by the lower court.
Dr. Vincent G. Mercado assailed the decision the ground that on November
13, 1992 accused filed an action for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage
against Ma. Thelma V. Oliva and was granted by the court. While
acknowledging the existence of the two marriages, accused posited the
defense that his previous marriage had been judicially declared null and
void and that the private complainant had knowledge of the first marriage
of accused.
ISSUES:
Whether or not a liberal interpretation in favor of petitioner of Article 349
of the Revised Penal Code punishing bigamy negates the guilt of petitioner.
Is the petitioner entitled to an acquittal on the basis of reasonable doubt?
HELD:
The elements of BIGAMY are as follows: (1)That the offender has been
legally married; (2)That the marriage has not been legally dissolved or, in
case his or her spouse is absent, the absent spouse could not yet be
presumed dead according to the Civil Code; (3) That he contracts a
second or subsequent marriage; (4)That the second or subsequent marriage
has all the essential requisites for validity.
FACTS:
Nolasco was a seaman and met Janet Monica Parker, a British in a bar in
England. 15 January 1982, respondent married Janet Monica Parker in San
Jose, Antique. After marriage celebration, he obtained another contract and
left his wife with his parents.
In January 1983 his mother informed him that Janet Monica had given
birth to his son and that Janet Monica had left Antique. He then
immediately asked permission to leave his ship to return home. He arrived
in Antique in November 1983 (after 11 mos)
His efforts to look for her proved fruitless, respondent stated that he had
lived with and later married Janet Monica Parker not knowing her
background. He did not report the matter of Janet Monica’s disappearance
to the Philippine government authorities.
ISSUE:
Does the circumstances of Jessica’s disappearance constitute a presumptive
death?
HELD:
There are four (4) requisites for the declaration of presumptive death under
Article 41 of the Family Code: (1) That the absent spouse has been missing
for four consecutive years, or two consecutive years if the disappearance
occurred where there is danger of death under the circumstances laid down
in Article 391, Civil Code; (2)That the present spouse wishes to remarry;
(3)That the present spouse has a well-founded belief that the absentee is
dead; and (4) That the present spouse files a summary proceeding for the
declaration of presumptive death of the absentee.
LUKBAN vs REPUBLIC
L-8492, 29 February 1956
FACTS:
In the Matter of the Declaration of the Civil Status of LOURDES G.
LUKBAN. Petitioner is a widow of Francisco Chuidian who is presumed to
be dead and has no legal impediment to contract a subsequent marriage.
She intends to marry again and she desires that her civil status be defined
in order that she may be relieved of any liability under the law.
Solicitor General opposed the petition on the ground that the same is not
authorized by law.
ISSUE:
Can death be presumed by the nature of Francisco Chuidan’s
disappearance?
HELD:
Judicial declaration that Petitioner’s husband is presumed to be dead
cannot be entertained because it is not authorized by law. The court cannot
declare the status of Petitioner as a widow since this matter depend upon
the fact of death of the husband which the court can declare upon proper
evidence, not because he is merely presumed to be dead.
CIVIL CODE Section III Paragraph 2, General Orders No. 68) requires that:
The former spouse has been absent for seven consecutive years at the time of
the second marriage. The spouse present does not know his or her former
spouse to be living.
that former spouse is generally reputed to be dead;
the spouse present so believes at the time of the celebration of the marriage
ARMAS vs. CALISTERIO
G.R.No. 138467, 6 April 2000
FACTS:
Teodorico Calisterio died intestate, leaving several parcels of land with an
estimated value of P604,750.00. Teodorico was survived by his wife, herein
respondent Marietta Calisterio. Teodorico was the second husband of
Marietta who had previously been married to James William Bounds who
disappeared without a trace on 11 Feb 1947. Teodorico and Marietta were
married eleven years later, without Marietta having secured a court
declaration that James was presumptively dead.
ISSUE:
Is the marriage contracted by Teodorico and Marietta valid?
HELD:
The law in force at that time was the Civil Code: Art. 83 which states that:
FACTS:
Aurora and defendant Fernando were married on 4 December 1953.
Defendant Fernando filed an action for annulment of the marriage on 7
January 1954 on the ground that his consent was obtained through force
and intimidation.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the non-disclosure to a wife by her husband of his pre-
marital relationship with another woman is a ground for annulment of
marriage.
HELD:
Fraud as a vice of consent in marriage, which may be a cause for its
annulment, comes under Article 85, No. 4, of the Civil Code, which provides
that a marriage may be annulled for any of the following causes, existing at
the time of the marriage:
FACTS:
This issue has been raised to this superiority by the Court of First Instance
of Baguio, as only raises a question purely of law.
The plaintiff met the defendant in March 1938, committed on Sept and got
married on 26 November the same year. After living together for 99 days
,Luisa gave birth to a child of nine months, in February 23, 1939. Godofredo
abandoned Luisa and did not return.
ISSUE:
Whether or not Godofredo’s ground is valid to be granted an annulment.
HELD:
The plaintiff’s allegation of fraud is impossible after it has been proven that
Luisa is in advanced pregnant condition by the time they were married. It
seems childish considering that the applicant was a freshman in law.
FACTS:
This is a petition for certiorari to review a decision of the Court of Appeals
affirming the dismissed complaint for annulment of Fernando Aquino’s
marriage with respondent Conchita Delizo. Complaint which was filed on
September 6, 1955, was based on the ground of fraud.
Conchita Delizo, concealed the fact that she was pregnant by another man.
Sometime in April, 1955, or about four months after their marriage, she
gave birth to a child. She claimed that the child was conceived out of lawful
wedlock between her and the plaintiff.
On June 16, 1956, the trial court noting that no birth certificate was
presented to show that the child was born within 180 days after the
marriage between the parties, and holding that concealment of pregnancy
as alleged by the plaintiff does not constitute such fraud as would annul a
marriage dismissed the complaint.
Fernando appealed the case with the following information:
At the time he courted Conchita she was living with his own brother Cesar
Aquino who admitted that he was the father of Conchita’s first-born. Cesar
and Conchita hid her pregnancy from Fernando.
Conchita is presently living with Cesar and had 2 more children; he
submitted the birth certificates
Stating that it “does not believe the veracity of the contents of the motion
and its annexes”, the Court of Appeals, on August 6, 1959, denied the
motion.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the contentions alleged sufficient to seek for annulment.
HELD:
Under the new Civil Code, concealment by the wife of the fact that at the
time of the marriage, she was pregnant by a man other than her husband
constitutes fraud and is ground for annulment of marriage. (Art. 85, par. 4)
The evidence sought to be introduced at the new trial, taken together with
what has already been adduced would be sufficient to sustain the fraud
alleged by plaintiff. The Supreme Court found the appeal meritorious and
ordered a new trial for the annulment case.
FACTS:
Matilde Menciano filed a motion for declaration of heirs, alleging that she is
the widow of the deceased Faustino Neri San Jose, to whom she was
married on September 28, 1944. Before the marriage they lived together as
husband and wife, there having been no impediment to their marriage. As a
result of their cohabitation the child Carlo Magno Neri was born, baptized
and was legitimized by the subsequent matrimony of his parents. The
second child Faustino Neri, Jr., was born on April 24, 1945 is a legitimate
child.
Paz Neri San Jose, then executrix of the estate of the deceased Faustino
Neri San Jose, and Rodolfo Pelaez, designated universal heir in the will of
the deceased filed a motion to question the declaration of heirs.
They alleged that marriage between said deceased and Matilde Menciano
was in violation of the legal provisions and requisites, because he was
deprived of free will due to his age and sickness. Accordingly, Matilde
Menciano took advantage of his condition, by intrigue, deceit and threat of
abandoning him, forced Neri to marry her. The deceased was impotent and
congenitally sterile, the same as his brothers and sister Conchita, who had
no children therefore it would have been impossible for him to have
fathered the children
Defendants also filed a counterclaim for the sum of P286, 000 in cash, and
for jewels and certain properties, which, as alleged, were retained and
illegally disposed of by Matilde Menciano.
ISSUE:
1. Was the marriage between the deceased Faustino Neri San Jose and Matilde
Menciano valid?
2. Are, the children Faustino Neri, Jr. and Carlo Magno Neri the legitimate
children of the deceased Faustino Neri San Jose and Matilde Menciano?
3. Did Matilde Menciano have illegally disposed of the cash, jewels, and
certain properties above mentioned?
HELD:
The marriage of Matilde and Faustino was evidenced by a valid Marriage
License and Marriage Certificate both of which were signed by the parties
and properly recorded at the Office of the Civil Registrar. Being official and
public documents, their validity can be successfully assailed only by strong,
clear, and convincing oral testimony.
The trial court, after a careful and exhaustive review of the evidence,
correctly reached the conclusion that allegation of illegally disposing money
and jewelry has not been substantiated.
FACTS:
Joel Jimenez filed a petition for a decree annulling his marriage to the
defendant Remedios Cañizares contracted on 3 August 1950 upon the
ground that the condition of her genitals is incapable of copulation and it
existed at the time of marriage and continues to exist. For that reason he
left the conjugal home two nights and one day after they had been married.
On 14 June 1955 the wife was summoned and served a copy of the
complaint. She did not file an answer so the court directed the city attorney
of Zamboanga to inquire whether there was collusion.
Instead of annulling the marriage the Court should have punished her for
contempt of court and compelled her to undergo a physical examination
and submit a medical certificate. The decree sought to be reconsidered
would open the door to married couples, who want to end their marriage to
collude or connive with each other by just alleging impotency of one of
them.
ISSUE:
May the marriage in question be annulled on the strength of the lone
testimony of thhusband?
HELD:
The annulment cannot be decreed upon the sole testimony of the husband
who was expected to give testimony which is aimed at securing the
annulment he seeks. Whether the wife is really impotent cannot be deemed
to have been satisfactorily established, because from the commencement of
the proceedings until the entry of the decree she had abstained from taking
part therein. Her refusal to be examined and failure to appear in court show
indifference on her part, yet presumption arising out of the suppression of
evidence could not be inferred because women of this country are by nature
coy, bashful and shy and would not submit to a physical examination unless
compelled to by competent authority.
FACTS:
An appeal from a decision of the Court of Appeals dismissing petitioner
Florence Malcampo-Sin’s petition for declaration of nullity of marriage due
to psychological incapacity for insufficiency of evidence.
ISSUE:
Whether or not Florence was given a fair trial.
HELD:
Throughout the trial in the lower court, the State did not participate in the
proceedings. While Fiscal Jose Danilo C. Jabson filed with the trial court a
manifestation dated November 16, 1994, stating that he found no collusion
between the parties, he did not actively participate therein. The Article 48
of the Family Code mandates:
Supreme Court declined to rule on the factual disputes of the case, this
being within the province of the trial court upon proper re-trial.
FACTS:
On July 5, 1955, petition for legal separation was filed by Jose De Ocampo.
It described their marriage performed in 1938, and the commission of
adultery by Serafina, in March 1951 with Jose Arcalas, and in June 1955
with Nelson Orzame.
The defendant made no answer so the court defaulted her, and directed the
provincial fiscal to investigate whether or not collusion existed between the
parties. There was none. The plaintiff presented his evidence consisting of
several testimonies which established that they were married in April 5,
1938 and had lived thereafter as husband and wife. They begot several
children who are now living with plaintiff.
The night of June 18, 1955, the husband upon discovering the illicit
connection with Nelson Orzame, expressed his wish to file a petition for
legal separation and defendant readily agreed. Her conformity to the legal
separation was treated a confession of judgment by the Appellate Court and
declared that under Art. 101, legal separation could not be decreed.
ISSUE:
DOes the defendant’s conformity to the legal separation constitute a
confession of judgment that proves collision?
HELD:
Collusion in divorce or legal separation means the agreement between
husband and wife as having committed, a matrimonial offense or to
suppress evidence of a valid defense for the purpose of enabling the other to
obtain a divorce. This agreement, if not express, may be implied from the
acts of the parties. It is a ground for denying the divorce. Collusion may not
be inferred from the mere fact that the guilty party confesses to the offense
and thus enables the other party to procure evidence necessary to prove it
ISSUES:
What is the effect of death of either party to a legal separation case?
HELD:
The Article 100 of Civil Code allows only the innocent spouse to claim legal
separation; and in Article 108, provides that the spouses can, by their
reconciliation, stop or abate the proceedings and even rescind a decree of
legal separation already rendered. Being personal in character, it follows
that the death of one party to the action causes the death of the action itself
— actio personalis moritur cum persona.
A further reason why an action for legal separation is abated by the death of
the plaintiff, even if property rights are involved, is that these rights are
mere effects of decree of separation, their source being the decree itself;
without the decree such rights do not come into existence, so that before
the finality of a decree, these claims are merely rights in expectation.
Property rights acquired by either party could be resolved and determined
in a proper action for partition by either the appellee or by the heirs of the
appellant.
FACTS:
Teresita Gandionco respondent and legal wife of the petitioner, filed a
complaint against petitioner for legal separation, on the ground of
concubinage, with a petition for support and payment of damages presided
over by respondent Judge. The wife also filed a separate concubinage case.
On 14 November 1986, application for the provisional remedy of
support pendente lite, pending a decision in the action for legal separation,
was filed by private respondent in the civil case for legal separation. The
respondent judge, as already stated, on 10 December 1986, ordered
payment of support pendente lite.
Petitioner Froilan Gandionco contends that the civil action for legal
separation and the incidents consequent thereto, such as, application for
support pendente lite should be suspended in view of the criminal case for
concubinage filed against him the private respondent. He also argues that
his conviction for concubinage will have to be first secured before the action
for legal separation can prosper or succeed, as the basis of the action for
legal separation is his alleged offense of concubinage.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the ordered support arising from a legal separation case
should be suspended until the pending criminal case of concubinage is
decided upon.
HELD:
In view of the amendment under the 1985 Rules on Criminal Procedure, a
civil action for legal separation, based on concubinage, may proceed ahead
of, or simultaneously with, a criminal action for concubinage, because said
civil action is not one “to enforce the civil liability arising from the offense”
even if both the civil and criminal actions arise from or are related to the
same offense. Such civil action is one intended to obtain the right to live
separately, with the legal consequences thereof, such as, the dissolution of
the conjugal partnership of gains, custody of off springs, support, and
disqualification from inheriting from the innocent spouse, among others.
FACTS
This is a case for legal separation filed in the Court of First Instance of
Pangasinan wherein on motion of the defendant, the case was dismissed.
The order of dismissal was appealed to the Court of Appeals, but said
Tribunal certified the case to the Court on the ground that there is
absolutely no question of fact involved.
HELD:
Condonation is the forgiveness of a marital offense constituting a ground
for legal separation or “conditional forgiveness or remission, by a husband
or wife of a matrimonial offense which the latter has committed”.
The act of the latter in persuading her to come along with him, and the fact
that she went with him to the house of his cousin and slept as husband and
wife for one day and two nights; these facts show reconciliation between
them was effected and that there was a condonation of the wife by the
husband. The reconciliation occurred almost ten months after he came to
know of the acts of infidelity amounting to adultery.
Although no acts of infidelity might have been committed by the wife, the
conduct of the husband despite his belief that his wife was unfaithful,
deprives him of the right of any action for legal separation against the
offending wife, because his said conduct comes within the restriction of
Article 100 of the Civil Code.
FACTS:
The issue in this petition for certiorari is whether or not the CFI of
Cotabato, Branch I, gravely abused its discretion in denying petitioners’
motion for extension of time to file their answer and in declaring
petitioners in default and in rendering its decision of which, among other
things, decreed the legal separation of petitioner Enrico L. Pacete and
private respondent Concepcion Alanis and held to be null and void ab initio
the marriage of Enrico L. Pacete to Clarita de la Concepcion.
After having been summoned, the defendants repeatedly asked the court
for extension of filing for an answer which eventually resulted to being
declared in default. Five months after the petition was filed the court
granted the issuance of a Decree of Legal Separation and declared the
properties in question as conjugal properties of Alanis and Pacete which
were ordered forfeited in favor of Alanis. The court also nullified his
marriage to Clarita.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the court gravely abused its discretion in deciding the case.
HELD:
No defaults in actions for annulments of marriage or for legal separation. If
the defendant in an action for annulment of marriage or for legal separation
fails to answer, the court shall order the prosecuting attorney to investigate
whether or not collusion between the parties exists, and if there is no
collusion, to intervene for the State in order to see to it that the evidence
submitted is not fabricated.
Article 103 of the Civil Code, now Article 58 of the Family Code, further
mandates that an action for legal separation must “in no case be tried
before six months shall have elapsed since the filing of the petition,”
obviously in order to provide the parties a “cooling-off” period. In this
interim, the court should take steps toward getting the parties to reconcile.
MACADANGDANG vs. CA
108 SCRA 314
FACTS:
Filomena and Antonio contracted marriage in 1946. From humble
beginnings they slowly expanded their business and wealth. They had six
children. After several setbacks in their relationship, each accusing the
other of infidelity, they separated in 1965.
Filomena left and resided in Cebu. When she returned, she learned of the
illicit affairs of her estranged husband. She initiated a legal separation
against Antonio and later filed for a petition for the appointment of an
administrator for their properties. Antonio opposed the appointment of an
administrator.
ISSUE:
What is the effect of Antonio’s death to the legal separation case and the
dissolution of conjugal properties?
HELD:
Upon finality, legal separation shall have the following effects: 1.) Spouses
shall be entitled to live separately, but the marriage bond shall be severed;
2.) Conjugal properties shall be liquidated and dissolved but the offending
spouse shall have no right to any share of the profits earned by the
partnership or community.
The decision of the trial court on Jan 4, 1973 finding Antonio guilty of
concubinage and granting the legal separation and all its legal effects along
with the division of conjugal property had long been final and executory.
Upon the death of the guilty party, the liquidation of the conjugal property
can be resolved by the application of the rules on intestate succession with
respect to the exclusive property of the deceased petitioner. Thus, the
process be:
1. Liquidation and distribution governing the effects of the final decree of legal
separation;
2. Whatever remaining properties allocated to the deceased petitioner shall be
governed by intestate succession.