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A report on the psychological Assessment of RODA BICACA-GALBAN,

Petitioner for the Declaration of Nullity of Marriage against the respondent,
JIMMY GALBAN.

ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES UTULIZED:

A. Interview and Administration of Battery of Psychological Test with petitioner

on August 8 and 9, 2014.

B. Letter of invitation was sent to the respondent given address at Magsaysay,

Tabuk City, Kalinga Province.

C. Corroborative interview was made with NOVELINDA GALBAN, friend of the

petitioner.

BACKGROUND DATA AND BRIEF MARITAL HISTORY:

Petitioner, RODA BICACA-GALBAN, is a 31 year old, born on 27

September 1983 in Tabuk City, Kalinga Province and presently lives at Bacood,
Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. She is Angelican and a local domestic helper.
She was referred by her counsel for interview and psychological assessment in line
with her petition for nullification of marriage against her spouse, JIMMY
GALBAN, on the ground of psychological incapacity.

Petitioner stands 5 feet tall, slightly chubby and brown skinned. In addition,
she is toothless and a soft-spoken. For the interview, Petitioner was wearing a
blouse, blue pants and flat shoes.

Petitioner was born to two natives of Tabuk, Kalinga Province. Abel Bicaca,
a 60 year old and Freda Bicaca, a 60 year old house keeper who was from time to
time, helps in the livelihood of the family which is farming. They are ideal parents
and are extremely supportive of their children. They do not want to see any of
them suffering. When the children had none, their father is there to provide for
them even when they are already adults. Petitioner’s mother, on the other hand,
used to help Petitioner to take care of her two kids.
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The parenting style of Petitioner’s parents was lenient. They merely gave
their children verbal discipline. Petitioner and her siblings did not experience being
spanked. Petitioner could not think of any negative trait they possess. She is close
to both of her parents.

Petitioner is second to the youngest in the brood of three girls and four boys.
Her siblings are: Luis Bicaca, 42 years old, highschool undergraduate, farmer,
understanding, diligent; Anabel Gumangan, 41 years old, college undergraduate,
overseas Filipino worker (OFW), compassionate, charitable; benjie Bicaca, 35
years old, highschool undergraduate, farmer, kind, industrious, accommodating,
selfless; Noel Bicaca, 33 years old, college undergraduate, miner, supportive of his
siblings despite being far away; and the youngest, Abel Bicaca, Jr.

Petitioner was born and raised in Tabuk, Kalinga Province. Her family is
simple and poor. The head of the family is a farmer. Despite the hardships, they are
happy and there is love in the family. They confide their problems to one another
and help the one in need.

The brood was sent to school but none of them was able to finish. Five of the
siblings are married and only the youngest remain single. The spouse of each
member was like the rest of them, deprived and unable to finish their studies.

Petitioner grew up stubborn. She did not listen to her parents who
encouraged her to study and counseled her against marrying soon. As a sister, she
was the same: obstinate despite her siblings’ advice to value education and not to
follow them of getting married early, Petitioner did not obey them.

From 1990 to 1996, Petitioner took her primary education at Balong

Elementary School and from 1996 to 2000 her secondary education at Tabuk
National High School. After graduating from high school, she did not proceed to
college because she already got married.

When she was studying, Petitioner constantly skipped classes and was
habitually tardy because according to her she lived far from the school. When it
was raining, she was absent.

From 2000 to 2006, she helped her family plant rice. From 2006 to present,
she is a house maid and at the same time, she sells bread.
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Petitioner thinks she is a good house worker because she does everything for
her employer. Her boss on the other hand, regards her as industrious and
trustworthy.

Ten years from now, Petitioner sees herself as a successful and peaceful
member of the society. If there is something she could change in her world, she
would study hard and earn a degree. She wished she could find a better job, give
her children good future and support their education until they graduate.

Alternatively, Respondent, JIMMY GALBAN, is 46 years old, male, born

on 18 October 1968 in Tabuk, Kalinga Province and a permanent resident of
Magsaysay, Tabuk City, Kalinga Province. Like Petitioner, he is a member of the
Angelican Church. He is currently an OFW based in Israel. Respondent is 5’6” tall
and somewhat thin. He has brown complexion with a slightly big voice.

Respondent is the second among the three boys and one girl brood of
Eulogio Galban, deceased and Maxima Galban, 61 years old, a housewife. His
father was a calesa driver who had four kids with different women. His mother, in
contrast, is moody, not friendly and a gossipmonger but always hears mass.

Respondent’s siblings are: Richard Galban, carpenter, painstaking; Jean

Agtina, housewife, grumpy; Eulogio Galban Jr., farmer and a drunkard.

Akin to Petitioner, Respondent is a local of Tabuk, Kalinga Province. His

parents were both from Tabuk and Respondent was born and raised in Tabuk.

Respondent’s siblings also failed to finish college degree. They were hard-
up and they got married early on.

Apparently, Respondent inherited his father’s vices of drinking, gambling

and womanizing.

Respondent took his primary education at Balong Elementary School. In

1980, he entered TANAS. That early, he got into drinking and gambling, hence, he
reached first year high school only.

From 2001 to 2005, Respondent was a tricycle driver. In 2006, he went to

Israel where up to the present he is currently engaged as a caregiver.
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Petitioner and Respondent were blessed with 2 kids, a boy and a girl: Yuan
Dave, 12 years old, born on 28 March 2002, a freshman at Tabuk National High
School and Jessa, 10 years old, born on 19 December 2004, a grade 3 student at
Balong Elementary School. The children prefer to stay with the cousin of
Respondent who took pity on them and took them under his care with his family.
Petitioner works in Bulacan as a domestic helper to support them in any way she
can. She communicates to them through telephone. She sends them P3,000.00 out
of the P3,500.00 she earns every month.

In retrospect, Petitioner came to know Respondent even when she was still a
small child because they lived in the same town. Respondent was 15 years the
senior of Respondent and was a tricycle driver. Sometimes in 2000, when
Petitioner was in high school and took the tricycle of the Respondent, the latter
started teasing Petitioner. They exchanged jokes while Petitioner rode
Respondent’s tricycle. Respondent asked why Petitioner had no boyfriend when
she was pretty enough. Respondent did not know that Petitioner was in a
relationship that time. Petitioner knew that Respondent had a girlfriend named
“Glena” who was then abroad. They kidded a lot for some time until such moment
that Petitioner and Respondent became sweethearts when Petitioner graduated in
high school. Respondent was diligent, kind and an honest driver. Thus, it was not
hard for the Petitioner to fell in love for Respondent.

They were happy and very sweet with each other. When a brother of
Petitioner saw Respondent embracing Petitioner, he got upset and ordered them to
tie the knot although in reality something already happened between the to of
them. Thus, after merely 4 months of being boyfriend-girlfriend, or on 23
December 2001, they contracted a church wedding. Respondent’s side paid for the
expenses. It was a beautiful and happy wedding. Both parents did not object
because they saw Petitioner and Respondent happy.

After the wedding they lived on their own in the shanty where the family of
Petitioner previously lived.

During their first month as a husband and wife, Petitioner immediately

noticed the negative character of Respondent which continued until they had 2
children. Respondent went home late and drunk. When he arrived without good
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food on the table, he would break the plates and hit Petitioner. He would shout at
petitioner even on the hapless children. He was not a good father to them. The
children were afraid of him. He did not work and it was Petitioner’s job of farming
or planting rice which supported the family. He was too dependent to his parents.

Respondent used the tricycle of a friend and sometimes, he would not go

out. If ever he went out to ferry passengers, his earnings will be spent on buying
alcohol and cigarettes. He loved to hang out with his friends instead of his family.

Respondents would also force Petitioner to have sex with him despite the
Petitioner having her menstrual period. In 2005, he chased Petitioner with a bolo
knife because he was asking money and Petitioner did not want to give him. The
money Petitioner had was just enough to feed their kids. Still, Respondent got
upset. As a result, he chased Petitioner with a bolo. After the incident, he slept on
the house of his parents. The following day, he went home to Petitioner. Petitioner
told him that she and the kids will be the one to leave but Respondent refused.
When Petitioner’s parents learned about the bolo attacking incident, they
confronted him and requested him not to do it again. Respondent promised he will
change.

Respondent’s mother did not interfere because she was afraid of

Respondent. Neither did the neighbors meddle because they thought it was a
marital problem best resolved by Petitioner and Respondent between themselves.
Petitioner hanged on to the relationship hoping that Respondent would change and
realize his mistakes.

Since 2001 after they got married, Respondent was already physically and
economically abusing her. He did not remit anything to her and yet, he asked
money from her. Petitioner’s voice was soft because she feared that she will incur
the ire of Respondent. Respondent would slap her on the face, kick her and throw
at her anything he got hold of. When his anger subsided, he would go to his
parents. The following day, he would go home to Petitioner as if nothing
happened. He would not say anything and just sleep. He claimed that he was just
drunk and was unaware of the things he was doing although in a week, Respondent
would hit her at least twice.
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In 2206, Respondent left Petitioner and their children. There was no

communication. One day, Petitioner heard that Respondent went abroad to ba an
OFW. She did know that a year before or in 2005, Respondent already applied for
work overseas and such fact was hidden from her by his family. He got deployed
in 2006. There was no communication more so financial support from Respondent.
Petitioner was not surprised since Respondent’s father extramarital affairs had
children with different women.

With kids to rise, Petitioner went to Mrs. Pilar Fernandez, the mother-in-law
of Respondent’s cousin in Bacood, Tambubong, San Rafael Bulacan to work as a
household helper. She left her children with Respondent’s cousin who was kind
enough to send her children to school. Mrs. Fernandez paid Petitioner P3,500.00
for her services.

When Petitioner shared to Mrs. Fernandez her story and her desire to work
abroad, Mrs. Fernandez and her cousin-in-law undertook to help her. Petitioner
stated she did not want to use the surname of Respondent. She wanted to separate
from him so she could start fresh. During her time with Respondent, she never felt
respected as a woman. She even thought of taking her own life or killing
Respondent.

Mrs. Fernandez, her cousin-in-law and other relatives are supporting

Petitioner’s decision by providing her with financial support to annul her marriage
with Respondent.

A corroborative interview was conducted with the friend of the Petitioner,

NOVELINDA GALBAN, 44 years old, born on 20 November 1969, married with
2 kids. She is a resident of Magsaysay, Tabuk City, Kalinga Province, a secretarial
graduate and a business woman with 2 door apartments.

Corroborator stands 5 feet, slightly chubby, with long hair, and a mole.
During the assessment, she was sporting a blue blouse and gray pants. She
appeared simple and was wearing eye glasses. Her long hair was tied in a pony tail.

According to Corroborator, her husband is the cousin of Respondent.

Corroborator met Petitioner when Respondent married Petitioner.
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Respondent had a long-time girlfriend “Glena”. They were together for 10

years until Glena went abroad. When Glena was gone, Respondent would always
hang out with his friends and drink with them. His friends taunted him that he
could court girls and have a girlfriend.

Corroborator was surprised to learn that Respondent suddenly married

Petitioner. When Respondent went to the house of Corroborator, she heard
Respondent talking to her spouse saying he did not want to marry Petitioner for he
loved Glena. He claimed he just kissed Petitioner. However, Respondent was
forced to marry Petitioner because Petitioner’s relatives threatened him with a legal
action should he not marry petitioner.

One week after their marriage, Corroborator would hear Petitioner and
Respondent arguing and cursing each other. Respondent was also drunk every
night. Things became a cycle for them.

When Glena went home for a vacation, she and Respondent met and stayed
in a hotel. From then on, Respondent started physically abusing Petitioner which
resulted to bruises on the part of the Petitioner. Corroborator and some other
relatives pitied Petitioner. They even advised her to leave Respondent.

Respondent did not work or strive to earn. When he was hungry, he would
go home to Petitioner and look for food. When there was none, he would hurt her
and throw their things in the kitchen. Thus, corroborator gave Petitioner some
money so she could buy food and Respondent will not go home to his parents to
eat.

Corroborator’s husband talked to Respondent so he would reform but

Respondent told her husband that he wished he would be a widower so he could
live with his true love.

One time, Corroborator was walking along the street when she saw
Petitioner running. It turned out; Respondent was chasing Petitioner with a bolo
knife. Consequently, barangay officials talked to Respondent and pacified him.
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When Petitioner got pregnant, they thought Respondent would change but
they were mistaken. Respondent would kick Petitioner even if she was pregnant.
Corroborator and other relatives advised petitioner that one child is enough but
Petitioner bore another one. The situation remained the same. Things became
worse because of Glena. Respondent really wanted to live with Glena and he did
not spare his children from his ire

One day, Respondent suddenly left. Apparently, he left for abroad. He left
for abroad. He abandoned Petitioner and his children. Corroborator and her spouse
took pity on the children. They took them and took care of them. Until now,
Respondent never came back not even to ask how were his children.

Corroborator described Petitioner as hardworking, helpful and quiet although

occasionally also nags. Conversely, Respondent was a gambler, womanizer, a
comic, and hot tempered.

TEST ADMINISTERED

Revised Beta Examination II

Bender Visual Motor Gesalt Test

Draw a Person Test

Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Test

Sach’s Sentence Completion Test

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory I

Hand Test

Sel-Annalysis

TEST RESULT AND EVALUATION

Equipped with an Average intellectual ability, RODA BICACA-GALBAN

would able to handle simple to moderate cognitive concepts and common mental
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challenges of her daily functioning. Alongside, she is seen equipped with good
eye-motor coordination skills, adequate task persistence and favorable visual
acuity to details. Meanwhile, she is predisposed to render wavering judgments and
decision-making schemes when feelings supersede her rationality. Nevertheless,
amidst difficulties, a sound mental condition is still maintained.

Uncovered in the psychological test profile is a practical-minded woman and

someone who is likewise goal-driven and motivated by her aspirations in life. She
is able to overcome felt insecurities as she continues to utilize known resources to
meet goals and ambitions. She has good grasp of her personal strengths rendering
her capable to address her concerns whenever situations call it. Emotionally, she is
found to be emphatic and family-oriented. This being the case, she is seen
committed to pursue worthwhile accomplishments for herself and her loved ones
as well. However, there were times when her emotions may come her way making
her somewhat impetuous and prone to feel saddened by her hasty choices. Still, she
is found to be responsible of her actions.

Socially-wise, she is found to be gifted with good interpersonal skills. She

gives high importance to her relationships as she invests warmth those whom she
loves. She may prove to be warmth and sincere towards those her closest
affiliations. Moreover, she finds it easy to relent to existing social codes of
conduct as her value organization and discipline. Attitude towards authority figures
is characterized with good obedience and reverence. Emotionally, she is deemed
warm and compassionate woman who would do her best to the point of
relinquishing her own comforts in order to attend to the needs of her loved ones.
Furthermore, assessed to have high tolerance for frustrations, she exercises ample
control over her impulses as she is able to keep her calm and composure amidst
strains and difficulties.

Meanwhile, the blows encountered in her married life occasionally resulted

to self-doubts, though she doesn’t allow herself to be overwhelmed by such
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feelings. She remains to have a positive perspective of the future and is always
ready to take o the challenge of what the new day can bring. She can be very
forbearing of circumstances but she also knows her saturations point. Rather than
sulking in her misery, she instead rechanneled her pressing concerns towards
worthwhile pursuits as she prefers to be more productive than to waste her time
over something that she feels hopeless. Most often than not, she is dominated by
her desires for achievement which stir up her creative and innovative potentials.

Psychosexual adjustment and functioning remain to be adequate. She is fully

aware of her roles and obligations related to her gender.

Reality orientation is still upheld at the time of testing.

REMARKS

Based on psychodynamic assessment of the above-stated facts and

information, the undersigned Clinical Psychologist strongly believes that the
ultimate breakdown of the marriage between RODA BICACA-GLBAN and
JIMMY GALBAN, is caused by the psychological incapacity of the Respondent
as he is found to be incompetent to properly handle his essential roles and
obligations as the husband. His psychological debilitation has hindered him from
having a successful family life.

On the other hand, based on the analysis of the abovementioned facts and
date, the undersigned Psychologist herein declares Petitioner to be free from any
form of psychopathological deficit which could have stopped her from performing
her wifely roles and obligations. She is seen to be well cognizant of her marital
roles and functions. Despite her husband’s immature and irresponsible disposition,
she continues to maintain a firm grasp of her responsibilities as the wife. She
exerted much effort to keep her marriage solid and strong but her attempts were
overlooked and ignored by the Respondent. On the merit hereof, Petitioner cannot
be blamed for her decision to finally free herself from a futile union.
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In a psychological point of view, Respondent is diagnosed to be suffering

from a defective pattern of behavior clinically classified as ANTISOCIAL
PERSONALITY DISORDER manifested with the following accounts:

Firstly, Respondent lacked realistic and long-termed goals as far as

strengthening his household is concerned. He exhibits poor planning skills and
does not have necessary foresight to direct his family towards promising future. He
wasn’t able to look for gainful employment and remained jobless. He did not work
and it was Petitioner’s job of farming or planting rice which supported their family.
He was too dependent to his parents. He is found to be irresponsible and highly
undedicated towards his commitments. He is lazy and doesn’t have the initiative to
attend to household chores. When he went abroad in 2006, he no longer
communicated with the Petitioner and there was no financial support coming from
him.

Secondly, his view and perception of marriage is shallow that he failed to

honor his financial obligations. He was depicted as an emotionally immature man
who only planned to live a carefree and convenient lifestyle that is free from all
accountabilities. He would go home very late at night, highly intoxicated with
liquor. When he arrived without good food on the table, he would break the plates
and hit the Petitioner. He would shout at Petitioner even on the hapless children.
He runs away from responsibility and lacked depth when it comes to his relational
commitments. His sheer selfishness and happy-go-lucky lifestyle has totally kept
him away from adequately executing his spousal functions. If ever he went out to
ferry passengers using his friend’s tricycle unit, his earnings will be spent on
buying alcohol and cigarettes. He loved to hang out with his friends instead of his
family.

Thirdly, Respondent is found to be an emotionally impulsive man as he had low

tolerance for stress and frustrations. He is easily angered or provoked. He readily
succumbed to his emotions rendering him lacking in adequate self-control and
discipline. He would break things when angry and would throw verbal invectives
at the Petitioner. In 2005, he chased Petitioner with a bolo knife because he was
asking for money and Petitioner did not want to give him. Even the children are
not spared from his verbal and physical abuses. He was not a good father to them.
The children were afraid of him.
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Fourthly, Respondent has recklessly disregarded the safety of others

especially that of the Petitioner to the point of total oblivion to his roles and
obligations. He would slap her on the face, kick her and throw at her anything he
got hold of. He is also seen as a manipulative man who took advantage of his
wife’s tolerance and understanding just so to pursue his self-centered whims. He
would also force Petitioner to have sex with him despite the Petitioner having her
menstrual period. He knew that he could easily intimidate her and on the few times
that she tried to confront him for his irresponsible ways, he was able to lie and
deceive her thus, enabling him to sustain his illicit affairs and fragrant actuations.

Finally, Respondent lacked adequate insight towards the wrong thing he has
done. He actually has not shown any speck of remorse for all his mistaken and
flagrant acts. When his anger subsided, he would go to his parents. The following
day, he would go home to Petitioner as if nothing happened. He would not say
anything and just sleep. He never regretted his transgressions, but instead,
continued to lead a spoilt and crooked life. Worse, he felt even more entitled to his
wicked ways that he even projects the blame towards others. He claimed that he
was just drunk and was unaware of the things he was doing although in a week,
Respondent would hit her at least twice. He has become totally incorrigible to
correct his ways thus continually sank deep down the miserable pit he has made for
him.

Respondent’s flawed personality condition had been rooted from faulty

childrearing practices, particularly from the dysfunctional home and poor parental
upbringing he had become accustomed with. His father failed to sustain the needs
of the Respondent, his mother and his siblings. He worked as a calesa driver who
had four kids with different women. His mother, on the other hand, is moody, not
friendly and a gossipmonger. Ironically, she is the type of woman who always
hears mass. Lacking in proper disciplinary measures and parental guidance,
Respondent embraced an immature, conceited, arrogant and self-centered
disposition. He has become preoccupied with his own egocentricity thereby
making him callous to empathize with others’ feelings and needs. He failed in
giving love and care as he simply took love without reciprocating it. He has
become overly preoccupied of his own pleasure-oriented desire so much so that he
wanted to pursue living a life that is comfortable and convenient, totally devoid of
responsibilities and commitment. His defective character has not been corrected
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rendering him impaired in his husbandly roles and responsibilities. When his
desires thwarted, he easily manifests his frustrations and disappointments through
assaultive explodes of anger and fury. He eventually grew calloused and lacking in
adequate insight to evaluate his actions and make necessary change thereof.

Respondent’s neglect of his marital duties to his wife and his immature acts
were harmful to their marriage. Since Respondent’s pathological personality
started during his younger years, it has been deeply penetrated to his system,
making him the way he is. Likewise, he lacks the important insight towards his
present psychopathological condition which will make him unwilling to undergo
necessary counseling or therapeutic help. His disorder is said to be of juridical
antecedent, which means that it has already existing before entering marriage and
only manifested thereon.

As such, given much consideration to the presented findings and evaluation,

the undersigned Psychologist humbly requests to this Honorable Court that the
marriage between RODA BICACA-GALBAN and JIMMY GALBAN is declared
null and void.