SUSAN LIM-LUA VS DANILO LUA

G.R. NOS. 175279-80, JUNE 5, 2013

DOCTRINE: Judgment for support does not become final. The right to support is of such nature that its
allowance is essentially provisional; for during the entire period that a needy party is entitled to support, his
or her alimony may be modified or altered, in accordance with his increased or decreased needs, and with the
means of the giver. It cannot be regarded as subject to final determination.”

Support comprises everything indispensable for sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical attendance,
education and transportation, in keeping with the financial capacity of the family.

FACTS:
Petitioner filed an action for the declaration of nullity of her marriage with prayer for support pendente lite
for herself and her two children, petitioner sought the amount of Php 500T as monthly support, citing respondent’s
huge earnings from salaries and dividends in several companies and businesses here and abroad. The RTC granted
the application for support pendente lite amounting to Php 250T per month, as well as Php 1750T support in arrears.
Respondent filed a motion for reconsideration asserting that petitioner is not entitled to support considering that she
does not maintain for herself a separate dwelling from their children and respondent has continued to support the
family for their sustenance and well-being in accordance with family’s social and financial standing. Respondent
also found the Php 250T support pendente lite and the Php 1750T support in arrears unconscionable and beyond the
intendment of the law for not having considered the needs of the respondent.
The RTC held that the assailed order had become final and executory since the MR filed by the respondent
did not comply with the 3-day notice ruled under Section 4, Rule 15, it is treated as a mere scrap and therefore did
not interrupt the running of the period to appeal. On appeal, the CA vacated the RTC’s decision and rendered a
decision ordering the respondent to pay Php 115T as support pendente lite and support in arrears of Php 2645T less
the amount supposedly given by petitioner to the private respondent as her and their two (2) children monthly
support.
Neither of the parties appealed this decision of the CA. However, in compliance with the said order,
respondent deducted from the support in arrears Php 2.4M representing the value of the two cars for the children,
their cost of maintenance and advances given to petitioner and his children. The trial court rejected respondent’s
interpretation of the CA decision. On appeal, the CA said that the trial court should not have completely disregarded
the expenses incurred by respondent which certainly inured to the benefit not only of the two children, but the
petitioner as well. Petitioner filed a MR but the same was denied. Hence, this petition.

ISSUE: Whether the expenses already incurred by the respondent may be deducted from the total support in arrears
owing to petitioner and her children.

RULING:
No, the SC held that the CA should not have allowed all the expenses incurred by respondent to be credited
against the accrued support pendente lite. The monthly support pendente lite granted by the trial court was intended
primarily for food, household expenses such as salaries of drivers and house helpers, and also petitioner’s scoliosis
therapy sessions. Hence, the value of two expensive cars bought by respondent for his children plus their
maintenance cost and others should have been disallowed, as these bear no relation to the judgment awarding
support pendente lite. The deductions should be limited to those basic needs and expenses considered by the trial
and appellate courts.
As to the respondent’s claim that petitioner is very much capacitated to generate income on her own
because she presently maintains a boutique and engages in lending business and that their 2 children have finished
their education and are now employed in the family business earning their own salaries, the SC held that the matter
of increase or reduction of support should be submitted to the trial court in which the action for declaration for
nullity of marriage was filed, as it is not a trier of facts. As held in previous Advincula vs Advincula, “Judgment for
support does not become final. The right to support is of such nature that its allowance is essentially provisional; for
during the entire period that a needy party is entitled to support, his or her alimony may be modified or altered, in
accordance with his increased or decreased needs, and with the means of the giver. It cannot be regarded as subject
to final determination.”