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There is no absolute divorce under Philippine laws. The only divorce recognized by the
Family Code is relative divorce, or more commonly known as legal separation. It must be noted,
though, that legal separation does not dissolve the marriage, and the spouses remain married to
each other. Though they will be separated from bed and board, and the guilty spouse shall be
prevented from inheriting from the aggrieved spouse, both of them are still prevented from
contracting a subsequent marriage.
Under the Family Code of the Philippines, a marriage is void from the beginning if it was
contracted in the absence of any of the essential and formal requisites of marriage, such as legal
capacity to enter into marriage (age requirement, gender requirement), and those marriages
which are considered as against public policy such as incestuous and bigamous marriages.
Marriages contracted when either or both parties are suffering from psychological incapacity that
prevents them from performing the essential marital obligations provided under the Family Code
are likewise considered by law as void from the very beginning. In such case, once declared by
the court as null and void, such marriage shall be considered as if it did not exist and had never
taken place.
On the other hand, a voidable marriage is valid, but shall be considered as severed only
after so adjudged by the court. Examples of voidable marriage are those contracted when the
consent of either party was vitiated by force, intimidation or undue influence, or those contracted
when either party is of unsound mind. Even after annulment of such marriage, the marriage shall
be considered to have existed prior to the judgment cancelling or annulling the marriage.
(1) In case the marriage was contracted through force, intimidation or undue influence,
within 5 years from the time such force, intimidation or undue influence has disappeared or
ceased.
(3) In case of fraud in contracting the marriage, within 5 years from the discovery of
fraud.
(4) In case of impotence or incurable sexually transmitted disease, within 5 years from
the time of marriage.
(5) In case of unsoundness of mind, the one with unsound mind, during lucid intervals, or
through relatives, guardians, or legal custodians, may file a petition for annulment anytime
before the death of either of the contracting parties.
For marriages that are void from the beginning, the action or defense for the declaration
of absolute nullity of marriage shall not prescribe, meaning there is no time limit as regards the
filing of the petition for declaration of nullity of marriage.
If the respondent does not file his/her answer to the complaint, the court shall order the
public prosecutor (who represents the state) to conduct an investigation as to whether or not
collusion exists between the parties. If there is collusion, the prosecutor shall report the same to
the court, who may then dismiss the case on such basis.
Q: Under the law, what marriages are void from the beginning?
(1) Those contracted by any party below eighteen years of age even with the consent of
parents or guardians;
(2) Those solemnized by any person not legally authorized to perform marriages;
(5) Those contracted through mistake of one contracting party as to the identity of the
other;
(6) Those solemnized without complying with the requirement that the properties of the
spouses be partitioned and distributed, and their children’s presumptive legitimes be delivered
first after a judgment of annulment or absolute nullity of marriage is decreed by the court;
(7) Marriage contracted by any party who, at the time of its celebration, was
psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations, even if such
incapacity becomes manifest only after its solemnization;
(8) Marriages between ascendants and descendants of any degree and those celebrated
between brothers and sisters, whether of the full or half blood.
(9) Between collateral blood relatives, whether legitimate or illegitimate, up to the fourth
civil degree;
(13) Between the surviving spouse of the adopting parent and the adopted child;
(14) Between the surviving spouse of the adopted child and the adopter;
(17) Between parties where one, with the intention to marry the other, killed that other
person's spouse, or his or her own spouse.
(4) That the consent of either party was obtained by force, intimidation or undue
influence;
(5) That either party was physically incapable of consummating the marriage with the
other, and such incapacity continues and appears to be incurable;
(6) That either party was afflicted with a sexually-transmissible disease found to be
serious and appears to be incurable.
Q: What kind of fraud does the law speak of in order to have the
marriage annulled?
Not all kinds of fraud may constitute a ground for annulment of marriage. In order to
constitute fraud for purposes of annulment, it should be any of the following:
Article 68. The husband and wife are obliged to live together, observe mutual love,
respect and fidelity, and render mutual help and support.
Article 69. The husband and wife shall fix the family domicile. In case of disagreement,
the court shall decide.
The court may exempt one spouse from living with the other if the latter should live
abroad or there are other valid and compelling reasons for the exemption. However, such
exemption shall not apply if the same is not compatible with the solidarity of the family.
Article 70. The spouses are jointly responsible for the support of the family. The
expenses for such support and other conjugal obligations shall be paid from the community
property and, in the absence thereof, from the income or fruits of their separate properties. In
case of insufficiency or absence of said income or fruits, such obligations shall be satisfied from
the separate properties.
Article 71. The management of the household shall be the right and the duty of both
spouses. The expenses for such management shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of
Article 70.
(1) The burden of proof to show the nullity of the marriage belongs to the plaintiff. Any
doubt should be resolved in favor of the existence and continuation of the marriage and against
its dissolution and nullity.
(2) The root cause of the psychological incapacity must be (a) medically or clinically
identified, (b) alleged in the complaint, (c) sufficiently proven by experts and (d) clearly
explained in the decision.
(3) The incapacity must be proven to be existing at “the time of the celebration” of the
marriage. The evidence must show that the illness was existing when the parties exchanged their
“I do's.” The manifestation of the illness need not be perceivable at such time, but the illness
itself must already be existing at such moment, or prior thereto.
(5) Such illness must be grave enough to bring about the disability of the party to assume
the essential obligations of marriage.
Interpretations given by the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal of the Catholic Church in
the Philippines regarding what constitutes psychological incapacity, while not controlling or
decisive, should be given great respect by our courts.
Be it noted however, that the Supreme Court in a more recently decided case (Kalaw vs.
Fernandez, G.R. No. 166357, January 14, 2015), said that the foregoing guidelines may not be
strictly adhered to by the courts. The High Court advised the judges to exercise extreme
prudence in taking into consideration the relevant circumstances and the peculiarities of each
case in coming up with decisions as to whether or not psychological incapacity is present.
Q: Is sexual infidelity or perversion considered as psychological
incapacity?
Sexual infidelity and perversion do not by themselves constitute psychological incapacity
within the contemplation of the Family Code. Neither could emotional immaturity and
irresponsibility be equated with psychological incapacity. It must be shown that these acts are
manifestations of a disordered personality which makes a person completely unable to
discharge the essential obligations of the marital state, not merely due to youth, immaturity or
sexual promiscuity [See Dedel vs. CA, G.R. No. 151867, January 29, 2004].
This rule is now recognized under the Family Code to avoid the unfair situation where
the Filipino spouse shall remain married to the alien spouse who, on the other hand, may already
remarry, as such foreigner validly obtained already a divorce in accordance with his/her own
national laws. Please take note that only the divorce obtained by the foreigner spouse shall be
recognized by law. Any divorce obtained abroad by the Filipino spouse shall not be valid and
binding upon such Filipino.