AntoniovsReyes

Antoniovs.Reyes
GRNo.155800,March10,2006
FACTS:
LeoniloAntonio,26yearsofage,andMarieIvonneReyes,36yearsof
agemetin1989.Barelyayearaftertheirfirstmeeting,theygot
marriedatManilaCityHallandthenasubsequentchurchweddingat
PasiginDecember1990.Achildwasbornbutdied5monthslater.
Reyespersistentlyliedaboutherself,thepeoplearoundher,her
occupation,income,educationalattainmentandothereventsorthings.
Sheevendidnotconcealbearinganillegitimatechild,whichshe
representedtoherhusbandasadoptedchildoftheirfamily.Theywere
separatedinAugust1991andafterattemptforreconciliation,hefinally
leftherforgoodinNovember1991.Petitionerthenfiledin1993a
petitiontohavehismarriagewithReyesdeclarednullandvoid
anchoredinArticle36oftheFamilyCode.
ISSUE:WhetherAntoniocanimposeArticle36oftheFamilyCodeas
basisfordeclaringtheirmarriagenullandvoid.
HELD:
Psychologicalincapacitypertainstotheinabilitytounderstandthe
obligationsofmarriageasopposedtoamereinabilitytocomplywith

them.Thepetitioner,asidefromhisowntestimonypresenteda
psychiatristandclinicalpsychologistwhoattestedthatconstantlying
andextremejealousyofReyesisabnormalandpathologicaland
corroboratedhisallegationsonhiswifesbehavior,whichamountsto
psychologicalincapacity.Respondentsfantasticabilitytoinvent,
fabricatestoriesandlettersoffictitiouscharactersenabledhertolivein
aworldofmakebelievethatmadeherpsychologicallyincapacitatedas
itrenderedherincapableofgivingmeaningandsignificancetoher
marriage.TherootcausesofReyespsychologicalincapacityhave
beenmedicallyorclinicallyidentifiedthatwassufficientlyprovenby
experts.Thegravityofrespondentspsychologicalincapacitywas
consideredsogravethatarestrictiveclausewasappendedtothe
sentenceofnullityprohibitedbytheNationalAppellateMatrimonial
Tribunalfromcontractingmarriagewithouttheirconsent.Itwouldbe
difficultforaninveteratepathologicalliartocommitthebasictenetsof
relationshipbetweenspousesbasedonlove,trustandrespect.
Furthermore,Reyescaseisincurableconsideringthatpetitionertried
toreconcilewithherbutherbehaviorremainunchanged.
Hence,thecourtconcludethatpetitionerhasestablishedhiscauseof
actionfordeclarationofnullityunderArticle36oftheFamilyCode.