VAN DORN vs. ROMILLO, G.R. No.

L-68470 October 8, 1985

ALICE REYES VAN DORN, petitioner, VS. HON. MANUEL ROMILLO JR., as Presiding Jdge o!
"ran#$ C%, Regiona& 'ria& Cort o! t$e Nationa& Capita& Region Pasa( Cit( and RICHARD
UP'ON, respondents
O#to)er *, +,*-
.AC'S/
A&i#e Re(es, t$e petitioner is a #iti0en o! t$e P$i&ippines 1$i&e pri2ate respondent Ri#$ard Upton is a
#iti0en o! t$e United States. '$e( 1ere 3arried in Hong 4ong in +,56 and t$e( esta)&is$ed residen#e
in t$e P$i&ippines. '$e( $ad t1o #$i&dren and t$e( 1ere di2or#ed in Ne2ada, USA in +,*6. '$e
petitioner re3arried in Ne2ada to '$eodore Van Dorn. '$e pri2ate responded !i&ed against petitioner
stating t$at t$e petitioner7s )siness is a #on8ga& propert( o! t$e parties and t$at respondent is de#&ared
1it$ rig$t to 3anage t$e #on8ga& propert(. Petitioner 3o2ed to dis3iss t$e #ase on t$e grond t$at t$e
#ase o! a#tion is )arred )( pre2ios 8dg3ent in t$e di2or#e pro#eedings )e!ore t$e Ne2ada Cort,
1$ere respondent a#9no1&edged t$at t$e( $ad no #o33nit( propert( as o! Jne ++, +,*6.
ISSUE/
:$et$er or not t$e pri2ate respondent as petitioner7s $s)and is entit&ed to e;er#ise #ontro& o2er
#on8ga& assets<
RULIN=/
'$e petition is granted. Co3p&aint is dis3issed.
'$e po&i#( against a)so&te di2or#e #o2er on&( P$i&ippine nationa&s. Ho1e2er, a&iens 3a( o)tain
di2or#e a)road, 1$i#$ 3a( )e re#ogni0ed in t$e P$i&ippines pro2ided t$e( are 2a&id a##ording to t$eir
nationa& &a1.
.ro3 t$e standards o! A3eri#an &a1, nder 1$i#$ di2or#e disso&2es 3arriage, t$e di2or#e in Ne2ada
re&eased pri2ate respondent !ro3 t$e 3arriage )et1een t$e3 1it$ t$e petitioner. '$s, prsant to $is
nationa& &a1, pri2ate respondent is no &onger t$e $s)and o! petitioner. He 1o&d $a2e no standing to
se in t$e #ase as petitioner7s $s)and entit&ed to e;er#ise #ontro& o2er #on8ga& assets. He is estopped
)( $is o1n representation )e!ore said #ort !ro3 asserting $is rig$t o2er t$e a&&eged #on8ga& propert(.