SECOND DIVISION

OSCAR P. MALLION, Petitioner, Present" - versus P#NO, J., Chairperson, SANDO$AL-G# IERRE%, CORONA, A%C#NA, &n' GARCIA, JJ. G.R. No. 141528

EDI !A ALCAN ARA, Res(on'ent.

Pro)u*+&te'" O,to-er .1, 2//0 1-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

DECISION
AZCUNA, J.:
2is is & (etition 3or revie4 on certiorari un'er Ru*e 45 o3 t2e Ru*es o3 Court r&isin+ & 5uestion o3 *&4" Does & (revious 3in&* 6u'+)ent 'en7in+ & (etition 3or 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 on t2e +roun' o3 (s7,2o*o+i,&* in,&(&,it7 -&r & su-se5uent (etition 3or 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 on t2e +roun' o3 *&,8 o3 )&rri&+e *i,ense9 2e 3&,ts &re not 'is(ute'" On O,to-er 24, 1::5, (etitioner Os,&r P. M&**ion 3i*e' & (etition;1< 4it2 t2e Re+ion&* ri&* Court =R C>, ?r&n,2 2:, o3 S&n P&-*o Cit7 see8in+ & 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 o3 2is )&rri&+e to res(on'ent E'it2& A*,&nt&r& un'er Arti,*e .0 o3 E1e,utive Or'er No. 2/:, &s &)en'e', ot2er4ise 8no4n &s t2e @&)i*7 Co'e, ,itin+ res(on'entAs &**e+e' (s7,2o*o+i,&* in,&(&,it7. 2e ,&se 4&s 'o,8ete' &s Civi* C&se No. SP 4.41:5. A3ter tri&* on t2e )erits, t2e R C 'enie' t2e (etition in & 'e,ision;2< '&te' Nove)-er 11, 1::Bu(on t2e 3in'in+ t2&t (etitioner C3&i*e' to &''u,e (re(on'er&nt evi'en,e to 4&rr&nt t2e +r&nt o3 t2e re*ie3 2e is

see8in+.D;.< 2e &((e&* 3i*e' 4it2 t2e Court o3 A((e&*s 4&s *i8e4ise 'is)isse' in & reso*ution;4< '&te' Eune 11, 1::8 3or 3&i*ure o3 (etitioner to (&7 t2e 'o,8et &n' ot2er *&43u* 3ees 4it2in t2e re+*e)ent&r7 (erio'. A3ter t2e 'e,ision in Civi* C&se No. SP 4.41-:5 &tt&ine' 3in&*it7, (etitioner 3i*e' on Eu*7 12, 1::: &not2er (etition ;5< 3or 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 o3 )&rri&+e 4it2 t2e R C o3 S&n P&-*o Cit7, t2is ti)e &**e+in+ t2&t 2is )&rri&+e 4it2 res(on'ent 4&s nu** &n' voi' 'ue to t2e 3&,t t2&t it 4&s ,e*e-r&te' 4it2out & v&*i' )&rri&+e *i,ense. @or 2er (&rt, res(on'ent 3i*e' &n &ns4er 4it2 & )otion to 'is)iss ;0< '&te' Au+ust 1., 1:::, (r&7in+ 3or t2e 'is)iss&* o3 t2e (etition on t2e +roun' o3 res judicata &n' 3oru) s2o((in+. In &n or'er;B< '&te' O,to-er 8, 1:::, t2e R C +r&nte' res(on'entAs )otion to 'is)iss, t2e 'is(ositive (ortion o3 42i,2 re&'s"
F!ERE@ORE, 3or @oru) S2o((in+ &n' Mu*ti(*i,it7 o3 Suits, t2e Motion to Dis)iss is GRAN ED. 2is ,&se is DISMISSED. SO ORDERED.;8<

PetitionerAs )otion 3or re,onsi'er&tion 4&s &*so 'enie' in &n or'er '&te' E&nu&r7 21, 2///.
;:<

!en,e, t2is (etition 42i,2 &**e+es, &s 3o**o4s"

A. IN DISMISSING PE I IONERAS PE I ION @OR !E DECLARA ION O@ !IS MARRIAGE AS N#LL AND $OID AB INITIO @OR LACG O@ !E REH#ISI E MARRIAGE LICENSE ?ECA#SE O@ = !E> DISMISSAL O@ AN EARLIER PE I ION @OR DECLARA ION O@ N#LLI I O@ !E SAME MARRIAGE ON !E GRO#ND O@ !IS FI@EAS PSIC!OLOGICAL INCAPACI I #NDER AR ICLE .0 O@ !E @AMILI CODE, !E RIAL CO#R !AD DECIDED A H#ES ION O@ S#?S ANCE F!IC! !AS PRO?A?LI NO !ERE O@ORE ?EEN DE ERMINED SH#ARELI AND DE@INI I$ELI ?I !IS CO#R , OR !AD DECIDED I IN A FAI NO IN ACCORD FI ! LAF. IN DISMISSING PE I IONERAS PE I ION @OR !E DECLARA ION O@ N#LLI I O@ !IS MARRIAGE @OR LACG O@ !E REH#ISI E MARRIAGE LICENSE, !E RIAL CO#R !AD

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CON@#SED, DIS OR ED AND MISAPPLIED !E @#NDAMEN AL R#LES AND CONCEP S ON RES E#DICA A, SPLI ING O@ A CA#SE O@ AC ION AND @OR#M S!OPPING.;1/<

Petitioner &r+ues t2&t 42i*e t2e re*ie3 (r&7e' 3or in t2e t4o ,&ses 4&s t2e s&)e, t2&t is, t2e 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 o3 2is )&rri&+e to res(on'ent, t2e ,&use o3 &,tion in t2e e&r*ier ,&se 4&s 'istin,t &n' se(&r&te 3ro) t2e ,&use o3 &,tion in t2e (resent ,&se -e,&use t2e o(er&tive 3&,ts u(on 42i,2 t2e7 4ere -&se' &s 4e** &s t2e evi'en,e re5uire' to sust&in eit2er 4ere 'i33erent. ?e,&use t2ere is no i'entit7 &s to t2e ,&use o3 &,tion, (etitioner ,*&i)s t2&t res judicata 'oes not *ie to -&r t2e se,on' (etition. In t2is ,onne,tion, (etitioner )&int&ins t2&t t2ere 4&s no vio*&tion o3 t2e ru*e on 3oru) s2o((in+ or o3 t2e ru*e 42i,2 (ros,ri-es t2e s(*ittin+ o3 & ,&use o3 &,tion. On t2e ot2er 2&n', res(on'ent, in 2er ,o))ent '&te' M&7 20, 2///, ,ounters t2&t 42i*e t2e (resent suit is &n,2ore' on & 'i33erent +roun', it sti** invo*ves t2e s&)e issue r&ise' in Civi* C&se No. SP 4.41-:5, t2&t is, t2e v&*i'it7 o3 (etitioner &n' res(on'entAs )&rri&+e, &n' (r&7s 3or t2e s&)e re)e'7, t2&t is, t2e 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 o3 t2eir )&rri&+e. Res(on'ent t2us ,onten's t2&t (etitioner vio*&te' t2e ru*e on 3oru) s2o((in+. Moreover, res(on'ent &sserts t2&t (etitioner vio*&te' t2e ru*e on )u*ti(*i,it7 o3 suits &s t2e +roun' 2e ,ites in t2is (etition ,ou*' 2&ve -een r&ise' 'urin+ t2e tri&* in Civi* C&se No. SP 4.41-:5. 2e (etition *&,8s )erit. 2e issue -e3ore t2is Court is one o3 3irst i)(ression. S2ou*' t2e )&tter o3 t2e inv&*i'it7 o3 & )&rri&+e 'ue to t2e &-sen,e o3 &n essenti&* re5uisite (res,ri-e' -7 Arti,*e 4 o3 t2e @&)i*7 Co'e -e r&ise' in t2e s&)e (ro,ee'in+ 42ere t2e )&rri&+e is -ein+ i)(u+ne' on t2e +roun' o3 & (&rt7As (s7,2o*o+i,&* in,&(&,it7 un'er Arti,*e .0 o3 t2e @&)i*7 Co'e9 Petitioner insists t2&t -e,&use t2e &,tion 3or 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 o3 )&rri&+e on t2e +roun' o3 (s7,2o*o+i,&* in,&(&,it7 &n' t2e &,tion 3or 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 o3 )&rri&+e on t2e +roun' o3 &-sen,e o3 )&rri&+e *i,ense ,onstitute se(&r&te ,&uses o3 &,tion, t2e (resent ,&se 4ou*' not 3&** un'er t2e (ro2i-ition &+&inst s(*ittin+ & sin+*e ,&use o3 &,tion nor 4ou*' it -e -&rre' -7 t2e (rin,i(*e o3 res judicata. 2e ,ontention is unten&-*e.

Res judicata is 'e3ine' &s C& )&tter &'6u'+e'J & t2in+ 6u'i,i&**7 &,te' u(on or 'e,i'e'J & t2in+ or )&tter sett*e' -7 6u'+)ent. It &*so re3ers to t2e ru*e t2&t & 3in&* 6u'+)ent or 'e,ree on t2e )erits -7 & ,ourt o3 ,o)(etent 6uris'i,tion is ,on,*usive o3 t2e ri+2ts o3 t2e (&rties or t2eir (rivies in &** *&ter suits on (oints &n' )&tters 'eter)ine' in t2e 3or)er suit.D;11< 2is 'o,trine is & ru*e 42i,2 (erv&'es ever7 4e**-re+u*&te' s7ste) o3 6uris(ru'en,e &n' is 3oun'e' u(on t2e 3o**o4in+ (re,e(ts o3 ,o))on *&4, n&)e*7" =1> (u-*i, (o*i,7 &n' ne,essit7, 42i,2 )&8es it to t2e interest o3 t2e St&te t2&t t2ere s2ou*' -e &n en' to *iti+&tion, &n' =2> t2e 2&r's2i( on t2e in'ivi'u&* t2&t 2e s2ou*' -e ve1e' t4i,e 3or t2e s&)e ,&use. A ,ontr&r7 'o,trine 4ou*' su-6e,t t2e (u-*i, (e&,e &n' 5uiet to t2e 4i** &n' ne+*e,t o3 in'ivi'u&*s &n' (re3er t2e +r&ti3i,&tion o3 t2e *iti+ious 'is(osition on t2e (&rt o3 suitors to t2e (reserv&tion o3 t2e (u-*i, tr&n5ui*it7 &n' 2&((iness.;12< In t2is 6uris'i,tion, t2e ,on,e(t o3 res judicata is e)-o'ie' in Se,tion 4B =-> &n' =,> o3 Ru*e .: o3 t2e Ru*es o3 Court, t2us"
SEC. 4B. E33e,t o3 6u'+)ents or 3in&* or'ers. K 2e e33e,t o3 & 6u'+)ent or 3in&* or'er ren'ere' -7 & ,ourt o3 t2e P2i*i((ines, 2&vin+ 6uris'i,tion to (ronoun,e t2e 6u'+)ent or 3in&* or'er, )&7 -e &s 3o**o4s" =&> In ,&se o3 & 6u'+)ent or 3in&* or'er &+&inst & s(e,i3i, t2in+ or in res(e,t to t2e (ro-&te o3 & 4i**, or t2e &')inistr&tion o3 t2e est&te o3 & 'e,e&se' (erson, or in res(e,t to t2e (erson&*, (o*iti,&*, or *e+&* ,on'ition or st&tus o3 & (&rti,u*&r (erson or 2is re*&tions2i( to &not2er, t2e 6u'+)ent or 3in&* or'er is ,on,*usive u(on t2e tit*e to t2e t2in+, t2e 4i** or &')inistr&tion, or t2e ,on'ition, st&tus or re*&tions2i( o3 t2e (ersonJ 2o4ever, t2e (ro-&te o3 & 4i** or +r&ntin+ o3 *etters o3 &')inistr&tion s2&** on*7 -e prima facie evi'en,e o3 t2e 'e&t2 o3 t2e test&tor or intest&teJ (b) In other cases, the judgment or !na" order !s, #!th res$ect to the matter d!rect"% adjudged or as to an% other matter that cou"d ha&e been ra!sed !n re"at!on thereto, conc"us!&e bet#een the $art!es and the!r successors !n !nterest b% t!t"e subse'uent to the commencement o the act!on or s$ec!a" $roceed!ng, "!t!gat!ng or the same th!ng and under the same t!t"e and !n the same ca$ac!t%( and, (c) In an% other "!t!gat!on bet#een the same $art!es or the!r successors !n !nterest, that on"% !s deemed to ha&e been adjudged !n a ormer judgment or !na" order #h!ch a$$ears u$on !ts ace to ha&e been so adjudged, or #h!ch #as actua""% and necessar!"% !nc"uded there!n or necessar% thereto)

2e &-ove (rovision out*ines t2e 'u&* &s(e,t o3 res judicata. ;1.< Se,tion 4B =-> (ert&ins to it in its ,on,e(t &s C-&r -7 (rior 6u'+)entD or

Cesto((e* -7 ver'i,t,D 42i,2 is t2e e33e,t o3 & 6u'+)ent &s & -&r to t2e (rose,ution o3 & se,on' &,tion u$on the same ,*&i), 'e)&n' or cause o act!on. On t2e ot2er 2&n', Se,tion 4B =,> (ert&ins to res judicata in its ,on,e(t &s C,on,*usiveness o3 6u'+)entD or ot2er4ise 8no4n &s t2e ru*e o3 auter action pendant 42i,2 or'&ins t2&t issues &,tu&**7 &n' 'ire,t*7 reso*ve' in & 3or)er suit ,&nnot &+&in -e r&ise' in &n7 3uture ,&se -et4een t2e s&)e (&rties invo*vin+ & d! erent cause o act!on.;14< Res judicata in its ,on,e(t &s & -&r -7 (rior 6u'+)ent o-t&ins in t2e (resent ,&se. Res judicata in t2is sense re5uires t2e ,on,urren,e o3 t2e 3o**o4in+ re5uisites" =1> t2e 3or)er 6u'+)ent is finalJ =2> it is ren'ere' -7 & ,ourt 2&vin+ jurisdiction over t2e su-6e,t )&tter &n' t2e (&rtiesJ =.> it is & 6u'+)ent or &n or'er on the meritsJ &n' =4> t2ere is -- -et4een t2e 3irst &n' t2e se,on' &,tions -- identity o3 (&rties, o3 su-6e,t )&tter, &n' o3 ,&uses o3 &,tion.;15< Petitioner 'oes not 'is(ute t2e e1isten,e o3 t2e 3irst t2ree re5uisites. F2&t is in issue is t2e (resen,e o3 t2e 3ourt2 re5uisite. In t2is re+&r', t2e test to 'eter)ine 42et2er t2e ,&uses o3 &,tion &re i'enti,&* is to &s,ert&in 42et2er t2e s&)e evi'en,e 4i** sust&in -ot2 &,tions, or 42et2er t2ere is &n i'entit7 in t2e 3&,ts essenti&* to t2e )&inten&n,e o3 t2e t4o &,tions. I3 t2e s&)e 3&,ts or evi'en,e 4ou*' sust&in -ot2, t2e t4o &,tions &re ,onsi'ere' t2e s&)e, &n' & 6u'+)ent in t2e 3irst ,&se is & -&r to t2e su-se5uent &,tion.;10< ?&se' on t2is test, (etitioner 4ou*' ,onten' t2&t t2e t4o (etitions -rou+2t -7 2i) see8in+ t2e 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 o3 2is )&rri&+e &re &n,2ore' on se(&r&te ,&uses o3 &,tion 3or t2e evi'en,e ne,ess&r7 to sust&in t2e 3irst (etition 42i,2 4&s &n,2ore' on t2e &**e+e' (s7,2o*o+i,&* in,&(&,it7 o3 res(on'ent is 'i33erent 3ro) t2e evi'en,e ne,ess&r7 to sust&in t2e (resent (etition 42i,2 is &n,2ore' on t2e (ur(orte' &-sen,e o3 & )&rri&+e *i,ense. Petitioner, 2o4ever, 3or+ets t2&t 2e is si)(*7 invo8in+ 'i33erent +roun's 3or t2e s&)e ,&use o3 &,tion. ?7 'e3inition, & ,&use o3 &,tion is t2e &,t or o)ission -7 42i,2 & (&rt7 vio*&tes t2e ri+2t o3 &not2er. ;1B< In -ot2 (etitions, (etitioner 2&s t2e s&)e ,&use - t2e 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 o3 2is )&rri&+e to res(on'ent. F2&t 'i33ers is t2e +roun' u(on 42i,2 t2e ,&use o3 &,tion is (re'i,&te'. 2ese +roun's ,ite' -7 (etitioner essenti&**7 s(*it t2e v&rious &s(e,ts o3 t2e (ivot&* issue t2&t 2o*'s t2e 8e7 to t2e reso*ution o3 t2is ,ontrovers7, t2&t is, t2e &,tu&* st&tus o3 (etitioner &n' res(on'entAs )&rri&+e.

@urt2er)ore, t2e inst&nt ,&se is (re)ise' on t2e ,*&i) t2&t t2e )&rri&+e is nu** &n' voi' -e,&use no v&*i' ,e*e-r&tion o3 t2e s&)e too8 (*&,e 'ue to t2e &**e+e' *&,8 o3 & )&rri&+e *i,ense. In Civi* C&se No. SP 4.41-:5, 2o4ever, (etitioner i)(*ie'*7 ,on,e'e' t2&t t2e )&rri&+e 2&' -een so*e)niLe' &n' ,e*e-r&te' in &,,or'&n,e 4it2 *&4. Petitioner is no4 -oun' -7 t2is &')ission. 2e &**e+e' &-sen,e o3 & )&rri&+e *i,ense 42i,2 (etitioner r&ises no4 ,ou*' 2&ve -een (resente' &n' 2e&r' in t2e e&r*ier ,&se. Su33i,e it to st&te t2&t (&rties &re -oun' not on*7 &s re+&r's ever7 )&tter o33ere' &n' re,eive' to sust&in or 'e3e&t t2eir ,*&i)s or 'e)&n' -ut &s to &n7 ot2er &')issi-*e )&tter 42i,2 )i+2t 2&ve -een o33ere' 3or t2&t (ur(ose &n' o3 &** ot2er )&tters t2&t ,ou*' 2&ve -een &'6u'+e' in t2&t ,&se.;18< It )ust -e e)(2&siLe' t2&t & (&rt7 ,&nnot ev&'e or &voi' t2e &((*i,&tion o3 res judicata -7 si)(*7 v&r7in+ t2e 3or) o3 2is &,tion or &'o(tin+ & 'i33erent )et2o' o3 (resentin+ 2is ,&se. ;1:< As t2is Court st&te' in Pere !. Court of Appeals";2/<
1 1 1 t2e st&te)ent o3 & 'i33erent 3or) o3 *i&-i*it7 is not & 'i33erent ,&use o3 &,tion, (rovi'e' it +ro4s out o3 t2e s&)e tr&ns&,tion or &,t &n' see8s re'ress 3or t2e 4ron+. 4o &,tions &re not ne,ess&ri*7 3or 'i33erent ,&uses o3 &,tion si)(*7 -e,&use t2e t2eor7 o3 t2e se,on' 4ou*' not 2&ve -een o(en un'er t2e (*e&'in+s in t2e 3irst. A (&rt7 ,&nnot (reserve t2e ri+2t to -rin+ & se,on' &,tion &3ter t2e *oss o3 t2e 3irst )ere*7 -7 2&vin+ ,ir,u)s,ri-e' &n' *i)ite' t2eories o3 re,over7 o(ene' -7 t2e (*e&'in+s in t2e 3irst. It -e&rs stressin+ t2&t & (&rt7 ,&nnot 'ivi'e t2e +roun's 3or re,over7. A $"a!nt! !s mandated to $"ace !n !ssue !n h!s $"ead!ng, a"" the !ssues e*!st!ng #hen the su!t began) A "a#su!t cannot be tr!ed $!ecemea") +he $"a!nt! !s bound to set orth !n h!s !rst act!on e&er% ground or re"!e #h!ch he c"a!ms to e*!st and u$on #h!ch he re"!ed, and cannot be $erm!tted to re"% u$on them b% $!ecemea" !n success!&e act!on to reco&er or the same #rong or !njur%) A $art% see,!ng to en orce a c"a!m, "ega" or e'u!tab"e, must $resent to the court, e!ther b% the $"ead!ngs or $roo s, or both, on the grounds u$on #h!ch to e*$ect a judgment !n h!s a&or) -e !s not at "!bert% to s$"!t u$ h!s demands, and $rosecute !t b% $!ecemea" or $resent on"% a $ort!on o the grounds u$on #h!ch a s$ec!a" re"!e !s sought and "ea&e the rest to the $resentment !n a second su!t ! the !rst a!"s) +here #ou"d be no end to "!t!gat!on ! such $!ecemea" $resentat!on !s a""o#ed) =Citations omitted.#

In su), *iti+&nts &re (rovi'e' 4it2 t2e o(tions on t2e ,ourse o3 &,tion to t&8e in or'er to o-t&in 6u'i,i&* re*ie3. On,e &n o(tion 2&s -een t&8en &n' & ,&se is 3i*e' in ,ourt, t2e (&rties )ust venti*&te &** )&tters &n' re*ev&nt issues t2erein. 2e *osin+ (&rt7 42o 3i*es &not2er &,tion re+&r'in+ t2e s&)e

,ontrovers7 4i** -e nee'*ess*7 s5u&n'erin+ ti)e, e33ort &n' 3in&n,i&* resour,es -e,&use 2e is -&rre' -7 *&4 3ro) *iti+&tin+ t2e s&)e ,ontrovers7 &** over &+&in.;21< 2ere3ore, 2&vin+ e1(ress*7 &n' i)(*ie'*7 ,on,e'e' t2e v&*i'it7 o3 t2eir )&rri&+e ,e*e-r&tion, (etitioner is no4 'ee)e' to 2&ve 4&ive' &n7 'e3e,ts t2erein. @or t2is re&son, t2e Court 3in's t2&t t2e (resent &,tion 3or 'e,*&r&tion o3 nu**it7 o3 )&rri&+e on t2e +roun' o3 *&,8 o3 )&rri&+e *i,ense is -&rre' -7 t2e 'e,ision '&te' Nove)-er 11, 1::B o3 t2e R C, ?r&n,2 2:, o3 S&n P&-*o Cit7, in Civi* C&se No. SP 4.41-:5. .-E/E0O/E, t2e (etition is DENIED 3or *&,8 o3 )erit. Costs &+&inst (etitioner. SO O/DE/ED.