Ninalvs.

Bayadog
328SCRA122

FACTS:

PepitoNinalwasmarriedwithTeodulfaBellonesonSeptember26,1974.Theyhad3
childrennamelyBabyline,IngridandArchie,petitioners.Duetotheshotinflictedby
PepitotoTeodulfa,thelatterdiedonApril24,1985leavingthechildrenunderthe
guardianshipofEngraceNinal.1yearand8monthslater,PepitoandNormaBadayog
gotmarriedwithoutanymarriagelicense.Theyinstitutedanaffidavitstatingthatthey
hadlivedtogetherforatleast5yearsexemptingfromsecuringthemarriagelicense.
PepitodiedinacaraccidentonFebruary19,1977.Afterhisdeath,petitionersfileda
petitionfordeclarationofnullityofthemarriageofPepitoandNormaallegingthatsaid
marriagewasvoidforlackofmarriagelicense.

ISSUES:

1.WhetherornotthesecondmarriageofPepitowasvoid?
2.Whetherornottheheirsofthedeceasedmayfileforthedeclarationofthenullityof
Pepitosmarriageafterhisdeath?

HELD:

ThemarriageofPepitoandNormaisvoidforabsenceofthemarriagelicense.They
cannotbeexemptedeventhoughtheyinstitutedanaffidavitandclaimedthattheycohabit
foratleast5yearsbecausefromthetimeofPepitosfirstmarriagewasdissolvedtothe
timeofhismarriagewithNorma,onlyabout20monthshadelapsed.Albeit,Pepitoand
hisfirstwifehadseparatedinfact,andthereafterbothPepitoandNormahadstarted

livingwitheachotherthathasalreadylastedforfiveyears,thefactremainsthattheir
fiveyearperiodcohabitationwasnotthecohabitationcontemplatedbylaw.Hence,his
marriagetoNormaisstillvoid.

Voidmarriagesaredeemedtohavenottakenplaceandcannotbethesourceofrights.It
canbequestionedevenafterthedeathofoneofthepartiesandanyproperinterested
partymayattackavoidmarriage.