NinalvsBayadog

Ninalvs.Bayadog
328SCRA122
FACTS:
PepitoNinalwasmarriedwithTeodulfaBellonesonSeptember26,
1974.Theyhad3childrennamelyBabyline,IngridandArchie,
petitioners.DuetotheshotinflictedbyPepitotoTeodulfa,thelatter
diedonApril24,1985leavingthechildrenundertheguardianshipof
EngraceNinal.1yearand8monthslater,PepitoandNormaBadayog
gotmarriedwithoutanymarriagelicense.Theyinstitutedanaffidavit
statingthattheyhadlivedtogetherforatleast5yearsexemptingfrom
securingthemarriagelicense.Pepitodiedinacaraccidenton
February19,1977.Afterhisdeath,petitionersfiledapetitionfor
declarationofnullityofthemarriageofPepitoandNormaallegingthat
saidmarriagewasvoidforlackofmarriagelicense.
ISSUES:
1.WhetherornotthesecondmarriageofPepitowasvoid?
2.Whetherornottheheirsofthedeceasedmayfileforthedeclaration
ofthenullityofPepitosmarriageafterhisdeath?
HELD:

ThemarriageofPepitoandNormaisvoidforabsenceofthemarriage
license.Theycannotbeexemptedeventhoughtheyinstitutedan
affidavitandclaimedthattheycohabitforatleast5yearsbecausefrom
thetimeofPepitosfirstmarriagewasdissolvedtothetimeofhis
marriagewithNorma,onlyabout20monthshadelapsed.Albeit,Pepito
andhisfirstwifehadseparatedinfact,andthereafterbothPepitoand
Normahadstartedlivingwitheachotherthathasalreadylastedforfive
years,thefactremainsthattheirfiveyearperiodcohabitationwasnot
thecohabitationcontemplatedbylaw.Hence,hismarriagetoNormais
stillvoid.
Voidmarriagesaredeemedtohavenottakenplaceandcannotbethe
sourceofrights.Itcanbequestionedevenafterthedeathofoneofthe
partiesandanyproperinterestedpartymayattackavoidmarriage.