PESCA v. PESCA identified and proven by an expert.
The CA held that Lorna failed to establish
G.R. No. 136921
April 17, 2001
Topic: Judicial Decisions
Petitioner: Lorna Guillen Pesca
Respondent: Zosimo A. Pesca
Ponente: , J. Vitug
DOCTRINE: The Doctrine of Stare Decisis expresses that judicial decisions
applying or interpreting the law shall form part of the legal system of the
Philippines. The interpretation or construction placed by the courts establishes
the contemporaneous legislative intent of the law. This interpretation or
construction then forms part of that law as of the date the statute was enacted,
unless the court overrules such interpretation and adopts a different view that a
new doctrine may have to be applied prospectively.
FACTS: Lorna Pesca and Zosimo Pesca got married on March 3 1975 after a
whirlwind courtship. Then in 1988, Lorna noticed that Zosimo showed signs of
“psychological incapacity.” He was emotionally immature and an irresponsible
husband, a habitual drinker, physically abusive, cruel and violent. One time,
Zosimo chased Lorna with a loaded shotgun and threatened to kill her in the
presence of their four children. Zosimo was also physically violent towards the
children.
Sometime in 1994, Zosimo assaulted Lorna in the presence of their children.
Lorna was medically examined at the Quezon City General Hospital and was
diagnosed with contusions and abrasions. Zosimo was charged and convicted of
slight physical injuries and spent 11 days in jails. This incident prompted, Lorna
to leave the conjugal home for good and to file for declaration of nullity of their
marriage, invoking psychological incapacity with the RTC.
In November 1995, The RTC declared the marriage to be null and void ab initio
on the basis of psychological incapacity on the part of Zosimo.
On appeal, the CA reversed the decision of the trial court and declared the
marriage valid and subsisting citing the Santos and Molina Doctrines. The CA
held that in order for a marriage to be declared void on the ground of
psychological incapacity, it must be established that there were signs of mental
incapacity that would render a party to the marriage incapable of complying
with the basic marital covenant as provided in Art. 68 of the Family Code. And
that such incapacity is grave, has preceded the marriage, and is incurable. In
addition thereto, the root cause of the incapacity must be medically or clinically
such therefore, the marriage remains valid and subsisting.
Lorna appealed to the SC claiming that Santos v. CA was promulgated on
January 14, 1995 and Republic v. CA and Molina was promulgated on February
13, 1997, therefore the Molina doctrine should have no retroactive application
as this was promulgated after the RTC had made its decision.
ISSUE: W/N the Molina doctrine has retroactive application.
HELD: Yes, the Molina doctrine has retroactive application. The doctrine of
stare decisis expresses that judicial decisions interpreting the law shall form
part of the legal system of the Philippines. The rule follows the settled legal
maxim - "legis interpretado legis vim obtinet" - that the interpretation placed
upon the written law by a competent court has the force of law. The
interpretation or construction placed by the courts establishes the
contemporaneous legislative intent of the law. The latter as so interpreted and
construed would thus constitute a part of that law as of the date the statute is
enacted. It is only when a prior ruling of this Court finds itself later overruled,
and a different view is adopted, that the new doctrine may have to be applied
prospectively in favor of parties who have relied on the old doctrine and have
acted in good faith in accordance therewith under the familiar rule of "lex
prospicit, non respicit."
The phrase "psychological incapacity ," borrowed from Canon law and it is in
Santos when, for the first time, the Court has given life to the term. Molina, that
followed, has additionally provided procedural guidelines to assist the courts
and the parties in trying cases for annulment of marriages grounded on
psychological incapacity. Molina has strengthened, not overturned, Santos.
The two doctrines, Santos and Molina, as interpretations of psychological
incapacity under Art. 36 of the Family Code constitute a part of the Family Code
as of the date the statute was enacted on July 6, 1987. Therefore it is given
retroactive application.
RULING: WHEREFORE, the herein petition is DENIED.