G.R. No. 166357. Sep embe 19, 2011.

VALERIO E. KALAW, pe i ione , . MA. ELENA FERNANDEZ,

e ponden .

Fa C de; A e f Ma a e; P c ca I ca ac ;
P c ca ca ac e d ca ac ab a e
c a ce f a d a e e ba c a a b a ; T e b de f
c ca ca ac e a ff; T e c ca
be be a e, a e e ed a e e f a a e, a d
be c ab e. P chological incapaci i he do n igh incapaci o
inabili o ake cogni ance of and o a me he ba ic ma i al obliga ion .
The b den of p o ing p chological incapaci i on he plain iff. The
plain iff m p o e ha he incapaci a ed pa , ba ed on hi o he ac ion
o beha io , ffe a e io p chological di o de ha comple el
di able him o he f om nde anding and di cha ging he e en ial
obliga ion of he ma i al a e. The p chological p oblem m be g a e,
m ha e e i ed a he ime of ma iage, and m be inc able.
Sa e; Sa e; Sa e; Se a de e e a d f e a
e aa ,b d e ece a c e c ca ca ac .
E en a ming a e d ha pe i ione a able o p o e ha e ponden
had an e ama i al affai i h ano he man, ha one in ance of e al
in deli canno , b i elf, be eq a ed i h ob e i e need fo a en ion f om
o he men. Se al in deli e e i a g o nd fo legal epa a ion, b i
doe no nece a il con i e p chological incapaci .

PETITION fo e ie on ce io a i of he deci ion and e ol ion of

he Co of Appeal .
The fac a e a ed in he opinion of he Co .
E a d A. Ab e ca and J e Ma S. Ve e , J . fo pe i ione .
Za a, P b ad , Va e & B e a a fo e ponden .

_______________
* FIRST DIVISION.

23

Kala . Fe nande , SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 823

DEL CASTILLO, J.:

A nding of p chological incapaci m be ppo ed b ell-
e abli hed fac . I i he plain iff b den o con ince he co of
he e i ence of he e fac .
 Befo e he Co i a Pe i ion fo Re ie 1 of he Co of
Appeal (CA) Ma 27, 2004 Deci ion2 and Decembe 15, 2004
Re ol ion3 in CA-G.R. CV No. 64240, hich e e ed he ial
co decla a ion of n lli of he he ein pa ie ma iage. The
fa of he a ailed Deci ion ead :

HEREFORE, he appeal i GRANTED, and he a ailed Deci ion i

SET ASIDE and ACATED hile he pe i ion fo decla a ion of n lli of
ma iage i he eb DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED. 4

Factual Antecedents
Pe i ione Vale io E. Kala (T one) and e ponden Ma. Elena
Fe nande (Mal n) me in 1973. The main ained a ela ion hip and
e en all ma ied in Hong Kong on No embe 4, 1976. The had
fo child en, Vale io (Rio), Ma ia E a (Ria), Ramon Mig el
(Migg o Micke ), and Jaime Teodo o (Ja ).
Sho l af e he bi h of hei o nge on, T one had an
e ama i al affai i h Jocel n Q ejano (Jocel n), ho ga e bi h
o a on in Ma ch 1983.5
In Ma 1985, Mal n lef he conj gal home ( he ho e of he
Kala in-la ) and he fo child en i h T one.6

_______________
1R , pp. 26-56.
2 Id., a pp. 9-20; penned b A ocia e J ice Robe o A. Ba io and conc ed
in b A ocia e J ice Regalado E. Maambong and Vicen e Q. Ro a .
3 Id., a pp. 22-23.
4 CA Deci ion, p. 11; R , p. 19.
5 Social Ca e S d Repo , p. 14; Reco d , Vol. I, p. 216.

24

824 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Mean hile, T one a ed li ing i h Jocel n, ho bo e him h ee

mo e child en.7
In 1990, T one en o he Uni ed S a e (US) i h Jocel n and
hei child en. He lef hi fo child en f om hi ma iage i h
Mal n in a en ed ho e in Valle Ve de i h onl a ho ehelp and a
d i e .8 The ho ehelp o ld j call Mal n o ake ca e of he
child en hene e an of hem go ick. Al o, in acco dance i h
hei c od ag eemen , he child en a ed i h Mal n on
eekend .9
In 1994, he o elde child en, Rio and Ria, a ked fo Mal n
pe mi ion o go o Japan fo a one- eek aca ion. Mal n acceded
onl o lea n la e ha T one b o gh he child en o he US.10 Af e
j one ea , Ria e ned o he Philippine and cho e o li e i h
Mal n.
Mean hile, T one and Jocel n famil e ned o he
Philippine and e med ph ical c od of he o o nge
child en, Migg and Ja . Acco ding o Mal n, f om ha ime on, he
child en ef ed o go o he ho e on eekend beca e of alleged
eekend plan i h hei fa he .11
Complaint for declaration of nullit of marriage
On J l 6, 1994, nine ea ince he de fac epa a ion f om hi
ife, T one led a pe i ion fo decla a ion of n lli of ma iage
ba ed on A icle 36 of he Famil Code.12 He alleged ha Mal n
a p chologicall incapaci a ed o pe -

_______________
6 TSN da ed Ma ch 15, 1995, pp. 11-12.
7 Social Ca e S d Repo , p. 14; Reco d , Vol. I, p. 216.
8 Social Ca e S d Repo , pp. 11 and 13; d., a pp. 213 and 215.
9 D . Da an P chological E al a ion Repo , p. 7; d., a p. 259.
10 Id., a pp. 10-11; d., a p. 259.
11 TSN da ed Ma ch 15, 1995, pp. 23-24; D . Da an P chological E al a ion
Repo , pp. 7-8; Reco d , Vol. I, p. 259.
12 Id., a pp. 1-4.

25

Ka a . Fe a de , SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 825

fo m and compl i h he e en ial ma i al obliga ion a he ime of

he celeb a ion of hei ma iage. He f he claimed ha he
p chological incapaci a manife ed b he imma i and
i e pon ibili o a d T one and hei child en d ing hei co-
habi a ion, a ho n b Mal n follo ing ac :

1. he lef he child en i ho p ope ca e and a en ion a he pla ed

mahjong all da and all nigh ;
2. he lef he ho e o pa
ho of he follo ing da ; and
3. he commi ed ad l e
di co e ed a a e de c .
i h male f iend and e ned in he ea l
on J ne 9, 1985, hich ac T one
13

D ing ial,14 T one na a ed he ci c m ance of Mal n

alleged in deli . Acco ding o him, on J ne 9, 1985, he and hi
b o he -in-la , Ronald Fe nande (Mal n b o he ), p oceeded o
H a Ho el and lea ned ha Mal n a occ p ing a oom i h a
ce ain Benjie G e a a (Benjie). When he p oceeded o he aid
oom, he a Benjie and Mal n in ide.15 A eb al, T one
elabo a ed ha Benjie a ea ing onl a o el a o nd hi ai ,
hile Mal n a l ing in bed in he nde ea . Af e an e change
of o d , he ag eed no o cha ge Mal n i h ad l e hen he
la e ag eed o elinq i h all he ma i al and pa en al igh .16 The
p hei ag eemen in i ing befo e A . Jo e Pala ca.
T one p e en ed a p chologi , D . C i ina Ga e (D . Ga e ),
and a Ca holic canon la e pe , F . Ge a d Heal , S.J. (F . Heal ),
o e if on Mal n p chological incapaci .

_______________
 13 Id., a p. 2; Pe i ione Memo and m in JDRC Ca e No. 3100, eco d , Vol. II,
pp. 306-307.
14 The ca e p oceeded o ial af e he cal manife ed o he co ha he e a
no coll ion be een he pa ie (Reco d , Vol. I, p. 45).
15 TSN da ed Jan a 5, 1995, pp. 16-17.
16 Id., a pp. 17-18.

26

826 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

D . Ga e e plained on he and ha he fac al allega ion

ega ding Mal n beha io he e al in deli , habi al mahjong
pla ing, and he f eq en nigh -o i h f iend ma e ec a
na ci i ic pe onali di o de (NPD).17 NPD i p e en hen a
pe on i obsessed o mee he an and need in e di ega d of
he igni can o he .18 Mal n NPD i manife in he utter neglec
of he d ie a a mo he .19
D . Ga e epo ed ha Mal n pe onali di o de ma ha e
been e iden e en p io o he ma iage beca e i i oo ed in he
famil backg o nd and pb inging, hich he p chologi ga he ed
o be ma e iall dep i ed and i ho a p ope ma e nal ole
model.20
D . Ga e ba ed he diagno i on he fac e ealed b he
in e ie i h T one, T inidad Kala (T one i e -in-la ), and
he on Migg . She al o ead he an c ip of T one co
e imon .21
F . Heal co obo a ed D . Ga e a e men . He concl ded ha
Mal n a p chologicall incapaci a ed o pe fo m he ma i al
d ie .22 He e plained ha he p chological incapaci i oo ed in
he ole a he b ead inne of he famil . Thi ole allegedl in a ed
Mal n ego o he poin ha he need became p io i , hile he
kid and h band need became econda . Mal n i o elf-
ab o bed ha he i incapable of p io i i ing he famil need .
F . Heal cla i ed ha pla ing mahjong and pending ime i h
f iend a e no di o de b hem el e . The onl con i e
p chological incapaci hene e ino dina e amo n of ime a e
pen on he e ac i i ie o he de imen of one

_______________
17 P chological Repo , Reco d , Vol. I, pp. 173-175.
18 TSN da ed Feb a 15, 1995, pp. 6-7.
19 Id., a p. 7.
20 P chological Repo , Reco d , Vol. I, pp. 174-175.
21 TSN da ed Feb a 15, 1995, p. 4.
22 TSN da ed J ne 17, 1998, p. 24.

27

Ka a . Fe a de , SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 827

familial d ie .23 F . Heal cha ac e i ed Mal n p chological
incapaci a g a e and inc able.24
He ba ed hi opinion on hi in e ie i h T one, he ial
an c ip , a ell a he epo of D . Na i idad Da an (D . Da an),
Mal n e pe i ne .25 He cla i ed ha he did no e if he
hf lne of he fac al allega ion ega ding Mal n habi
26
beca e he belie ed i i he co d o do o. In ead, he
fo med hi opinion on he a mp ion ha he fac al allega ion a e
indeed e.
Mal n s version
Mal n denied being p chologicall incapaci a ed.27 While he
admi ed pla ing mahjong, he denied pla ing a f eq en l a
T one alleged. She main ained ha he did o onl o o h ee
ime a eek and al a be een 1 p.m. o 6 p.m. onl .28 And in
ho e in ance , he al a had T one pe mi ion and o ld
of en b ing he child en and hei e pec i e a a i h he .29 She
main ained ha he did no neglec he d ie a mo he and ife.
Mal n admi ed lea ing he conj gal home in Ma 1985. She,
ho e e , e plained ha he did o onl o e cape he ph icall
ab i e h band.30 On he da he lef , T one, ho p efe ed o
keep Mal n a ho e ife, a p e ha Mal n a p epa ing o go
o o k. He called p he ec i g a d and in c ed hem no o
le Mal n o of he ho e. T one hen placed ciga e e a he on
Mal n head and p oceeded o lock he bed oom doo . Fea ing
ano he bea ing,

_______________
23 Id., a pp. 30-31.
24 Id., a pp. 26-27.
25 Id., a pp. 22-23.
26 Id., a p. 23.
27 Reco d , Vol. I, pp. 20-21.
28 TSN da ed J l 8, 1998, pp. 5-7.
29 Id., a pp. 6-7.
30 TSN da ed Ma ch 15, 1995, pp. 12-13.

828 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Mal n hed o of hei bed oom and in o he mo he -in-la

oom. She bl ed ha T one o ld bea he p again o he
mo he -in-la ga e he P300 o lea e he ho e.31 She ne e
e ned o hei conj gal home.
Mal n e plained ha he applied fo o k, again T one
i he , beca e he an ed o be elf- f cien . He e ol e came
f om he di co e ha T one had a on b Jocel n and had
ec e l gone o he US i h Jocel n.32
Mal n denied he allega ion of ad l e . She main ained ha
Benjie onl booked a oom a he H a Ho el fo he beca e he
a o d nk af e pa ing i h f iend . She admi ed nding he
b o he Ronald and T one a he doo of he H a Ho el oom, b
main ained being f ll clo hed a ha ime.33 Mal n in i ed ha he
o e he le e elinq i hing all he po al and pa en al igh
nde d e .34
Af e he H a Ho el inciden , Mal n onl a he child en b
ep i io l i i ing hem in chool. She la e ob ained pa ial
c od of he child en a an inciden o he legal epa a ion ac ion
led b T one again he ( hich ac ion a b eq en l
di mi ed fo lack of in e e ).
A an af ma i e defen e, Mal n main ained ha i a T one
ho a ffe ing f om p chological incapaci , a manife ed b
hi d g dependence, habi al d inking, omani ing, and ph ical
iolence.35 Mal n p e en ed D . Da an a clinical p chologi , a
he e pe i ne .
D . Da an in e ie ed T one, Mal n, Migg /Micke , Ja , and
Ria fo he p chological e al a ion of he po e . The fac al
na a ion c lled f om he e in e ie e eal ha T one fo nd
Mal n a lo mo he beca e of he mahjong

_______________
31 Id., a pp. 11-12.
32 Id., a pp. 9-11.
33 Id., a pp. 15-17.
34 Id., a pp. 17-18.
35 Reco d , Vol. I, p. 21.

Ka a . Fe a de , SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 829

habi ,36 hile Mal n a fed p i h T one e al in deli , d g

habi , and ph ical ab e.37 D . Da an de e mined ha bo h T one
and Mal n e e beha io all imma e. The enco n e ed p oblem
beca e of hei pe onali diffe ence , hich l ima el led o he
demi e of hei ma iage. He diagno ic imp e ion a e
mma i ed belo :

The ma iage of T one and Mal n a a mi ake f om he e

beginning. Bo h of hem e e no l ead fo ma iage e en af e o
ea of li ing oge he and ha ing a child. When Mal n me T one
ho ho e ed he i h gif , o e , and affec ion he e i ed hi
o e e . She made i clea ha he co ld ake him o lea e him. B he
min e he a ed o ca e, he became a diffe en pe on cling and
imma e, do b ing hi lo e, con an l demanding ea ance ha he a
he mo impo an pe on in hi life. She became ela ion hip-dependen . I
appea ha he le hen a hen he begin o ca e fo a man, he p
all he ene g in o him and lo e foc on he elf. Thi imbalance be een
hinking and feeling a o e helming o T one ho admi ed ha he
ho gh of commi men ca ed him. T one admi ed ha hen he a in
hi o nge ea , he a of en o eeking o he omen. Hi in e e in
hem a no nece a il fo e , j fo f n dancing, d inking, o impl
i ing.
 Bo h of hem eem beha io all imma e. Fo ome ime, Mal n
adap ed o he h band ho a a mood man i h ho empe and
n e ol ed i e i h pa en and ibling . He a a di ance , conce ned
mo e abo hi o k and f iend ha[n] he a abo pending ime i h hi
famil . Beca e of Mal n and T one backg o nd (bo h came f om
familie i h high con ic ) he e pe ienced moil and chao in hei
ma iage. The con ic he had ggled o a oid ddenl galloped o of
con ol Thei indi id al pe onali ie b oke h o gh, p ecipi a ing he
demi e of hei ma iage.38

_______________
36 D . Da an P chological E al a ion Repo , p. 13; d., a p. 259.
37 Id., a pp. 4-6; d.
38 Id., a pp. 17-18; d.; TSN da ed Ma ch 14, 1996, p. 10.

30

830 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

D . Da an like i e o e in he p chological e al a ion epo ha

Mal n e hibi ed igni can , b no e e e, dependenc , na ci i m,
and comp l i ene .39
On he and, he p chologi elabo a ed ha hile Mal n had
ela ion hip p oblem i h T one, he appea ed o ha e a good
ela ion hip i h he kid .40 A fo T one, he ha commi men
i e hich p e en him f om commi ing him elf o hi d ie a a
h band. He i nable o emain fai hf l o Mal n and i
p chologicall incapaci a ed o pe fo m hi d .41
Children s version
The child en all a ed ha bo h hei pa en ook ca e of hem,
p o ided fo hei need , and lo ed hem. Rio e i ed ha he
o ld accompan hei mo he o Whi e Plain on da ha he
pla ed mahjong i h he f iend . None of hem epo ed being
neglec ed o feeling abandoned.
The o elde kid emembe ed he gh be een hei pa en
b i a onl Ria ho admi ed ac all i ne ing ph ical ab e
in ic ed on he mo he .42 The o elde kid al o ecalled ha , af e
he epa a ion, hei mo he o ld i i hem onl in chool.43
The child en ecalled li ing in Valle Ve de i h onl he
ho ehelp and d i e d ing he ime ha hei dad a ab oad.44
While he did no li e i h hei mo he hile he

_______________
39 TSN da ed Jan a 30, 1996, p. 13.
40 Id., a p. 15.
41 TSN da ed Ma ch 14, 1996, p. 12.
42 Social Ca e S d Repo , p. 13 (Reco d , Vol. I, p. 215); D . Da an
P chological E al a ion Repo , p. 9 (Reco d , Vol. I, p. 259).
43 TSN da ed J ne 8, 1995, p. 6; D . Da an P chological E al a ion Repo , p.
9 (Id.); Rio depo i ion, p. 3 (Id., a p. 356).
44 Social Ca e S d Repo , pp. 11 and 13; Reco d , Vol. I, pp. 213 and 215.
 31

Ka a . Fe a de , SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 831

e e ho ed in Valle Ve de, he kid e e in ag eemen ha hei

mo he ook ca e of hem on eekend and o ld ee o hei need .
The had a common ecollec ion ha he ho ehelp o ld call hei
mo he o come and ake ca e of hem in Valle Ve de hene e an
of hem a ick.45
Other witnesses
D . Co nelio Banaag, T one a ending p chia i a he
Manila Sani a i m, e i ed ha , fo he d a ion of T one
con nemen , he co ple appea ed happ and he ife a
46
commendable fo he ppo he ga e o he po e. He like i e
e i ed ha T one e ed nega i e fo d g and a no a d g
dependen .47
Mal n b o he , Ronald Fe nande , con med T one
allega ion ha he fo nd Mal n i h Benjie in he H a ho el
oom. Con a o T one e ion, he e i ed ha nei he he no
T one en e ed he oom, b a ed in he hall a . He like i e did
no ecall eeing Benjie o Mal n half-naked.48
T one hen p e en ed Ma io Calma (Ma io), ho a allegedl
pa of Mal n g o p of f iend . He a ed on he and ha he
o ld go on nigh -o a a g o p and Mal n o ld mee i h a
male m ician-f iend af e a d .49
Social worker
The ial co o de ed he co ocial o ke , Jocel n V. A e
(A e), o cond c a ocial ca e d on he pa ie a ell a he
mino child en. A e in e ie ed he pa ie T one and Mal n; he
mino child en Migg /Micke and Ja ;

_______________
45 TSN da ed J ne 8, 1995, p. 9; Social Ca e S d Repo , pp. 11 and 19 (Id., a
pp. 213 and 221).
46 TSN da ed No embe 20, 1995, pp. 15 and 21.
47 Id., a pp. 8-10.
48 TSN da ed Jan a 4, 1996, pp. 4-6.
49 TSN da ed Ap il 2, 1998, pp. 18-20.

32

832 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

T one li e-in pa ne , Jocel n;50 and T one and Mal n onl

da gh e , Ria. While bo h pa en a e nanciall able and ha e
po i i e ela ion hip i h hei child en, he ecommended ha he
c od of he mino child en be a a ded o Mal n. Ba ed on he
in e ie of famil membe hem el e , Mal n a ho n o be
mo e a ailable o he child en and o e e ci e be e pe i ion and
ca e. The ocial o ke commended he fac ha e en af e Mal n
lef he conj gal home in 1985, he made effo o i i he child en
clande inel in hei e pec i e chool . And hile he a onl
g an ed eekend c od of he child en, i appea ed ha he made
effo o pe onall a end o hei need and o de o e ime i h
51
hem.
On he con a , T one, ho had c od of he child en ince
he co ple de fac epa a ion, impl lef he child en fo e e al
ea i h onl a maid and a d i e o ca e fo hem hile he li ed
i h hi econd famil ab oad.52 The ocial o ke fo nd ha
T one ended o p io i i e hi econd famil o he de imen of hi
child en i h Mal n. Gi en hi hi o d ing he fo ma i e ea
of he child en, he ocial o ke did no nd T one a eliable
pa en o hom c od of adole cen ma be a a ded.

_______________
50 T one allege ha he ma ied Jocel n Q ejano in 1990 in Califo nia, Uni ed
S a e of Ame ica af e di o cing i h Mal n al o in Califo nia ome ime in 1987.
The e i , ho e e , no doc men a e idence of he di o ce and ema iage. The e i
no allega ion ha T one had ob ained Ame ican ci i en hip and i indica ed in he
Social Ca e S d Repo a a Filipino ci i en (Reco d , Vol. I, p. 219).
51 Social Ca e S d Repo , pp. 19-20; d., a pp. 221-222.
52 Id.; d.

33

Ka a . Fe a de , SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 833

Ruling of the Regional Trial Court53

Af e mma i ing he e idence p e en ed b bo h pa ie , he
ial co concl ded ha bo h pa ie a e p chologicall
incapaci a ed o pe fo m he e en ial ma i al obliga ion nde he
Famil Code. The co Deci ion i encap la ed in hi pa ag aph:

F om he e idence, i appea ha pa ie a e bo h ffe ing f om

p chological incapaci o pe fo m hei e en ial ma i al obliga ion nde
A icle 36 of he Famil Code. The pa ie en e ed in o a ma iage i ho
a m ch a nde anding ha i en ail . The failed o commi hem el e
o i e en ial obliga ion : he conj gal ac , he comm ni of life and lo e,
he ende ing of m al help, he p oc ea ion and ed ca ion of hei child en
o become e pon ible indi id al . Pa ie p chological incapaci i
g a e, and e io ch ha bo h a e incapable of ca ing o he o dina
d ie eq i ed in ma iage. The incapaci ha been clinicall e abli hed
and a fo nd o be pe a i e, g a e and inc able. 54

The ial co hen decla ed he pa ie ma iage oid ab

p an o A icle 36 of he Famil Code.55

_______________
53 Reco d , Vol. II, pp. 382-389; penned b J dge Jo e R. He nande of B anch
158 of he Regional T ial Co of Pa ig Ci .
54 RTC Deci ion, pp. 7-8; d., a pp. 388-389.
55 The fa ead :
 WHEREFORE, he ma iage be een pe i ione Vale io Kala and e ponden
Ma. Elena Fe nande celeb a ed on No embe 4, 1976 i decla ed oid ab
p an o he p o i ion of A icle 36 of he Famil Code, and of no f he effec .
The p o i ion of A icle[ ] 50, 51, and 52 of he Famil Code of he Philippine
ela i e o he deli e of hei child en p e mp i e legi ime hall no appl
beca e pa ie e e no able o p o e he e i ence of an conj gal pa ne hip of
gain .
Upon nali of hi Deci ion, f ni h a cop each o he Of ce of he Local Ci il
Regi a of Pa ig Ci and he Na ional S a i ic Of ce, Q e on Ci fo hei
app op ia e ac ion con i en i h hi Deci ion.
SO ORDERED. (Id.; d.)

34

834 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Ruling of the Court of Appeals56

Mal n appealed he ial co Deci ion o he CA. The CA
e e ed he ial co ling beca e i i no ppo ed b he
fac on eco d. Bo h pa ie allega ion and inc imina ion again
each o he do no ppo a nding of p chological incapaci . The
pa ie fa l end onl o pic e hei imma i and
i e pon ibili in pe fo ming hei ma i al and familial obliga ion .
A mo , he e ma be f cien g o nd fo a legal epa a ion.57
Mo eo e , he p chological epo bmi ed b pe i ione e pe
i ne , D . Ga e , doe no e plain ho he diagno i of NPD came
o be d a n f om he o ce . I failed o a i f he legal and
j i p den ial eq i emen fo he decla a ion of n lli of
58
ma iage.
T one led a mo ion fo econ ide a ion59 b he ame a
60
denied on Decembe 15, 2004.
Petitioner s arguments
Pe i ione T one a g e ha he CA e ed in di ega ding he
fac al nding of he ial co , hich i he co ha i in he be
po i ion o app ecia e he e idence. He opine ha he ha p e en ed
p eponde an e idence o p o e ha e ponden i p chologicall
incapaci a ed o pe fo m he e en ial ma i al obliga ion , o i :
a) he e pe i ne e , D . Ga e and F . Heal , p o ed on he
and ha e ponden egocen ic a i de, imma i , elf-
ob e ion and elf-cen e edne e e manife a ion of
61
e ponden NPD;

_______________
56 CA R , pp. 262-273.
57 CA Deci ion, p. 7; CA R , p. 268.
58 Id., a p. 11; d., a p. 272.
59 CA R , pp. 281-298.
60 Id., a pp. 310-311.
61 Pe i ione Memo and m, pp. 23-26; R , pp. 606-609.

35
 Ka a . Fe a de , SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 835

b) he e e pe i ne e p o ed ha e ponden NPD i
g a e and inc able and p e en he f om pe fo ming he
e en ial ma ial obliga ion ;62 and
c) ha e ponden NPD e i ed a he ime of he celeb a ion
of he ma iage beca e i i oo ed in he pb inging, famil
backg o nd, and ociali e life le p io o he ma iage.63
Pe i ione e e ha e en e ponden in i ed ha hei
ma iage i oid beca e of p chological incapaci , albei on
pe i ione pa .64
Respondent s arguments
Re ponden main ain ha T one failed o di cha ge hi b den
of p o ing he alleged p chological incapaci .65 She a g e ha
he e imonie of he child en and he nding of he co ocial
o ke o he effec ha he a a good, lo ing, and a en i e
mo he a e f cien o eb T one allega ion ha he a
negligen and i e pon ible.66
She a ail D . Ga e epo a one- ided and lacking in dep h.
D . Ga e did no in e ie he , hei common child en, o e en
Jocel n. Mo eo e , he epo failed o a e ha Mal n alleged
p chological incapaci a g a e and inc able.67 F . Heal
e imon , on he o he hand, a ba ed onl on T one e ion of
he fac .68
Mal n ei e a e he appella e co ling ha he ial co
Deci ion i in in icall defec i e fo failing o ppo

_______________
62 Id., a pp. 13-20; d., a pp. 596-603.
63 Id., a pp. 20-22; d., a pp. 603-605.
64 Id., a pp. 26-27; d., a pp. 609-610.
65 Re ponden Memo and m, p. 2; d., a p. 551.
66 Id., a pp. 17-18; d., a pp. 566-567.
67 Id., a p. 19; d., a p. 568.
68 Id., a p. 20; d., a p. 569.

36

836 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

i concl ion of p chological incapaci i h fac al nding .

Almo fo ea af e ling he memo and m, e ponden
appa en l had a change of hea and led a Manife a ion i h
Mo ion fo Lea e o Wi hd a Commen and Memo and m.69 She
manife ed ha he a no longe di p ing he po ibili ha hei
ma iage ma eall be oid on he ba i of T one p chological
incapaci . She hen a ked he Co o di po e of he ca e i h
70
j ice. He manife a ion and mo ion e e no ed b he Co in
i Jan a 20, 2010 Re ol ion.71
 Issue

Whe he pe i ione ha f cien l p o ed ha e ponden ffe

f om p chological incapaci

Our Ruling

The pe i ion ha no me i . The CA commi ed no e e ible e o

in e ing a ide he ial co Deci ion fo lack of legal and fac al
ba i .
A pe i ion fo decla a ion of n lli of ma iage i go e ned b
A icle 36 of he Famil Code hich p o ide :

ART. 36. A ma iage con ac ed b an pa ho, a he ime of he

celeb a ion, a p chologicall incapaci a ed o compl i h he e en ial
ma i al obliga ion of ma iage, hall like i e be oid e en if ch
incapaci become manife onl af e i olemni a ion.

P chological incapaci i he do n igh incapaci o inabili

o ake cogni ance of and o a me he ba ic ma i al

_______________
69 R , pp. 650-654.
70 Re ponden Manife a ion, p. 2; d., a p. 651.
71 R , p. 662.

37

Ka a . Fe a de , SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 837

obliga ion .72 The b den of p o ing p chological incapaci i on

he plain iff.73 The plain iff m p o e ha he incapaci a ed pa ,
ba ed on hi o he ac ion o beha io , ffe a e io
p chological di o de ha comple el di able him o he f om
nde anding and di cha ging he e en ial obliga ion of he
ma i al a e. The p chological p oblem m be g a e, m ha e
74
e i ed a he ime of ma iage, and m be inc able.
In he ca e a ba , pe i ione failed o p o e ha hi ife
( e ponden ) ffe f om p chological incapaci . He p e en ed he
e imonie of o ppo ed e pe i ne e ho concl ded ha
e ponden i p chologicall incapaci a ed, b he concl ion of
he e i ne e e e p emi ed on he alleged ac o beha io of
e ponden hich had no been f cien l p o en. Pe i ione
e pe hea il elied on pe i ione allega ion of e ponden
con an mahjong e ion , i i o he bea pa lo , going o ih
f iend , ad l e , and neglec of hei child en. Pe i ione e pe
opined ha e ponden alleged habi , hen pe fo med con an l
o he de imen of q ali and q an i of ime de o ed o he d ie
a mo he and ife, con i e a p chological incapaci in he fo m
of NPD.
B pe i ione allega ion , hich e ed a he ba e o
nde l ing p emi e of he concl ion of hi e pe , e e no
ac all p o en. In fac , e ponden p e en ed con a e idence
ef ing he e allega ion of he pe i ione .
Fo in ance, pe i ione alleged ha e ponden con an l pla ed
mahjong and neglec ed hei child en a a e l . Re-

_______________
72 Re b c . I , 507 Phil. 485, 502; 470 SCRA 508, 525 (2005), ci ing
Re b c . C f A ea , 335 Phil. 664, 678; 268 SCRA 198, 211 (1997).
73 Re b c . C f A ea , 335 Phil. 664, 676; 268 SCRA 198, 209 (1997).
74 Sa .C f A ea , 310 Phil. 21, 39; 240 SCRA 20, 33-34 (1995).

838 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

ponden admi edl pla ed mahjong, b i a no p o en ha he

engaged in mahjong o f eq en l ha he neglected he d ie a a
mo he and a ife. Re ponden ef ed pe i ione allega ion ha
he pla ed fo o e ime a eek. She main ained i a onl o
o h ee ime a eek and al a i h he pe mi ion of he h band
and i ho abandoning he child en a home. The child en
co obo a ed hi , a ing ha he e e i h hei mo he hen he
pla ed mahjong in hei ela i e home. Pe i ione did no p e en
an p oof, o he han hi o n e imon , ha he mahjong e ion
e e o f eq en ha e ponden neglec ed he famil . While he
in ima ed ha o of hi on epea ed he econd g ade, he a no
able o link hi epi ode o e ponden mahjong-pla ing. The lea
ha co ld ha e been done a o p o e he f eq enc of
e ponden mahjong-pla ing d ing he ea hen he e o
child en e e in econd g ade. Thi a no done. Th , hile he e
i no di p e ha e ponden pla ed mahjong, i alleged debili a ing
f eq enc and ad e e effec on he child en e e no p o en.
Al o np o en a pe i ione claim abo e ponden alleged
con an i i o he bea pa lo , going o i h f iend , and
ob e i e need fo a en ion f om o he men. No p oof ha oe e
a p e en ed o p o e he i i o bea alon o he f eq en
pa ing i h f iend . Pe i ione p e en ed Ma io (an alleged
companion of e ponden d ing he e nigh -o ) in o de o p o e
ha e ponden had affai i h o he men, b Ma io onl e i ed
ha e ponden a ea ed o be da ing o he men. E en a ming
a e d ha pe i ione a able o p o e ha e ponden had an
e ama i al affai i h ano he man, ha one in ance of e al
in deli canno , b i elf, be eq a ed i h ob e i e need fo
a en ion f om o he men. Se al in deli e e i a g o nd fo
legal epa a ion, b i doe no nece a il con i e p chological
incapaci .
Gi en he in f cienc of e idence ha e ponden ac all
engaged in he beha io de c ibed a con i i e of

3
 Ka a . Fe a de , SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 839

NPD, he e i no ba i fo concl ding ha he a indeed

p chologicall incapaci a ed. Indeed, he o ali of he e idence
poin o he oppo i e concl ion. A fai a e men of he fac
o ld ho ha e ponden a no o all emi and incapable of
app ecia ing and pe fo ming he ma i al and pa en al d ie . No
once did he child en a e ha he e e neglec ed b hei mo he .
On he con a , he na a ed ha he ook ca e of hem, a
a o nd hen he e e ick, and cooked he food he like. I
appea ha e ponden made eal effo o ee and ake ca e of he
child en de pi e he e angemen f om hei fa he . The e a no
e imon ha oe e ha ho abandonmen and neglec of
familial d ie . While pe i ione ci e he fac ha hi o on , Rio
and Migg , bo h failed he econd elemen a le el de pi e ha ing
o , he e i no hing o link hei academic ho coming o
Mal n ac ion .
Af e po ing o e he eco d of he ca e, he Co nd no
fac al ba i fo he concl ion of p chological incapaci . The e i
no e o in he CA e e al of he ial co ling ha he e a
p chological incapaci . The ial co Deci ion me el
mma i ed he allega ion , e imonie , and e idence of he
e pec i e pa ie , b i did no ac all a e he e aci of he e
allega ion , he c edibili of he i ne e , and he eigh of he
e idence. The ial co did no make fac al nding hich can
e e a ba e fo i legal concl ion of p chological incapaci .
Wha an pi ed be een he pa ie i ac imon and, pe hap ,
in deli , hich ma ha e con ained hem f om dedica ing he
be of hem el e o each o he and o hei child en. The e ma be
g o nd fo legal epa a ion, b ce ainl no p chological
incapaci ha oid a ma iage.
WHEREFORE, p emi e con ide ed, he pe i ion i DENIED.
The Co of Appeal Ma 27, 2004 Deci ion and i Decembe 15,
2004 Re ol ion in CA-G.R. CV No. 64240 a e AFFIRMED.

40

840 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

SO ORDERED.

C a (C.J., C a e ), Le a d -De Ca , Be a
and Pe e ,** JJ., conc .

Pe de ed, d e a d e af ed.

N . A me e ho ing of i econcilable diffe ence and

con ic ing pe onali ie doe no eq a e o p chological incapaci .
(Ha . Sa -Ha , 551 SCRA 576 [2008])
o0o
 _______________
** In lie of A ocia e J ice Ma in S. Villa ama, J ., pe Special O de No.
1080 da ed Sep embe 13, 2011.

C gh 2020 Ce a B S , I c. A gh e e ed.