Maria Teresa B. Tani-De La Fuente v. Rodolfo De La Fuente, Jr., G.R. No. 188400 (2017)

The petitioner filed for a declaration of nullity of marriage with the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City because her husband (the respondent), had subjected her to significant abuse, including stalking, sexual coercion, and pointing a gun at her head. A clinical psychologist testified as an expert witness and recommended that the petitioner’s marriage be annulled due to the respondent’s severe personality disorder and his incapacity to perform marital obligations. The Regional Court granted the petition, but the Court of Appeals reversed, concluding that the petitioner failed to present sufficient evidence of the respondent’s psychological incapacity. The Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals decision and reinstated the Regional Court’s ruling that declared the marriage as null and void. The Supreme Court found that the clinical psychologist’s testimony regarding the respondent’s escalating psychological and physical abuse, as corroborated by the petitioner, sufficiently proved that the respondent could not perform the vital obligations of marriage. 

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  • 2017

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Jurisdiction