7/24/2019 6 Dimayuga Laurena v CA

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DIMAYUGA-LAURENA vs. CA

568 SCRA 154

Facts: Ma. Darlene Dimayuga-Laurena (petitioner) and JesseLauro Laurena (respondent) got married on December 19, 1983 ataint !ugustine "#urc# in $ntramuros, Manila. %#ey #a&e t'o c#ildren,Mar Jordan '#o 'as born on July , 198* and Mic#ael Josep# '#o 'asborn on +o&ember 11, 198.

n ctober 19, 1993, petitioner led a petition /ordeclaration o/ nullity o/ marriage against t#e respondent. 0etitioneralleged t#at respondent 'as psyc#ologically incapable o/ assuming t#eessential obligations o/ marriage, and t#e incapacity eisted at t#e

time o/ t#e celebration o/ t#e marriage alt#oug# s#e disco&ered it onlya/ter t#e marriage. 0etitioner alleged t#at respondent2s psyc#ologicalincapacity 'as mani/ested by #is indelity, utter neglect o/ #is /amily2sneeds because #e gi&es priority to t#e needs o/ #is parents,irresponsibility, insensiti&ity, and tendency to lead a bac#elor2s li/e.

%#e "ourt o/ !ppeals armed t#e trial courts decision 'it#regard to t#e denial o/ t#e petition /or annulment o/ marriage and t#edissolution o/ t#e con4ugal partners#ip o/ gains.

5ence, t#is petition.

Issue:

6#et#er or not Jesse Lauro Laurena (respondent) ispsyc#ologically incapacitated to comply 'it# t#e essential maritalobligations.

He!:

+o, Ma. Darlene Dimayuga-Laurena (petitioner) /ailed toestablis# t#e respondent2s psyc#ological incapacity. eual indelity,repeated p#ysical &iolence, #omoseuality, p#ysical &iolence or moralpressure to compel petitioner to c#ange religious aliation, and

abandonment are grounds /or legal separation but not /or declaring amarriage &oid. #e /ailed to pro&e psyc#ological incapacity or identi/yits root cause. #e /ailed to establis# t#at respondent2s psyc#ologicalincapacity is incurable and it 'as eisting at t#e time o/ t#e celebrationo/ t#eir marriage.

0syc#ological incapacity must be c#aracteri7ed by gra&ity,4udicial antecedence and incurability. %#us, t#e upreme "ourteplained

(a) ra&ity : $t must be gra&e and serious suc# t#at t#e party 'ould be

incapable o/ carrying out t#e ordinary duties re;uired in a marriage