Anacleto Alden Meneses* Vs. Jung Soon Linda Lee-Meneses G.R. No. 200182. March 13, 2019

Anacleto Alden Meneses* Vs. Jung Soon Linda Lee-Meneses G.R. No. 200182. March 13, 2019

Caguioa

https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/65268

Is a spouse who considers money and material needs as the essence of marriage psychologically incapacitated to perform the essential marital obligations to warrant a declaration of nullity of marriage under Article 36 of the Family Code?

Issues
The Petition calls on the Court to determine whether the lower courts erred in dismissing Anacleto's petition for declaration of nullity on the ground of insufficient evidence.

Moreover, Linda's parents struggled through life and made a lot of sacrifices to [attain] financial success. They saw money as the key to success in life and the answer to satisfy one's needs. This has made Linda prioritize the satisfaction she would derive from material things and would do anything to get what [she] wants. On the other hand, Linda's resentment and lack of love and attention from her father has resulted to her demanding and domineering ways towards the opposite sex x x x. All these has (sic) made her display narcissistic and borderline behaviors.

While Dr. Lopez attributes the gravity of Linda's disorder to her alleged unhealthy childhood, none of the informants whom he interviewed claims to have known Linda since childhood. Moreover, neither Marife nor Ronilo appear to have known Linda prior to the marriage in question. This significantly impairs the weight of Dr. Lopez's findings, insofar as they are based on the informants' narration of Linda's childhood events and circumstances which they appear to have no personal knowledge of.

The Court commiserates with Anacleto's plight. The denial of the present Petition may be viewed as a sentence to a lifetime trapped in a "loveless" marriage characterized by failed expectations and lost hopes. Unfortunately, however, marriage recognized in this jurisdiction stands beyond love and personal emotions; it is a matter of law. Thus, in actions for declaration of nullity of marriage, the Court is bound to dispense justice not on the basis of its own determination on the existence of love or lack thereof, but on the basis of law and the evidence on record.

Decisions
WHEREFORE, the Petition is hereby DENIED. The Decision dated July 19, 2011 and Resolution dated January 12, 2012 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 95614 are AFFIRMED.