NCC Article 15 Laws relating to family rights and duties, or to the status, condition and legal capacity of persons

are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living abroad Barretto Gonzalez vs. Gonzales March 7, 1933 Philippine Reports, Vol. 58 Nature: Appeal from a jud ment of the !ourt of "irst #nstance of Manila Ponente: $ull, %. Facts: Au usto &on'ales and Manuela (arretto &on'ales are citi'ens of the Philippines, married on 1919. "our children )ere *orn of the marria e. +n the ,prin of 19-., the/ 0oluntaril/ separated. 1e otiations ha0e *een made and it has *een a reed upon that &on'ales )ill support his )ife and children for P522 a month. After the a reement, Au usto &on'ales left the Philippines and settled in 1e0ada to secure an a*solute di0orce on the round of desertion dated 1o0em*er -8, 19-7. +n the same date, he married another "ilipina, and the/ had 3 children. #n 19-8, he returned to the Philippines. 3he defendant then reduced the a reed upon financial support and did not ma4e the pa/ments fi5ed in the di0orce. Manuela (arreto then filed a motion to ratif/ the di0orce the decree of di0orce, )ith modifications such as pa/in the counsel fees )orth P5,222. 3he !ourt of "irst #nstance ruled a ainst the defendant. And this is )h/ )e ha0e this appeal. Issues: 6+1 the !ourt has the jurisdiction to reco ni'e the di0orce in 1e0ada Held: 1o. 3he act of di0orce filed in 1e0ada must not *e credited and reco ni'ed since it is not allo)ed in the Philippine la). Ratio: 1. 3he residence ac7uired in 1e0ada */ the hus*and )asn8t a *ona fide residence and didn8t confer jurisdiction upon the court. -. All 7uestions relatin to marria e and di0orce or le al separation, to support *et)een mem*ers of the famil/, to the conju al partnership, are o0erned e5clusi0el/ */ the la) of the Philippines, )hen "ilipinos are in0ol0ed.

Tenchavez vs Escano 1o0em*er -9, 19.5 15 ,!RA 355 1ature9 :irect Appeal from a decision of the !ourt of "irst #nstance of !e*u Ponente9 Re/es, %.(.;., %. "acts9 a. "e*ruar/ -<, 19<8 = Pastor 3encha0e' >3-? and Vicenta @scano >-7? secretl/ e5chan ed marria e 0o)s in !e*u and planned to elope. 3he elopement didn8t push throu h *ecause her parents found a*out their plans of ettin married. Mamerto and Mena @scano, after *ein told */ Vicenta that she and Pastor alread/ ot married, immediatel/ su ested a recele*ration to 0alidate )hat the/ *elie0e )as an in0alid marriade. 3he recele*ration didn8t happen *ecause some of Vicenta8s collea ues at the school disclosed a lo0e letter *et)een Pastor and Pacita 1oel, their supposed matchma4er. (ecause of this amorous letter, Vicenta and Pastor8s relationship slo)l/ deteriorated. %une -<, 1952 A Vicenta applied for a passport and )ent to 1e0ada. Au ust --, 1952 A "iled a compliant for di0orce in the ,econd %udicial !ourt of the ,tate of 1e0ada. +cto*er -1, 1952 A 3he di0orce *ecame final and a*solute. ,eptem*er 13, 195< A Vicenta married an American, Russel ;ao Moran, in 1e0ada. ,he no) li0es )ith him and has *e otten children. ,he ac7uired American citi'enship on Au ust 8, 1958. %ul/ 32, 1955 A 3encha0e' filed for le al separation and as4ed for one million pesos in dama es. 3he jud ment didn8t decree a le al separation *ut freed 3encha0e' from supportin his )ife. 3encha0e' )as also as4ed to pa/ P<5,222 to Mamerto and Mena for moral and e5emplar/ dama es. 3encha0e' decided to ma4e an appeal.

*.

c.

d. e. f. . h.

i. j.

Issues: 6+1 3encha0e' is entitled to a di0orce or a le al separation from Vicenta @scano Held: Bes. (ut )ith modifications.
= Vicenta )ill pa/ P-5,222 for dama es and attorne/s8 fees. = 3encha0e' )ill pa/ Mamerto and Mena, P5,222 for dama es and attorne/s8 fees.

Ratio: 1. -. 3. 6hen the di0orce decree )as issued, Vicenta @scano )as still a "ilipino citi'en. ,he )as then su*ject to Philippine la). !! of the Philippines doesn8t admit a*solute di0roce, #t onl/ pro0ides le al separation. :i0orce and second marria e are in0alidC Relationship )ith Moran is an Dintercourse )ith a person not her hus*andE. Adulterous F justifies an action for le al separtion.