JUSTICES DISSENT ON 2017 ANNULMENT CASE, SAY GUILTY SPOUSES DESERVE LEGAL PROTECTION

Four justices of the Philippine Supreme Court have expressed dissent in a 2017 annulment case, challenging a ruling that denied a Filipina’s petition to annul her second marriage due to bigamy. The majority ruling stated that she lacked legal standing as the “guilty spouse” in the bigamous marriage. However, Associate Justices Amy Lazaro-Javier and Rodil Zalameda, along with Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, disagreed, emphasizing that the law provides no distinction between the “guilty” and “innocent” spouse when filing for annulment. Lazaro-Javier argued that despite the petitioner’s infidelity, she still deserves legal protection, while Zalameda called for a more liberal approach to address current realities. Both justices asserted that the petitioner should not be denied the opportunity to annul a clearly void marriage, advocating for a more inclusive legal process.