Ninal vs Bayadog

Ninal vs. Bayadog

328 SCRA 122

FACTS:

Pepito Ninal was married with Teodulfa Bellones on September 26, 1974.  They had 3 children namely Babyline, Ingrid and Archie, petitioners.  Due to the shot inflicted by Pepito to Teodulfa, the latter died on April 24, 1985 leaving the children under the guardianship of Engrace Ninal.  1 year and 8 months later, Pepito and Norma Badayog got married without any marriage license.  They instituted an affidavit stating that they had lived together for at least 5 years exempting from securing the marriage license.  Pepito died in a car accident on February 19, 1977.  After his death, petitioners filed a petition for declaration of nullity of the marriage of Pepito and Norma alleging that said marriage was void for lack of marriage license.

ISSUES:

1.  Whether or not the second marriage of Pepito was void?

2.  Whether or not the heirs of the deceased may file for the declaration of the nullity of Pepito’s marriage after his death?

HELD:

The marriage of Pepito and Norma is void for absence of the marriage license.  They cannot be exempted even though they instituted an affidavit and claimed that they cohabit for at least 5 years because from the time of Pepito’s first marriage was dissolved to the time of his marriage with Norma, only about 20 months had elapsed. Albeit, Pepito and his first wife had separated in fact, and thereafter both Pepito and Norma had started living with each other that has already lasted for five years, the fact remains that their five-year period cohabitation was not the cohabitation contemplated by law.  Hence, his marriage to Norma is still void.

Void marriages are deemed to have not taken place and cannot be the source of rights.  It can be questioned even after the death of one of the parties and any proper interested party may attack a void marriage.