ARROYOvsVASQUEZ(1921)

PlaintiffAppellant:MarianoArroyo,
DefendantAppellee:DoloresVasquezdeArroyo,
FACTS:
MarianoArroyo(husband)andDoloresVasquezdeArroyo(wife)weremarriedfor10years.
Thewifewentawayfromtheircommonhomewiththeintentionoflivingseparatelyfromherhusband
Mariano.
Thehusbandmadeeffortsinducingthewifetoresumemaritalrelationsbuttonoavail.
Thehusbandinitiatedanactiontocompelhiswifetoreturntothematrimonialhomeandlivewith
himasadutifulwife.
Thewifeadmittedthefactofmarriageandthatshelefthomewithouthisconsentbutsheaverredbyway
ofdefenseandcrosscomplaintthatshehadbeencompelledtoleavebecauseofcrueltreatmentimposedby
herhusband.Thus,sheinturnprayedforaffirmativerelief,toconsistof:(1)decreeofseparation;(2)
liquidation of conjugal property; (3) and an allowance for counsel fees and permanent separate
maintenance.Thelowercourtgavejudgementinfavourofthedefendantappellee(thewife).Thelower
courtreachedtheconclusionthatthehusbandwasmoretobeblamedthanthewifeduetohiscontinuedill
treatmentwhichisasufficientjustificationofherabandonmentoftheconjugalhome.
ISSUES:
(1)Whetherornotthewifeabsentedherselffromthemaritalhomewithsufficientjustification
(2)Whetherornotthewifecanbecompelledtolivewithherhusband
HELD:
(1)ThewifeabsentedherselffromthemaritalhomeWITHOUTsufficientjustification.
(2)ThewifeCANNOTbecompelledtolivewithherhusband.
RATIO:
1.TheSupremeCourtreversedthejudgmentofthelowercourt.Asbasedonevidence,itistheopinionof
thehighcourtthatthewifesabandonmentofthemaritalhomewaswithoutsufficientjustificationbecause
thewifewasratherafflictedwithadispositionofjealousytowardsherhusbandinanaggravateddegree.
2.Itisnotwithintheprovinceofthecourtsofthiscountrytoattempttocompeloneofthespousesto
cohabitwith,andrenderconjugalrightsto,theother. Theexperienceofothercountrieswherethe
courtsofjusticehaveassumedtocompelthecohabitationofmarriedpeopleshowsthatthepolicyofthe
practice isextremely questionable. Thus,the court cannot orderforthereturn of the wife tothe
maritaldomicilebutheisentitledtojudicialdeclarationthatwifesabandonmentofmaritalhomeis
withoutsufficientjustificationandthatitisherdutytoreturnhome.