AquinovsDelizo

Aquinovs.Delizo
109Phil21
FACTS:
FernandoAquinofiledacomplaintinSeptember1955onthegroundof
fraudagainstConchitaDelizothatatthedateofhermarriagewiththe
formeronDecember1954,concealedthefactthatshewaspregnantby
anothermanandsometimeinApril1955orabout4monthsaftertheir
marriage,gavebirthtoachild.Duringthetrial,ProvincialFiscalJose
Gocorepresentthestateintheproceedingstopreventcollusion.Only
Aquinotestifiedandtheonlydocumentaryevidencepresentedwasthe
marriagecontractbetweentheparties.Delizodidnotappearnor
presentedanyevidence.
CFIRizaldismissedpetitionerscomplaintforannulmentofmarriage,
whichwasaffirmedbyCAthusapetitionforcertioraritoreviewthe
decisions.
ISSUE:Whetherornotconcealmentofpregnancyasallegedby
Aquinodoesnotconstitutesuchfraudaswouldannulamarriage.
HELD:
Theconcealmentbythewifeofthefactthatatthetimeofthemarriage,

shewaspregnantbyamanotherthanherhusbandconstitutesfraudand
isagroundforannulmentofmarriage.Delizowasallegedlytobeonly
morethanfourmonthspregnantatthetimeofhermarriage.Atthis
stage,itishardtosaythatherpregnancywasreadilyapparent
especiallysinceshewasnaturallyplumporfat.Itisonlyonthe6th
monthofpregnancythattheenlargementofthewomansabdomen
reachesaheightabovetheumbilicus,makingtheroundnessofthe
abdomenmoregeneralandapparent.
Inthefollowingcircumstances,thecourtremandedthecasefornew
trialanddecisioncomplainedissetaside.