Te vs Te

G.R. No. 161793 | February 13, 2009

J. Nachura

Facts:

Petitioner Edward Kenneth Ngo Te first got a glimpse of respondent Rowena Ong Gutierrez Yu-
Te in their college. Sharing similar angst towards their families, the two understood one another and
developed a certain degree of closeness towards each other. In March 1996, Rowena asked Edward
that they elope. At first, he refused, but her persistence, however, made him relent. Thus, they left
Manila and sailed to Cebu that month shouldering the expenses.

In April 1996, they decided to go back to Manila and thereafter, Rowena’s uncle brought the
two to a court to get married. The two then continued to stay at her uncle’s place where Edward was
treated like a prisoner and was not allowed to go out unaccompanied. After a month, Edward escaped
from the house of Rowena’s uncle, and stayed with his parents. His family then hid him from Rowena
and her family whenever they telephoned to ask for him.

After almost four years, Edward filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court, for the
annulment of his marriage to Rowena on the basis of the latter’s psychological incapacity.

Issue:

Is the contracted marriage void on the grounds of psychological incapacity?

Held:

Yes, Both petitioner and respondent are dubbed to be emotionally immature and recklessly
impulsive upon swearing to their marital vows as each of them was motivated by different notions on
marriage. Petitioner is absconded as an introvert who is not really sociable and displays a lack of interest
in social interactions. The Respondent is said to be of the aggressive-rebellious type of woman. She is
seen to be somewhat exploitative in her plight for a life of wealth and glamour.

Both parties being afflicted with grave, severe and incurable psychological incapacity her unable
makes them unable to assume their essential marital obligations, the precipitous marriage which they
contracted are declared null and void.