FACTS: Reinel and
Annabelle met became a couple in 1991.
They applied for a marriage license in September 1994. When the couple went back to the Office of
the Civil Registrar, the marriage license had already expired. Thus, in order to push through with the
wedding despite of absence of marriage license, they executed an affidavit
dated 13 March 1995 stating that they had been living together as husband and
wife for at least five years. They got
married on the same day. However, they
did not live together as husband and wife. In November 1995, Annabelle gave
birth to a daughter, and supported the child on her own. Annabelle then filed a
complaint for support against petitioner before the RTC Pasig. In her
complaint, respondent alleged that she is married to petitioner and that the
latter has a responsibility or obligation to financially support her as his
wife and their child. Reinel denied that they are married and claimed that the
marriage is void ab initio because the affidavit they jointly executed is a
fake. And that he was only forced by Annabelle to marry her to avoid the
humiliation that the pregnancy without marriage may bring her. The trial court
ruled that the marriage is not valid because it was solemnized without a
marriage license. However, it declared petitioner as the natural father of the
child, and thus obliged to give her support.
ISSUE: Whether or not
their marriage is valid.
HELD: The false
affidavit which petitioner and respondent executed so they could push through
with the marriage has no value whatsoever; it is a mere scrap of paper. They were not exempt from the marriage license
requirement. Their failure to obtain and present a marriage license renders
their marriage void ab initio.
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