Jurisprudence on Adultery

PHILIPPINE JURISPRUDENCE ON ADULTERY Is the presence of a ground for declaration of nullity of marriage a valid defense? No. [W]e are of opinion that in the a!en"e of proof of  a for#a$ %&'i"ia$ 'e"ree 'e"$arin( the n&$$it) of the !e"o !e "on' n' a$$e a$$e(e (e' ' i( i(a# a#o& o&! ! #a #arrria( ria(e e the a"t a"t! "o#p$aine' of "on!tit&te the "ri#e of a'&$ter).

Arti"$e *++ of the Pena$ Co'e, 'e-nin( an' pena$iin( the "ri#e of a'&$ter), i! a! fo$$o/!0 A'&$t &$ter) !ha !ha$$ e p&ni! &ni!he he' ' /ith the pena$t na$t) ) correccional in of prision it! #e'i&# an' #a1i#&# 'e(ree!.  A'&$ter) i! "o##itte' ) the #arrie' /o#an /ho $ie! /ith a #an not her h&!an', an' ) hi# /ho $ie! /ith her 2no/in( that !he i! #arrie', a$tho&(h the #arria(e e after/ar'! 'e"$are' 3oi'. It i! 4&ite "$ear fro# the pe"&$iar phra!in( of the $a!t para(raph of thi! arti"$e, that the $a/#a2er! inten'e' to 'e"$are a'&$tero&! the in-'e$it) of a #arrie' /o#an to her #arita$ 3o/!, e3en tho&(h it !ho&$' e #a'e to appear that !he i! entit$e' to ha3e her #arria(e "ontra"t 'e"$are' n&$$ an' 3oi', &nti &nti$$ an' an' &n$e &n$e!! !! !he !he a"t& a"t&a$ a$$) $) !e !e"& "&rre! a for#a for#a$$  %&'i"ia$ 'e"$aration to that e5e"t. The rea!on for thi! thi! pro3i pro3i!io !ion n i! th&! th&! !tate !tate' ' ) 6roi 6roiar ar', ', in hi! "o##entar) &pon !i#i$ar pro3i!ion! "ontaine' in arti"$e *77 of the Spani!h Pena$ Co'e of 879:0 At no ti#e 'oe! the on' of #atri#on) "ontain a 'efe"t /hi"h ) it!e$f i! !&;"ient to 'i!!o$3e the &nion. The #arria(e #&!t e 'e"$are' to e n&$$ in or'er that the on' #a) e !e3ere'. Unti$ it i! !o 'e"$are', &nti$ ) "o#petent a&thorit) in a -na$  %&'(#ent the #arria(e "ontra"t i! !et a!i'e, the o5en!e to the 3o/! ta2en, an' the atta"2 on the fa#i$) e1i!t! < the a'&$ter) re&nite! the e!!entia$ "on' "on'iition tion! ! re4&ir 4&ire e' for for it! p&ni! ni!h#e h#ent. nt. Thi! Thi! a&n'ant$) !ati!-e! the rea!on an' f&rther#ore i! e1pre!!$) !et o&t in o&r !tat&te. =The =The Unite' Unite' State State! ! 3!. Ja"in Ja"inta ta >ata, >ata, et et.. a$., a$., 6.R 6.R.. No. L