Psychological Report Annulment With v Middle I

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DR. ALDEN V. De Guzman Clinical Psychologist

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Clinic: De Guzman Psychological Clinic No. 1142, Mabini, Cabanatuan City

Tel. Nos. 463-1111 Email address:[email protected]

PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORT

I.

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION:

Name of Petitioner: Birthday:  Age: Nationality: Sex: Social Status: Education: Occupation: Date of Evaluation: Date of Report:

ALMA JANE C. CATABONA June 21, 1982 35 years old Filipino Female Married College Graduate Nurse March 25 and April 1, 2017 June 21, 2017

Name of Respondent: Birthday:  Age: Nationality: Sex: Social Status: Education: Occupation: Date of Evaluation: Date of Report:

JOVIC M. CATABONA  ______  38 years old Filipino Male Married College Graduate Government Employee March 26 and April 8 June 21, 2017

II.

REFERRAL INFORMATION:

The petitioner, Mrs. Alma Catabona was referred by Atty. Charina Diaz to determine whether both couple are psychological capable of carrying out the ordinary and essential obligations of marital state. She is filing an action for declaration of nullity of marriage against her estranged husband Mr. Jovic Catabona. The couple was married on April 14, 2003 at Sto. Niño Parish Church and had two children namely Ali C. Catabona, 7 years old and Pia C. Catabona, 6 years old. A letter was sent to Mr. Jovic informing him of the petition filed by his wife and the need for him to undergo psychological evaluation. The respondent acceded to the invitation and went to the clinic on the above mentioned dates.

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The clinical impressions of the petitioner and the respondent were based on their psychological assessment and interviews of the following witnesses; Vicky M. Catabona, Mother of Jovic and Eleanor P. Cortez, Mother of Alma.

III.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

Clinical Interview and Case History Behavioral Observations Collateral Interviews with the following: 1. 2. 3.

Mrs. Vicky M. Catabona - mother of Jovic Mrs. Eleanor P. Cortez - mother of Alma Leonard P. Cortez- brother of Alma

Psychological Tests Administered: Revised Beta Examination II Machover Figure Drawing Test Sach’s Sentence Completion Test Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test Bar-on Emotional Quotient Inventory Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-II

IV.

CASE BACKGROUND: ALMA JANE

Petitioner, Alma is the third child in the brood of two sisters and three brothers from the couple, Mr. Antonio C. Cortez, 62 years old, a farmer and Mrs. Eleanor P. Cortez, 62 years old and a farmer con housewife. She was born in Cabanatuan City and raised in Kapitan Pepe Subd. Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. She came from a low income family, but their greatest wealth was each other. Jovic and his mother were envy of their family ties. They may be poor, they have just enough of things and sometimes none at all as compared to their playmates ’ family but they are happy. Growing up, Alma shared that it was fun despite of tough life where she had to help her parents when she was with them at the farm. Petitioner shared that she was too “makulit” and stubborn when she was young. Her par ents could not stand it, Alma ended up beaten by them. She hated her experience of helping in the farm or do errand works at home. For her, having good grades and excelling in her studies should be enough to be coined as good daughter. Another significant memory of her childhood was the extremely opposite character of her parents. Mr. Antonio, was a serious man, he seldom talks, reasons why he was not close to his family member. His father, has his good side as well like being humble, kind and too indulgent. Mrs. Eleanor, was the dominant figure at their home, who was described by the petitioner as thoughtful, loving and caring. Since she was the matriarch, she was easily frustrated, short tempered leading her to become nagger while she was too sensitive at the same time. Petitioner and her siblings were brought up in Kapitan Pepe Subd. Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija . She was “makulit”, talkative and funny though at times she was punished for her traits. She grew up with her grandmother selling at the market place and play with the children near the squatters ’ area near them. She added that such experience

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made her mature for her age and she had strong personality. Alma was also raised together with her other siblings to be God fearing with right discipline, docile, with high value for education and good upbringing. She was enrolled in Lazaro Francisco Elementary School and then she had her high school diploma at Nueva Ecija High School. She graduated as consistent honor since elementary, and graduated with good scholastic standing in one of the prestigious school in the country, Central Luzon State University. She shared that she was always at the top of their class, because she equated being a good daughter to having good grades. She studied hard for the perks it may entail like respect and appreciation from her family and friends. Her holistic development is very important for Alma, she was quite clingy of the people who become close to her and she always wanted to have someone to support her despite of the façade that she create that she was mature and independent for her age. Her brother, Leonard Cortez shared that Alma is the “drama queen” and “star for all season” among Cortez siblings. She was always in touch and vocal about her emotions and was proud of it. She had her serious crush at the age of seventeen. She was so stubborn as she always being called by their parents because they were told that she was influenced by her friends in drinking alcoholic beverages. She was so lively and just wanted to enjoy life and be free spirited even if it may illicit bad consequences on her part and her family. She had a high need for leisure and more bouts of freedom and fun, her being adventuresome made her achieve her desires and professional success. After graduation she strived harder for the kind of life she desired for herself and her family thus, she accepted her work in a convenience store where she met her husband Jovic. When she had difficulties posed by married life, she worked abroad, windows of opportunities opened to her, she had a chance to study nursing and now working as a nurse at Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center through the help and guidance of her boyfriend. She shared to the clinician that life is better at Israel, she adapted to the lifestyle there and wished to stay there. When she was asked if she’ll bring her c hildren in Israel, she answered that it will be too difficult for them all.

JOVIC

The respondent was commonly called Jovic, he is a government employee and of legal age. He is the eldest son from the brood of four of Mr. Ciriaco M. Catabona, Jr., 65 years old and Mrs. Vicky M. Catabona, 63 years old. When Mr. Ciriaco was still alive, he spent most of his life abroad. Before the latter left for another family, there was no peace at their house. He was a good friend than a family man. He used to spend most of his time with friends, merrymaking and having drinking spree. He was described by both the petitioner and his mother as boastful, he used to brag about his material possessions that he got from his work abroad but in reality, there was none. In terms of his relationship with his children, Mr. Ciriaco, was not close to anyone of his four children because he was too punitive, though he seek explanation before he punished anyone. Both Jovic and his mother Vicky had no good word for Ciriaco

His mother Vicky on the other hand was a strong, supportive and generous woman. Since she raised her children singlehandedly, she was very close to them most especially to Jovic, her eldest. She feed and send her children to school on her own. She was too obtrusive of her children’s life, thus, even after marriage , she wanted to be informed and involved. Alma found the relationship of Jovic, and his mother as too close and she called her spouse as “Mama’s Boy” . They never talked nor been close because they compete for Jovic ’s attention. Mrs Vic ky used to depend to her eldest son in their business and his having a family at the time of her high reliance and she was not prepared that he would marry abruptly to a woman whose family was beyond her expectations.

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They were poor and she thought then that Alma would make her son hard because she cannot share to his responsibilities of providing for the family.

Jovic came from financially well off clan and single handedly raised by his mother and her relatives. He grew up in the compound surrounded by his grandmother, mother and aunt. He was used to matriarchal set-up, where women were powerful and in control. Growing up, he was enrolled in quality private school from elementary to college. Since elementary grade, his mother ensured that he’ll grew up God fearing with good upbringing and right discipline, thus, he was pushed by her to become a member of the knights of altar. His significant experiences during high school stage were his services during masses. He had several crush at sixteen years old but he only-had his first romantic relationship when he was twenty one years old.

In college, he was recommended to become a priest or missionary. All his life, he wanted to be the best example for his siblings and he avoid being his mother’s problem. He never wanted to add to her mother’s agony anymore because he witnessed how he suffered while married to his father. He had his fraternity in college and this was new to him. He was full of curiosity when he was in college, thus, he tried weed-maryjane during reunion in college. He tried alcoholic beverages at eighteen when he was college. He graduated on time, helped in the family business until he met his ex-wife whom he believed used him to have a better life and cope up with her heartaches from a failed relationship. Jovic had three girlfriends before he married his wife.

MARITAL HISTORY

The couple met in 2002 at the grocery store where she used to work as saleslady. It was the time that she was down and depressed because her boyfriend then left her for greener pasture and she chose good life in USA over her. They were supposed to marry but never came back. Alma felt so desperate when she met Jovic courted her and they started dating assiduously. She got pregnant after few months of dating which hastened their wedding that transpired on September 16, 2003.

She never felt that she was in-love with Jovic but still she decided to marry him because of her pregnancy. While she was pregnant, June or July of that year she found out that Jovic was cheating on her and showed more affection to the woman than the petitioner. They lived under one roof with his family from his grandmother, mother, aunt, brother and sister. Though they lived in overextended family, Jovic’s family treated Alma as a stranger. She never felt the sense of belongingness which gave her a feeling of humiliation making her develop an intense feeling of moving out and be independent. Jovic was spending most of his time with his friends, his fraternity brothers because he lead in reviving their fraternity. His too much pre-occupation with his friends and fraternity brothers took all his time and he never spent time with the petitioner as well as with their children anymore. In 2004, their daughter Ali became very sick. Alma brought their daughter to the hospital but Jovic never showed up in the duration of her hospitalization but instead spent his time with his friends. In 2005, their financial situation was very bad. Jovic was working on occasional job and never made an effort to improve their financial situation while she was obliged by her spouse to stay at home and take care of their children. She came to the point that she was very eager to work, she felt that she was the one who could provide better life for their children and that motivated her for working abroad.

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When Alma was abroad, her husband did not took care of their children as he promised which frustrated her so much because he was irresponsible. His being a leader to his fraternity (AKRO) was his main concern. He never have time for their children anymore and he neglected his responsibilities to them. He relied to Alma in all the financial responsibilities as she became the sole provider for the family and for their children. Her parents and later on her sister took custody of her children because they don’t deserve being neglected and maltreated by her mother in law. There were instances that her children had to sleep at their nanny’s home because no member of Jovic ’s family was left at home. Jovic never showed up, nor spend quality time with them for two years.

During her first visit to the Philippines in 2010, Alma discovered that Jovic took the insurance money of their children to pay for his mother’s debts. Alma  was the one who paid the said insurance. For the nth time, he proved that he was not worthy of all her trust and his being selfish was so high that he never thought of her and their children’s welfare. She cannot trust him anymore.

By 2013, Alma ’s last visit to the Philippines before her appointment with the lawyer and clinician. She never see any improvement in the attitude of her husband towards their children and her family. He never spent time with them when she decided on not to send money anymore even though she asked him to facilitate their annulment procedures because she never trusted him anymore especially in money matters. She felt that she can’t rely on him anymore and she knew that she doesn’t love him anymore and they don’t have anything in common.

In an interview with the respondent, he told the clinician that it was the time when he never showed up to the clinician anymore because she backed out from their agreement that he will process their annulment. It was the time that she found a benefactor who supported her studies in Israel. He also added that it was Alma ’s nature to be opportunist and ambitious. He was not surprised when she told him in that vacation that she never loved him. She also added that she already adapted to the life in Israel and she’ll stay there for good. She never planned nor though t of bringing their children there, she just wanted to legally end their relationships so that she could marry her boyfriend whom she was living with in Israel for the moment.

Jovic never denied the fact that his too attachment and dependency to his mother was one of the reasons why they always bicker when they were still living together. His being highly emotional and his shallow personality became apparent when he shared stories that would demoralized his wife like she was living with another man. He also  justified his series of womanizing and now that he is living with a paramour with her three year old son. He c laimed that since he doesn’t have a wife since the time that Alma was away, he needs companion and emotional support that his mother cannot suffice. It was very devastating and sad for their children because he had time with his paramour and her son but he never pay their children visits. In some instances, that her sister would bring her children to him so that they’ll have quality time, his paramour was very jealous and insecure of her children. They would tryingly call her and share their horrifying experience and they would share that his paramour hated Jovic’ s children so much and she treated them so hardly. Jovic didn’t do anything about the situation and he was not capable of protecting their children against his paramour. What he did was he visited their children in their place for few minutes on rare occasions.

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MENTAL STATUS EXAMINATION

Petitioner, Alma came to the office for assessment twice. She was well groomed and neatly dressed and appropriately garbed during her session with the clinician. She had average height and weight with brown complexion. She was straight-forward and spontaneous during the interview. The petitioner was able to draw the requested figures in a span of 20 minutes. She has a rapid performance rate. She was also extremely at ease and she made a good social contact. She was very enthusiastic in answering the questions and has an excellent expressive ability. Eye contact was adequate, with affect congruent to her moods and she has a clear perception of reality and properly oriented with respect to time, place and person.

Mr. Jovic came for the assessment on the above mentioned dates, and 26, 2017. He was appropriately garbed for the occasions. He appeared truthful in describing himself, worked persistently and was cooperative and had no interfering conditions such as anxiety or depression during the testing and interview. He was straightforward and spontaneous during the interview. He was also extremely at ease and he made a good social contact. He was cooperative in answering the questions and has an excellent expressive ability. Eye contact was adequate, with affect congruent to his moods and he has a clear perception of reality and properly oriented with respect to time, place and person.

 All witnesses, Mrs. Eleanor P. Cortez (mother of Alma), Mrs. Vicky M. Catabona (mother of Jovic) and Mr. Leonard Cortez (brother of Alma) were all very candid and cooperative during the interview and appeared confident and truthful in their responses.

Their mental status examination reveals the following: Maintain good eye contact. Logical ability, recent and past memories are intact. Oriented to time, place and person. Negative of hallucinations and delusions. Negative flight of ideas.

VI.

CLINICAL RESULTS AND EVALUATION:

ALMA JANE

 Axis I (Clinical Syndrome)  Axis II (Personality Disorder)  Axis III (General Medical Conditions)  Axis IV (Psychosocial and Marital Problems)  Axis V (Global Functioning)

None None None Husband with Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality Disorder Fair

Cognitive efficiency of Alma belongs to average level with numerical value of 103 as measured by Beta Examination II. She is therefore equipped with inherent resources and potentials that would enable her to respond with ease and spontaneity to the demands of her work and social environment. Foresight, abstract reasoning, social alertness and reflective thinking are likewise at par with her age group and abilities thus,

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enabling her to practice introspection with her decisions, particularly those that would affect her relationship with her loved ones. On the contrary, exposure to repeated and excessive amount of distress can momentarily disrupt her routine resulting to anxiety and confusion that she also needs the support and guidance of her family and significant other.

The results of her Draw-A-Person test indicate a tendency toward an average conscientiousness and organized thinking. Alma has the habit of being nurturing, caring and loving which made her vulnerable to her husband’s abuses. Th e test results also suggests that petitioner developed a high level of aspiration, striving hard towards the achievement even of her difficult goals, with sense of optimism and greater than average use of fantasy. Her drawing also indicates insecurities and self-doubts proceeding from having an infidel and untruthful husband. She is not outgoing and has no problem with her interpersonal relationship towards colleagues and workmates.

The Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory showed that Alma ’s emotional and social functioning is effective. A high score in intrapersonal relationship means that she has adequate self-confidence and is effectively in tough with her feelings and emotions. She has reasonably good ability to express her opinions and beliefs and very much capable of standing up for her rights and acting independently with less supervision.

She also has average ability to handle stressful situations and capable of coping with moderate level of adversity. She shows an average degree of optimism, which suggest that she looks at the brighter side of things and maintain a reasonably positive attitude towards work. She is pleasant, resourceful and has a generally positive disposition.

JOVIC

 Axis I (Clinical Syndrome)  Axis II (Personality Disorder)

None NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER with ANTISOCIAL TRAITS  Axis III (General Medical Conditions) None  Axis IV (Psychosocial and Environmental Problems) Marital Problems  Axis V (Global Functioning) Fair

The Sach’s Sentence Complet ion Test shows that Jovic ’s principal conflict  may appear within the family specifically towards his father and also guilt and fear. There is a regret and avoidance in his thoughts about his father. Interrelated attitudes incorporate feelings of being disappointed by the adults around him. He avoids the reality of his father and any reminder thereof. He selectively attempts to exclude the realty of his painful experience and yet finds that the reality intrudes on his nature consistently. Conflicts are expressed through aggression and impulsiveness.

Cognitively, respondent is functioning well and his level of intellectual functioning is estimated to be at average range with numerical value of 98. He has the ability to engage in purposive, directed and logical thinking. His ideation is normal as indicated by his accurate thought processes, efficient reality testing, and good judgment.

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His Draw A Person test shows his aggressiveness as counteracted by a feeling of insecurity which is a compensatory device. It also indicates sexual anxiety, and desire for intimacy, virility and resulted into sexual conflict. Attempts are made to gain virility or masculinity. Hollow eyes imply strong withdrawal and narcissistic tendencies. It also connotes insecurity and sadistic attitudes. The line for the mouth indicate domineering and aggressiveness manifestations of antisocial personality disorders. Overall, it shows inadequacy feelings, sexual insecurity, aggressiveness, virility, and over striving.

In the House-Tree-Person test, the house was drawn normally, it has at least one door, one window, one wall and a roof. Though some parts of the drawing indicates hostility and oppositional tendencies and possible oral eroticism. The drawing of the tree shows superiority but with inadequacy feelings and also withdrawal tendencies. Test results portray that Jovic, have an average cognitive level as correlated with that of the general norm. His faculties in projecting perceptual constancy, reasoning ability, imagination and planning skills area gauged to be satisfactory, while logical thinking remains intact. He was assessed to have the readiness to respond or come to grips with the environment in a characteristic fashion. He also represents a keen and varied interest in sensitivity to interaction with other people.

Projective data shows that he is involved in constructive accomplishment although from society’s point of view, that achievement may seem modest or routine. He developed a consistent means of accomplishing his ends by somewhat diverting interpersonal relations of affect in order to concentrate on control. Moreover, he can also engage in pleasurable relationships and hence can get along well with others.

Furthermore, it reveals that he desire psychologically to relax and watch the world go by, though he also exerts willingness of oneself in order to obtain important goals along with subjective feelings of desire that accompanies such aspirations. He wants to better himself and to accomplish something, In addition, he may sometimes succumb to hopelessness when faced with intense anxiety and frustration and combat the said feelin g by looking for attention, affection, sweetness and care for other women resulting into his infidelity and extra marital affairs.

In this case, the respondent can be blame for the collapse of their marriage. Due to the perplexities he had to contend with, he was not able to remain committed to his marital vows, and was not able to carry on his responsibilities as a husband and as a father to his children. He developed a NRCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER WITH  ANTISOCIAL TRAITS as manifested by his apparent lack of effort in working out their marital relationship. There was no love to begin with because the premarital relationship started when he took advantage of her willingness to be with him and that he only used for sexual reasons. Her pregnancy for two consecutive years were his ways of punishing and possessing her while he was very jealous with her ex-boyfriend. He knew how she values her looks and her body but she was not left with any choice but to take care of their children. He was very emotional about her constant communication with her exboyfriend resulting into self-inflicted harm. He also used the situation to justify his extramarital affairs and constant drinking spree with his friend and fraternity brothers ignoring the sacrifices of his wife who may have been suffering from post partum disorder and mores when she worked abroad. He was self-absorbed, he always priorit ized himself over others and he was also selfish about what he felt.

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The respondent never tried to settle their marital difference; instead, he abandoned his family and live life as an unmarried man. There was competition of egos between him and the petitioner that they live apart from each other. His too attachment to his mother and family by birth over his own family strongly proves his egoistic personality as well as his Narcissism. He doesn’t care if others were being dragged by his actions and decisions as long as he satisfies his selfish motives. He lacks empathy and insight that he fails to recognize the real needs of his family because his needs for recognition and moral boosting were more validated and satisfied in his activities with his family and fraternity brothers and his friends than in his own family with Alma. He lacks the ability to discern right from wrong, that he is easily swayed into mischief and wrongdoings. In the absence of his wife, he engaged in an illicit affairs. He stands remorseless of his actions and still continues with his extramarital affair who receives his affection and support more than his family with Alma.

Jovic’s disorder is grave, severe, long lasting and incurable basically because of its developmental nature and its origin could be traced to his formative years. He grew up in a loving environment and was given a special kind of treatment by his parents that he became so attached to his mother and matriarchal set-up, particularly his mother. He always tried to please his parents to get favorable treatment until he was able to slip away from his misdeeds because his mother tolerated him that he developed a grandio se sense of self-importance, although he has imbibed the carefree behavior of his father who is an OFW until he abandoned them for his another family. His parents have failed to detect his deviant behavior that he grew up thing that his actions are alright and accepted, until he became self-obsessed and impatient with things that hinder his happiness and the satisfaction of his selfish motives.

CONCLUSION

The psychological incapacity of Jovic is characterized by juridical antecedence as it already existed even before the time of marriage as he has consistently shown attitude, conduct and behavior manifesting his psychological disorder. The failed marital union is already beyond repair as it had long ceased to function the way it supposed to be because of the inability of Jovic to give love, respect, care, concern, support and fidelity towards his wife. After he chose to be with other women over his wife, abandoned his responsibilities to them and to his children and since then lead a carefree, irresponsible lifestyle like a bachelor. He has since then been transferring from one relationship to another and refused to communicate with his wife. His Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality Disorder has already been ingrained in his system, was not treated on time and has been proven to be incorrigible. The idea of reconciliation as well as the hope of a normal and functional union is deemed to be already impossible. The disorders are already serious that the root cause can be traced back in his developmental years. His personality structures were deeply rooted in his childhood and that while it manifested consistently during his adulthood, it became grave and serious after he was confronted by the demands and pressures of married life. The disorder of Jovic is an emotionally based issue, that has something to do with his practically and mental capabilities or social attributes. Psychotropic medications are generally ineffective for long-term change.

Conclusions and Recommendations

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Thus, it is recommended that the marriage of Alma and Jovic, be declared null and void from the beginning because of the psychological disorder of Jovic to comply with his essential obligations as a married man.

DR. ALDEN V. DE GUZMAN, RGC, RP.

Clinical Psychologist License No. 000235