- Petitioner
- Jaime O. Sevilla
- Respondent
- Carmelita N. Cardenas
- Citation
- G.R. No. 167684
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- First Division
- Ponente
- Chico-Nazario, J.
- Decided
- July 31, 2006
Summary
This case involved a petition to declare null and void the 1969 marriage between Jaime Sevilla and Carmelita Cardenas based on the alleged absence of a marriage license. The parties were married twice - in civil rites on May 19, 1969, and in church ceremony on May 31, 1969. Both marriage contracts indicated Marriage License No. 2770792 from San Juan, Rizal. After living together for years and having two children, they separated in the late 1970s. Jaime obtained a US divorce in 1981 and filed for nullity in 1994, presenting certifications from San Juan Local Civil Registry stating the marriage license was never issued. The RTC declared the marriage void, but the Court of Appeals reversed, finding insufficient evidence of diligent search for the license records. The Supreme Court affirmed, emphasizing that certifications must show diligent search was conducted and applying the strong presumption favoring marriage validity under Philippine law and constitutional policy protecting the family.