Esteban Donato Reyes v. People

Summary

This Supreme Court case involves the criminal conviction of Esteban Donato Reyes for psychological violence under R.A. No. 9262 (Anti-VAWC Act) for denying financial support to his wife AAA. Reyes stopped providing monthly support of P10,000-P20,000 in July 2005 after learning AAA filed a bigamy case against him for his second marriage. The Court affirmed that denial of financial support to a spouse constitutes psychological violence when it causes mental or emotional anguish. Key legal principles established include: (1) the sufficiency of Information alleging denial of support under Section 5(i); (2) validity of marriage until judicially declared void; (3) liability extends even to relationships with common children; and (4) stopping support to pressure withdrawal of criminal cases constitutes economic abuse. The decision reinforces the broad protective scope of the Anti-VAWC Act and clarifies elements of psychological violence through financial deprivation, with penalties including imprisonment, fines, and mandatory counseling.