SC upholds ruling denying Filipina woman's petition to nullify bigamous marriage

The Supreme Court has ruled that only the aggrieved or injured innocent spouse from either marriage can seek to nullify a bigamous union.

A Filipina woman's petition to declare her second marriage void due to bigamy was denied by both the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals, with the SC upholding these rulings in its decision dated November 5, 2024.

The court stated that only the aggrieved or injured innocent spouse from either marriage has the right to file a petition for the declaration of nullity of the bigamous marriage.

Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario penned the majority opinion, arguing against granting the petition as it would legitimize illegitimate marriages and undermine legal standards.

Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and three other justices dissented, asserting that unfaithful spouses should still be entitled to legal remedies to rectify their mistakes and formally end void marriages.