We previously noted that infidelity is not, by itself, a ground for annulment, although it could be a basis for legal separation or filing a case for adultery/concubinage. As to custody, the Supreme Court already ruled that sexual infidelity, by itself, is not sufficient to grant custody over a child. Let’s continue the discussion on these concepts:
What is concubinage?
Concubinage is committed by any husband who shall keep a mistress in the conjugal dwelling, or, shall have sexual intercourse, under scandalous circumstances, with a woman who is not his wife, or shall cohabit with her in any other place (Article 334 of the Revised Penal Code or RPC).
What is adultery?
Adultery means the carnal relation between a married woman and a man who is not her husband, the latter knowing her to be married, even if the marriage be subsequently declared void (RPC, Article 333). Each sexual intercourse constitutes a crime of adultery.
Adultery vs. Concubinage
1. Adultery is committed by a wife (who must also be charged together with the other man), while concubinage is committed by a husband (who must be charged together with the concubine).
2. Proof of sexual intercourse is enough in adultery, but in concubinage, the prosecution must prove that the sexual intercourse must be under scandalous circumstances, or that the husband kept a mistress in the conjugal dwelling or cohabited with her in any other place.
3. The penalty for concubinage is lower than that of adultery. The penalty for the concubine is only destierro, while the penalty for the man other in adultery is the same as that of the guilty wife.
What is destierro?
Destierro means banishment or only a prohibition from residing within the radius of 25 kilometers from the actual residence of the accused for a specified length of time. It is not imprisonment. [See Destierro: Definition, Nature and Jurisdiction]
Who can file the action for adultery or concubinage?
Only the offended spouse can legally file the complaint for adultery or concubinage. The marital status must be present at the time of filing the criminal action. In other words, the offended spouse must still be married to the accused spouse at the time of the filing of the complaint.
Who must be prosecuted?
The offended party cannot institute the criminal charge without including both guilty parties (the offending spouse and the paramour), if both are alive.
What is the effect of consent or pardon by the offended spouse?
The criminal charge cannot prosper if the offended spouse has consented to the offense or pardoned the offenders. Pardon can be express or implied. An example of express pardon is when the offended party in writing or in an affidavit asserts that he or she is pardoning his or her erring spouse and paramour for their act. There is implied pardon when the offended party continued to live with his spouse even after the commission of the offense. Pardon must come before the institution of the criminal action and both offenders must be pardoned by the offended party.
What is bigamy?
Bigamy is basically the act of marrying again while the first marriage is still subsisting. It is defined under Article 349 of the RPC as the contracting of a second or subsequent marriage before the former marriage has been legally dissolved, or before the absent spouse has been declared presumptively dead by means of a judgment rendered in the proper proceeding.
What are the elements that must be proved in a prosecution for bigamy?
In a case for bigamy, all the following matters or “elements” must be shown by the prosecution:
- 1. The offender has been legally married.
- 2. The marriage has not been legally dissolved or, in case his or her spouse is absent, the absent spouse could not yet be presumed dead according to the Civil Code.
- 3. He/she contracts a second or subsequent marriage.
- 4. The second or subsequent marriage has all the essential requisites for validity.
What is the effect of a pending petition for annulment or a declaration of nullity of marriage on a criminal case for bigamy?
We already have a previous discussion on this. Please click here.
How is bigamy different from adultery/concubinage?
In adultery/concubinage, the law requires that both culprits, if both are alive, should he prosecuted or included in the information. In bigamy, the second spouse could be charged only if she/he had knowledge of the previous undissolved marriage of the accused. Bigamy is a public offense and a crime against status, while adultery and concubinage are private offenses and are crimes against chastity. In adultery/concubinage, pardon by the offended party will bar the prosecution of the case, which is not so in bigamy.
What if I killed or injured my spouse when I caught him/her in the act of committing sexual intercourse with another person?
The law provides that “any legally married person who, having surprised his spouse in the act of committing sexual intercourse with another person, shall kill any of them or both of them in the act or immediately thereafter, or shall inflict upon them any serious physical injury, shall suffer the penalty of destierro” (RPC, Article 247). The accused spouse, which could be the husband or the wife, must prove the following:
- 1. A legally married person (or a parent) surprises his spouse (or his daughter, under 18 years of age and living with him), in the act of committing sexual intercourse with another person.
- 2. He or she kills any or both of them or inflicts upon any or both of them any serious physical injury in the act or immediately thereafter.
- 3. He has not promoted or facilitated the prostitution of his wife (or daughter) or that he or she has not consented to the infidelity of the other spouse.
The accused must proved that he/she actually surprised the other spouse in flagrante delicto (or in the act of doing the deed), and that he/she killed the other spouse and/or the other party during or immediately thereafter.
[Sources: Revised Penal Code; People vs. Nepomuceno, G.R. No. L-40624, 27 June 1975; Pilapil vs. Ibay-Somera, G.R. No. 80116, 30 June 1989; Ligtas vs. CA, G.R. No. L-47498, 7 May 1987; People vs. Puedan, G.R. No. 139576, 2 September 2002; People vs. Bastasa, G.R. No. L-32792, 2 February 1979]
- Extension of Filing Periods and Suspension of Hearings for March 29 to April 4, 2021: SC Administrative Circular No. 14-2021 (Full Text) - March 28, 2021
- ECQ Bubble for NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal: Resolution No. 106-A (Full Text) - March 27, 2021
- Guidelines on the Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines in the Workplaces (Labor Advisory No. 3) - March 12, 2021
Gud day!just want to ask can i file a case against my husband?he is a policeman and we just separated 2 months ago..we have an agreement in dswd about childs support since we have 2 kids and he signed in our agreement.He decided two give financial support 16k per month but he only gave 10k since it is the amount only required for them to give but his net pay is24-25k a month..
Good day attorney!paano po kung naghiwalay na ung mag asawa for almost 4 years then nagkaroon po ng kinakasama ung lalaki ulit pero hindi po itinira sa bahay nilang mag asawa at alam na rin po ng wife ng lalaki un from the beginning pa po na mag karoon ng kinakasama ang asawa niya at pumayag po ang wife niya sa ganung set up thru verbal lang po walang kasunduan sa papel.tumagal na po ng halos mag dadalawang taon ung set up nila na ganun hanggang magkaroon po ng anak ung asawa niya at ung kinakasama po ng asawa niya at inak knowledge po nung lalaki ung bata. pwede parin po ba magsampa ng comcubinage ung wife anytime she want at maaapektuhan po ba ung bata kung sakaling magsampa ung wife?thankyou po!
si my friend is a single mother and the father of her child is a married man…. the married man was not living with his wife he stay alone.. but they still have affairss with my friend… at ang ginawa ng asawa sinisira ni ang imahe nga lalaki sa mga tao kahit hindi totoo ang sinabi niya..kaya naghanap ang lalaki ng iba kasi dahil din sa kanya.. ano ang dapat gawin ng friend ko kasi ginugulo siya ng asawa ng lalaki
Hi, pwede po bang mag file ng case ang mommy ko kung iniwan kami ng daddy ko hindi na kami minor parehas ng kapati dko pero hindi pa tapos sa pagaaral ang kapatid ko.
Hi Atty, Is it a Pardon of the offended party? if the offended party already knew about it for many years and had a chance to talk, both the offenders and the offended for some time, but only decided to pursue the case after like 6 years of knowledge of the offense, when the offended party already have a 3 year old child with other woman. Both parties already have their respective new family, yet for some reason the man decided to pursue an adultery case just because the woman is pregnant with his new partner?
Yung husband ko nakabuntis ng minor age that girl was his ex girlfriend. Then his ex girlfriend nagreklamo. pwede ko ba silang kasuhang dalawa or sampahan ng kaso?
Hi,
My girlfriend is having an affair with a married guy, what can the spouse accuse or charge my girlfriend?
Dear Attoney Fred,
Good morning to you, I am Ms Aquarius.I had an urgent matter that needs your immediate attention. Let me narrate you one by one a situation that happened two days ago.It imvolves two certain public elementary teacher and a companion, not sure who she is.Teacher-A just graduated with a masteral degree and serving the government for more than 10 years. Now last two days ago,around afternoon, Teacher-B from a public school of different school went to Teacher-A school together with one companion and look for her . Somebody from the school told them that Teacher-A is in bldg A. So they go there,along the way they saw Teacher-A and so she lead them to her room. The moment Teacher-A step inside her room,the two others follow and locked her.Then everything happened. Teacher-B keep punching Teacher-A at any direction she wanted,hinila,pinagwagay-wayan,sinabunutan,slapping her face countless time,kinalmot while accusing her of having an affair with his supervisor.Teacher-A was in shock and don’t know what todo but only begging to stop hurting her,and talk the matter with the barangay,but the Teacher-B enjoy hurting her while her companion is taking the full video and from time to time also hitting Teacher-A.It lasts for couple of hours . Teacher-B didnt stop she was so eager to let Teacher-A speak up.,even ordering Teacher-A to call his husband but Teacher-A said she dont know the district supervisor’s number. So, she then tell Teacher-A to call his own husband instead. But Teacher-A said he’s taking care of our baby, if you let just go to my house and let’s talk. You are accusing the wrong person but the teacher didnt tame, still hurting ,slapping, ang crushing. Teacher-A’s face.
Then suddenly the companion of the teacher go out of the room and shout “hey you, you, you, pinpointing all the co teachers she saw outside, aren’t you going to help your co teacher over there, she cAught having an affair,ung malandi nyong co teacher,ayun binubugbog, that woman is so proud of naming my sister with ill-callings,malandi,puta,etc.not even thinking that hundreds of students are hearing what she’s saying.
Immediately, the teachers and principal hurriedly go after her.The principal even question Teacher-B that she is tresspasing and that she cannot just do what she did to Teacher-A. Whatever matter should be brought up to the principal first especially these sensitive matter. She had no evidence or whatever.What she had is purely kutob and heresays. The principal even ask one of her teacher to take a video so they were able to get a glimpse of that teacher hurting, cursing and saying unjust and unworldy words to Teacher-A. She even say,kaya kitang patayin akala mo ba,kya umanin kana.Even if Teacher-A keep begging,telling she dont know what happening,its not true,lets talk.but the teacher-B is deaf to hear reasons.
Now dear attorney my questions is this, because I was so concerned with teacher-A.She is a nice person.And I think it is my duty to help her.She was advised to see a hospital and ask for medico legal,and though she is in deep pain, shocked and shuttered, she even manage to say to her co teachers and principal that she is okay.
She went to barangay together with his husband to blotter Teacher-B. The principal even call their supervisor and informed him what his wife did to her teacher-A, and the supervisor said, her wife deserve to any legal case whatever Teacher-A decided to file. It is known that it’s not the first time the supervisor’s wife was carried to the judge due to her high jealousness.
But after the case has been blottered, the supervisor suddenly change his mind and keep at the side of her wife.I guess it’s natural.
So I pity more Teacher-A .She is so kind.She reached and finished her education through hardwork. And now because the supervisor is afraid that her wife will have a case they join force.He even threaten Teacher-A, and say that they will do something just to win they case.That’s why I’m asking for an advice. I wanna help her, she was so shuttered not even wanted to go back to school anymore.I heard from the principal she is thinking of resigning.I think I should do something because she is a gem. Very nice, very smart and have a very happy family life and with just one false accusation everything will suddenly fall in her.Attorney what are the appropriate cases that can be file against the Teacher-B.Also to her companion,it is also possble to sue her? If ever on what grounds?How about the supervisor with malicious intent? Is teacher-A can ask for moral damages,how about the hundred students who heards the ill-curse/words? On the otherhand,is the actions of Teacher-B is enough to do such horrible things? What are the grounds to say your guilty with adultery? Is heresay is enough?How about positve gesture of an employee-boss is it a basis?
Thank you so much for spending time reading this.I hope I could find immediate response to this matter so I can help her.I think it is my moral obligation to help. I am just balancing the facts between teacher-A and Teacher-B.
Thank you so much and more Power!!!
Dear atty. Fred,
Nag file po ako ng declaration of nullity of marriage sa asawa ko dahil hindi po nya sinabi lahat sa akin ang totoo na dalawa po pala ang previous marriage po nya at pangatlo po ako.
Matagal na po kaming hindi nagsasama dahil nasa ibang bansa po ako 5 yrs. Ago at ngayon nasa pinas na po ako.
Kasalukuyang nasa korte na po ang kaso ngayon,
May nakilala po ako at nabuntis po nya ako ngayon.
Ano po ang magandang maipapayo po ninyo sa akin.
Sa limang taon ko po sa ibang bansa nambabae po sya rito gamit ang mga padala kong pera..
Para po makalimot din po ako sa sakit kaya po, nkipag bf ako pero hindi po kmi mag kasama ng bf ko ngayon nasa ibang lugar po sya at amerikano pumunta lang po sya dito sa pinas.
Sana po matulungan ninyo nag aalala po kc ako dhl may nk sched n po n hearing this coming oct. Po.
Pls. Give me advises. Thank you po and God bless
Good day Atty.
Meron pong dating naging iabang babae ang asawa ko..napagtiisan at naayos naman po ang pamilya ko.bumalik na kami sa dati bilang masayang pamilya dahil nilayuan na ng asawa ko ang babae nya..pero dahil po sa di ko malamang dahilan..nanggugulo po ang babae sa pamamagitan ng mga post nia pictures kasama ang asawa ko..mga picture na ineedit nia at pinagdidikt sa pictures nia..dahil po sa mga ginagawa nia..nagkakaroon ako ng emotional stress bilang asawa..pwede ko po bang kasuhan ang dating babae ng asawa ko dahil panggugulo nia saming mag anak.