Supreme Court Rules Unjustified Absence From Home Can Be Grounds for Annulment

The Supreme Court of the Philippines has ruled that a husband’s decades-long unjustified absence from his marital home can be considered evidence of psychological incapacity to fulfill marital obligations. The decision, which annulled a marriage, found that the husband’s infidelity, lack of financial support for his wife and children, and prolonged absence demonstrated an inability to understand his responsibilities as a husband and father. The court cited the Family Code, which emphasizes the obligations of spouses to live together, provide mutual support, and uphold fidelity. The case involved a couple married in 1984 who separated in 1994. The wife filed for annulment, citing her husband’s lack of support, extramarital affairs, and continued absence from the family. The court found that the husband’s actions, along with a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, supported the claim of psychological incapacity.