SECOND DIVISION

ATILANO O. NOLLORA, JR., G.R. No. 191425

Petitioner,

Present:



- versus -

CARPIO, J., Chairperson,
BRION,
PERALTA,
*




PEREZ, and
EN!OZA,
**
JJ.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,
Respondent.
Pro"u#$ated:
%epte"&er ', ()**
+ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +


D E C I S I O N

CARPIO, J.:

The Case

,.R. No. *-*.(/ is a petition 0or revie1
*
assai#in$ the !e2ision
(
pro"u#$ated on 3)
%epte"&er ())- as 1e## as the Reso#ution
3
pro"u#$ated on (3 4e&ruar5 ()*) &5 the Court
o0 Appea#s 6appe##ate 2ourt7 in CA-,.R. CR No. 3*/38. The appe##ate 2ourt a00ir"ed the *-
Nove"&er ())' !e2ision
.
o0 Bran2h (*/ o0 the Re$iona# Tria# Court o0 9ue:on Cit5 6tria#
2ourt7 in Cri"ina# Case No. 9-).-*(-)3*.

The tria# 2ourt 0ound a22used Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. 6No##ora7 $ui#t5 o0 &i$a"5 under
Arti2#e 3.- o0 the Revised Pena# Code and senten2ed hi" to su00er i"prison"ent. Co-
a22used Ro1ena ,era#dino 6,era#dino7 1as a2<uitted 0or the prose2ution=s 0ai#ure to prove
her $ui#t &e5ond reasona&#e dou&t.

The Fa!s

The appe##ate 2ourt re2ited the 0a2ts as 0o##o1s:

On Au$ust (., ())., Assistant Cit5 Prose2utor Ra5"ond ;onathan B. L#edo 0i#ed an
In0or"ation a$ainst Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. 6>No##ora?7 and Ro1ena
P. ,era#dino 6>,era#dino?7 0or the 2ri"e o0 Bi$a"5. The a22usator5 portion o0 the
In0or"ation reads:

>That on or a&out the 8
th
da5 o0 !e2e"&er ())* in 9ue:on Cit5, Phi#ippines, the
a&ove-na"ed a22used ATILANO O. NOLLORA, ;R., &ein$ then #e$a##5 "arried to
one ;E%@%A PINAT NOLLORA, and as said "arria$e has not &een #e$a##5
disso#ved and sti## su&sistin$, did then and there 1i##0u##5, un#a10u##5 and
0e#onious#5 2ontra2t a su&se<uent or se2ond "arria$e 1ith her Asi2B 2o-a22used
ROCENA P. ,ERAL!INO, 1ho Dno1in$#5 2onsented and a$reed to &e "arried to
her 2o-a22used ATILANO O. NOLLORA, ;R. Dno1in$ hi" to &e a "arried "an, to
the da"a$e and preEudi2e o0 the said o00ended part5 ;E%@%A PINAT NOLLORA.?

@pon his arrai$n"ent on Apri# *8, ())/, a22used No##ora assisted &5 2ounse#, re0used to
enter his p#ea. Fen2e, a p#ea o0 not $ui#t5 1as entered &5 the Court 0or hi".
A22used ,era#dino, on the other hand, entered a p#ea o0 not $ui#t5 1hen arrai$ned on ;une
*., ())/. On even date, pre-tria# 2on0eren2e 1as he#d and &oth the prose2ution and de0ense
entered the 0o##o1in$ stipu#ation o0 0a2ts:

>*. the va#idit5 o0 the 0irst "arria$e &et1een Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r.
and ;esusa Pinat No##ora so#e"ni:ed on Apri# G, *--- at %apan$ Pa#a5, %an ;ose de#
onteH
(. that Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. 2ontra2ted the se2ond "arria$e 1ith Ro1ena
P. ,era#dino on !e2e"&er 8, ())* in 9ue:on Cit5H

3. that in the Counter-A00idavit o0 Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r., he ad"itted that he
2ontra2ted the se2ond "arria$e to Ro1ena P. ,era#dinoH

.. that Ro1ena P. ,era#dino atta2hed to her Counter-A00idavit the Certi0i2ate o0
arria$e 1ith Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. dated !e2e"&er 8, ())*H

/. the 0a2t o0 "arria$e o0 Ro1ena P. ,era#dino 1ith Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. as
ad"itted in her Counter-A00idavit.?

The on#5 issue thus pro00ered &5 the prose2ution 0or the RTC=s reso#ution is 1hether or not
the se2ond "arria$e is &i$a"ous. A0ter1ards, pre-tria# 2on0eren2e 1as ter"inated and the
2ase 1as set 0or initia# hearin$. Therea0ter, tria# ensued.

Evidence for the Prosecution

As 2u##ed 0ro" the herein assai#ed !e2ision, the respe2tive testi"onies o0 prose2ution
1itnesses 1ere as 0o##o1s:

>+++ 6C7itness ;esusa Pinat No##ora +++ testi0ied that she and
a22used Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. "et in %audi Ara&ia 1hi#e she 1as 1orDin$ there as
a %ta00 id1i0e in Iin$ A&du#ah Nava# Base Fospita#. Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r.
2ourted her and on Apri# G, *---, the5 $ot "arried at the AIEBELI4 Chru2h Asi2B
in %apan$ Pa#a5, %an ;ose de# onte, Bu#a2an 6E+hi&it JA=7. Chi#e 1orDin$ in said
hospita#, she heard ru"ors that her hus&and has another 1i0e and &e2ause o0 an+iet5
and e"otiona# stress, she #e0t %audi Ara&ia and returned to the Phi#ippines 6T%N,
O2to&er ., ())/, pa$e *)7. @pon arriva# in the Phi#ippines, the private 2o"p#ainant
#earned that indeed, Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. 2ontra2ted a se2ond "arria$e 1ith 2o-
a22used Ro1ena P. ,era#dino on !e2e"&er 8, ())* 6E+hi&it JB=7 1hen she se2ured
a 2erti0i2ation as to the 2ivi# status o0Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. 6E+hi&it JC=7 0ro" the
Nationa# %tatisti2s O00i2e 6N%O7 so"eti"e in Nove"&er ())3.

@pon #earnin$ this in0or"ation, the private 2o"p#ainant 2on0ronted Ro1ena
P. ,era#dino at the #atter=s 1orDp#a2e in CBC, 4TI, Ta$ui$ and asDed her i0 she
Dne1 o0 the 0irst "arria$e &et1een 2o"p#ainant and Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. to 1hi2h
Ro1ena P. ,era#dino a##e$ed#5 a00ir"ed and despite this Dno1#ed$e, she a##e$ed#5
sti## "arried Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. &e2ause she #oves hi" so "u2h and &e2ause
the5 1ere nei$h&ors and 2hi#dhood 0riends. Private 2o"p#ainant a#so Dne1 that
Ro1ena P. ,era#dino Dne1 o0 her "arria$e 1ith Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r., &e2ause
1hen she 6private 2o"p#ainant7 1as &rou$ht &5 Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. at the #atter=s
residen2e in Ta$ui$, etro ani#a and introdu2ed her
toAti#ano O. No##ora, ;r.=s parents, Ro1ena P. ,era#dino 1as there in the house
to$ether 1ith a 0riend and she heard ever5thin$ that the5 1ere ta#Din$ a&out.

Be2ause o0 this 2ase, private 2o"p#ainant 1as not a&#e to return to %audi Ara&ia to
1orD as a %ta00 id1i0e there&5 #osin$ in2o"e opportunit5 in the a"ount
o0 P3.,))).)) a "onth, "ore or #ess. Chen asDed a&out the "ora# da"a$es she
su00ered, she de2#ared that 1hat happened to her 1as a tra$ed5 and she had
entertained Athou$htsB o0 2o""ittin$ sui2ide. %he added that &e2ause o0 1hat
happened to her, her "other died and she a#"ost $ot raped 1hen Ati#ano O. No##ora,
;r. #e0t her a#one in their residen2e in %audi Ara&ia. Fo1ever, she de2#ared that
"one5 is not enou$h to assua$e her su00erin$s. Instead, she Eust asDed 0or the return
o0 her "one5 in the a"ount o0 P/),))).)) 6T%N, ;u#5 (G, ())/, pa$es .-*.7.

Prose2ution 1itness Ruth %antos testi0ied that she Dne1 o0 the "arria$e &et1een the
private 2o"p#ainant and Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r., &e2ause she 1as one o0 the
sponsors in said 1eddin$. %o"eti"e in Nove"&er ())3, she 1as asDed &5 the
private 2o"p#ainant to a22o"pan5 the #atter to the 1orDp#a2e o0 Ro1ena
P. ,era#dino in 4TI, Ta$ui$, etro ani#a. %he de2#ared that the private
2o"p#ainant and Ro1ena P. ,era#dinohad a 2on0rontation and she heard that
Ro1ena P. ,era#dino ad"itted that she 6Ro1ena7 Dne1 o0 the 0irst "arria$e
o0 Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. and the private 2o"p#ainant &ut she sti## 1ent on to
"arr5 Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. &e2ause she #oves hi" ver5 "u2h 6T%N, O2to&er (.,
())/, pa$es 3-/7.

Evidence for the Defense

The de0ense=s version o0 0a2ts, as su""ari:ed in the herein assai#ed !e2ision, is as 0o##o1s:

>A22used Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. ad"itted havin$ 2ontra2ted t1o 6(7 "arria$es, the
0irst 1ith private 2o"p#ainant ;esusa Pinat and the se2ond 1ith Ro1ena
P. ,era#dino. Fe, ho1ever, 2#ai"ed that he 1as a us#i" 2onvert 1a5 &a2D on
;anuar5 *), *--(, even &e0ore he 2ontra2ted the 0irst "arria$e 1ith the private
2o"p#ainant. As a ABus#i" 2onvert, he is a##e$ed#5 entit#ed to "arr5 0our 6.7 1ives
as a##o1ed under the us#i" or Is#a" &e#ie0.


To prove that he is a us#i" 2onvert even prior to his "arria$e to the private
2o"p#ainant, Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. presented a Certi0i2ate o0 Conversion dated
Au$ust (, ()). issued &5 one FadEi A&du# IaEar adueKo and approved &5
one Ihad I&rahi" A. A#5a"in 1herein it is stated that Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r.
a##e$ed#5 2onverted as a us#i" sin2e ;anuar5 *-, *--( 6E+hi&it J(,= J3= and J.=7.
Aside 0ro" said 2erti0i2ate, he a#so presented a P#ed$e o0 Conversion dated ;anuar5
*), *--( issued &5 the sa"e FadEi A&du# IaEar adueKo and approved &5
oneIhad I&rahi" A. A#5a"in 6E+hi&it J'=7.

Fe 2#ai"ed that the private 2o"p#aint Dne1 that he 1as a us#i" 2onvert prior to
their "arria$e &e2ause she Asi2B to#d this 0a2t 1hen he 1as 2ourtin$ her in %audi
Ara&ia and the reason 1h5 said private 2o"p#ainant 0i#ed the instant 2ase 1as due to
hatred havin$ #earned o0 his se2ond "arria$e 1ith Ro1ena P. ,era#dino. %he Asi2B
0urther testi0ied that Ro1ena P. ,era#dino 1as not a1are o0 his 0irst "arria$e 1ith
the private 2o"p#ainant and he did not te## her this 0a2t &e2ause Ro1ena
P. ,era#dino is a Catho#i2 and he does not 1ant to #ose her i0 she #earns o0 his 0irst
"arria$e.

Fe e+p#ained that in his arria$e Contra2t 1ith ;esusa Pinat, it is indi2ated that he
1as a JCatho#i2 Pente2osta#= &ut that he 1as not a1are 1h5 it 1as p#a2ed as su2h on
said 2ontra2t. In his arria$e Contra2t 1ith Ro1ena P. ,era#dino, the re#i$ion
JCatho#i2= 1as a#so indi2ated &e2ause he 1as Deepin$ as a se2ret his &ein$ a us#i"
sin2e the so2iet5 does not approve o0 "arr5in$ a us#i". Fe a#so indi2ated that he
1as Jsin$#e= despite his 0irst "arria$e to Deep said 0irst "arria$e a se2ret 6T%N,
;anuar5 3), ())G, pa$es (-*37.

!e0ense 1itness FadEi A&du# 9asar adueKo testi0ied that he is the 0ounder and
president o0 Ba#iD Is#a" Ta&#ee$h 4oundation o0 the Phi#ippines and as
su2h president, he has the po1er and authorit5 to 2onvert an5 app#i2ant to the
us#i" re#i$ion. Fe a##e$ed that so"eti"e in *--(, he "et
a22used Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. in a&ini 6ani#a7 1ho 1as then $oin$
a&road. Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. app#ied to &e2o"e a us#i" 6E+hi&it J*.=7 and a0ter
re2eivin$ the app#i2ation, said a22used 1as indo2trinated re$ardin$ his o&#i$ations
as a us#i". On ;anuar5 *), *--(, Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. e"&ra2ed the us#i"
0aith. Fe 1as then dire2ted to report ever5 %unda5 to "onitor his deve#op"ent.




In the 5ear ())., Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. visited hi" and asDed 0or a 2erti0i2ation
&e2ause o0 the 0i#in$ o0 the instant 2ase. On O2to&er (, ())., he issued a Certi0i2ate
o0 Conversion 1herein it is stated that Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. is a us#i" 2onvert
sin2e ;anuar5 *), *--(. Apart 0ro" the a&ove-"entioned do2u"ent, their JI"a"=
a#so issued a P#ed$e o0 Conversion 6E+hi&it J'=7. Fe de2#ared that a us#i" 2onvert
2ou#d "arr5 "ore than one a22ordin$ to the Fo#5 Ioran. Fo1ever, &e0ore "arr5in$
his se2ond, third and 0ourth 1ives, it is re<uired that the 2onsent o0 the 0irst us#i"
1i0e &e se2ured. Thus, i0 the 0irst 1i0e is not a us#i", there is no ne2essit5 to
se2ure her 2onsent 6T%N, O2to&er -, ())G, pa$es (-*(7.

!urin$ his 2ross-e+a"inations, he de2#ared that i0 a us#i" 2onvert $ets "arried
not in a22ordan2e 1ith the us#i" 0aith, the sa"e is 2ontrar5 to the tea2hin$s o0 the
us#i" 0aith. A us#i" a#so 2an "arr5 up to 0our ti"es &ut he shou#d &e a&#e to
treat the" e<ua##5. Fe 2#ai"ed that he 1as not a1are o0 the 0irst "arria$e &ut 1as
a1are o0 the se2ond. %in2e his se2ond "arria$e 1ith Ro1ena P. ,era#dino 1as not
in a22ordan2e 1ith the us#i" 0aith, he advised Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. to re-"arr5
Ro1ena P. ,era#dino in a22ordan2e 1ith us#i" "arria$e 2e#e&ration, other1ise,
he 1i## not &e 2onsidered as a true us#i" 6T%N, ;une (/, ())', pa$es 3-'7.

A22used Ro1ena P. ,era#dino a##e$ed that she 1as on#5 a vi2ti" in this in2ident o0
&i$a"ous "arria$e. %he 2#ai"ed that she does not Dno1 the private
2o"p#ainant ;esusa Pinat No##ora and on#5 2a"e to Dno1 her 1hen this 2ase 1as
0i#ed. %he insists that she is the one #a10u##5 "arried toAti#ano O. No##ora, ;r.,
havin$ &een "arried to the #atter sin2e !e2e"&er 8, ())*. @pon #earnin$
that Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. 2ontra2ted a 0irst "arria$e 1ith the private 2o"p#ainant,
she 2on0ronted the 0or"er 1ho ad"itted the said "arria$e. Prior to their "arria$e,
she asDed Ati#ano O.No##ora, ;r. i0 he 1as sin$#e and the #atter responded that he
1as sin$#e. %he a#so Dne1 that her hus&and 1as a Catho#i2 prior to their "arria$e
&ut a0ter she #earned o0 the 0irst "arria$e o0 her hus&and, she #earned that he is a
us#i" 2onvert. %he a#so 2#ai"ed that a0ter #earnin$ that her hus&and 1as a us#i"
2onvert, she and Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r., a#so $ot "arried in a22ordan2e 1ith the
us#i" rites. %he a#so &e#ied the a##e$ations o0 the private 2o"p#ainant that she 1as
sou$ht &5 the private 2o"p#ainant and that the5 had a 2on0rontation 1here she
ad"itted that she Dne1 that Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. 1as "arried to the private
2o"p#ainant and despite this Dno1#ed$e, she 1ent on to "arr5 hi" &e2ause she
#oved hi" ver5 "u2h. %he insisted that she on#5 2a"e to Dno1 the private
2o"p#ainant 1hen she 6private 2o"p#ainant7 0i#ed this 2ase 6T%N, Au$ust *., ())',
pa$es (-87.?
/



The T"#a$ Co%"!&s R%$#'(

In its !e2ision
G
dated *- Nove"&er ())', the tria# 2ourt 2onvi2ted No##ora and
a2<uitted ,era#dino.

The tria# 2ourt stated that there are on#5 t1o e+2eptions to prose2ution 0or &i$a"5: Arti2#e
.*
'
o0 the 4a"i#5 Code, or E+e2utive Order No. ()-, and Arti2#e *8)
8
o0 the Code o0
us#i" Persona# La1s o0 the Phi#ippines, or Presidentia# !e2ree No. *)83. The tria# 2ourt
a#so 2ited Arti2#e (' o0 the Code o0 us#i" Persona# La1s o0 the Phi#ippines, 1hi2h
provides the <ua#i0i2ations 0or a##o1in$ us#i" "en to have "ore than one 1i0e: >ANBo
us#i" "a#e 2an have "ore than one 1i0e un#ess he 2an dea# 1ith the" in e<ua#
2o"panionship and Eust treat"ent as enEoined &5 Is#a"i2 La1 and on#5 in e+2eptiona#
2ases.?

In 2onvi2tin$ No##ora, the tria# 2ourt=s !e2ision 0urther stated thus:

The prin2ip#e in Is#a" is that "ono$a"5 is the $enera# ru#e and po#5$a"5 is a##o1ed on#5
to "eet ur$ent needs. On#5 1ith the per"ission o0 the 2ourt 2an a us#i" &e per"itted to
have a se2ond 1i0e su&Ee2t to 2ertain re<uire"ents. This is &e2ause havin$ p#ura#it5 o0
1ives is "ere#5 to#erated, not en2oura$ed, under 2ertain 2ir2u"stan2es 6us#i" La1 on
Persona# %tatus in the Phi#ippines &5 A"er . Bara-a2a# and A&du#"aEid ;. Astir, *--8
4irst Edition, Pa$es G.-G/7. Ar&itration is ne2essar5. An5 us#i" hus&and desirin$ to
2ontra2t su&se<uent "arria$es, &e0ore so doin$, sha## noti05 the %hari=aCir2uit Court o0 the
p#a2e 1here his 0a"i#5 resides. The 2#erD o0 2ourt sha## serve a 2op5 thereo0 to the 1i0e or
1ives. %hou#d an5 o0 the" o&Ee2ts Asi2BH an A$a"a Ar&itration Coun2i# sha## &e 2onstituted.
I0 said 2oun2i# 0ai#s to se2ure the 1i0e=s 2onsent to the proposed "arria$e, the Court sha##,
su&Ee2t to Arti2#e (', de2ide 1hether on Asi2B not to sustain her o&Ee2tion 6Art. *G(, us#i"
Persona# La1s o0 the Phi#ippines7.

A22used Ati#ano No##ora, ;r., in "arr5in$ his se2ond 1i0e, 2o-a22used Ro1ena
P. ,era#dino, did not 2o"p#5 1ith the a&ove-"entioned provision o0 the #a1. In 0a2t, he did
not even de2#are that he 1as a us#i" 2onvert in &oth "arria$es, indi2atin$ his 2ri"ina#
intent. In his 2onvertin$ to the us#i" 0aith, said a22used entertained the "istaDen &e#ie0
that he 2an Eust "arr5 an5&od5 a$ain a0ter "arr5in$ the private 2o"p#ainant. Chat is 2#ear,
there0ore, is AthatB a us#i" is not $iven an un&rid#ed ri$ht to Eust "arr5 an5&od5 the
se2ond, third or 0ourth ti"e. There are re<uire"ents that the %hari=a #a1 i"poses, that is, he
shou#d have noti0ied the %hari=a Court 1here his 0a"i#5 resides so that 2op5 o0 said noti2e
shou#d &e 0urnished to the 0irst 1i0e. The ar$u"ent that noti2e to the 0irst 1i0e is not
re<uired sin2e she is not a us#i" is o0 no "o"ent. This o&#i$ation to noti05 the said 2ourt
rests upon a22usedAti#ano No##ora, ;r. It is not 0or hi" to interpret the %hari=a #a1. It is
the %hari=a Court that has this authorit5.

In an apparent atte"pt to es2ape 2ri"ina# #ia&i#it5, the a22used re2e#e&rated their "arria$e
in a22ordan2e 1ith the us#i" rites. Fo1ever, this 2an no #on$er 2ure the 2ri"ina# #ia&i#it5
that has a#read5 &een vio#ated.

The Court, ho1ever, 0inds 2ri"ina# #ia&i#it5 on the person o0 a22used Ati#ano No##ora, ;r.,
on#5. There is no su00i2ient eviden2e that 1ou#d pin a22used Ro1ena P. ,era#dino do1n.
The eviden2e presented &5 the prose2ution a$ainst her is the a##e$ation that she Dne1 o0 the
0irst "arria$e &et1een private 2o"p#ainant and Ati#ano No##ora, ;r., is insu00i2ientA,B &ein$
open to severa# interpretations. Private 2o"p#ainant a##e$ed that 1hen she 1as &rou$ht
&5Ati#ano No##ora, ;r., to the #atter=s house in Ta$ui$, etro ani#a, Ro1ena
P. ,era#dino 1as there standin$ near the door and heard their 2onversation. 4ro" this
in2ident, private 2o"p#ainant 2on2#uded that said Ro1ena P. ,era#dino 1as a1are that she
and Ati#ano No##ora, ;r., 1ere "arried. This 2on2#usion is o&vious#5 "isp#a2ed sin2e it
2ou#d not &e reasona&#5 presu"ed that Ro1ena P. ,era#dino understands 1hat 1as $oin$
on &et1een her and Ati#ano No##ora, ;r. It is a+io"ati2 that >(E)very circumstance
favoring accuseds innocence must be taken into account, proof against him must survive
the test of reason and the strongest suspicion must not be permitted to sway judgment
(Peop!e vs" #ustria, $%& '()# *++)"This Court, there0ore, has to a2<uit Ro1ena
P. ,era#dino 0or 0ai#ure o0 the prose2ution to prove her $ui#t &e5ond reasona&#e dou&t.

CFERE4ORE, pre"ises 2onsidered, Eud$"ent is here&5 rendered, as 0o##o1s:
a7 4indin$ a22used ATILANO O. NOLLORA, ;R. $ui#t5 &e5ond reasona&#e dou&t o0 the
2ri"e o0 Bi$a"5 punisha&#e under Arti2#e 3.- o0 the Revised Pena# Code. This 2ourt
here&5 renders Eud$"ent i"posin$ upon hi" a prison ter" o0 t1o 6(7 5ears, 0our 6.7
"onths and one 6*7 da5 o0 prision2orre22iona#, as "ini"u" o0 his indeter"inate senten2e,
to ei$ht 687 5ears and one 6*7 da5 o0 prision "a5or, as "a+i"u", p#us a22essor5 pena#ties
provided &5 #a1.

&7 A2<uittin$ a22used ROCENA P. ,ERAL!INO o0 the 2ri"e o0 Bi$a"5 0or 0ai#ure o0 the
prose2ution to prove her $ui#t &e5ond reasona&#e dou&t.

Costs a$ainst a22used Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r.

%O OR!ERE!.
-

No##ora 0i#ed a noti2e o0 appea# and "oved 0or the a##o1an2e o0 his te"porar5 #i&ert5 under
the sa"e &ai# &ond pendin$ appea#. The tria# 2ourt $ranted No##ora=s "otion.

No##ora 0i#ed a &rie0 1ith the appe##ate 2ourt and assi$ned on#5 one error o0 the tria# 2ourt:

The tria# 2ourt $rave#5 erred in 0indin$ the a22used-appe##ant $ui#t5 o0 the 2ri"e 2har$ed
despite the prose2ution=s 0ai#ure to esta&#ish his $ui#t &e5ond reasona&#e dou&t.
*)


The A))e$$a!e Co%"!&s R%$#'(

On 3) %epte"&er ())-, the appe##ate 2ourt dis"issed No##ora=s appea# and a00ir"ed the tria#
2ourt=s de2ision.
**

The appe##ate 2ourt reEe2ted No##ora=s de0ense that his se2ond "arria$e to ,era#dino 1as in
#a10u# e+er2ise o0 his Is#a"i2 re#i$ion and 1as a##o1ed &5 the 9ur=an. The appe##ate 2ourt
denied No##ora=s invo2ation o0 his re#i$ious &e#ie0s and pra2ti2es to the preEudi2e o0 the non-
us#i" 1o"en 1ho "arried hi" pursuant to Phi#ippine 2ivi# #a1s. No##ora=s t1o "arria$es
1ere not 2ondu2ted in a22ordan2e 1ith the Code o0 us#i" Persona# La1s, hen2e the
4a"i#5 Code o0 the Phi#ippines shou#d app#5. No##ora=s 2#ai" o0 re#i$ious 0reedo" 1i## not
i""o&i#i:e the %tate and render it i"potent in prote2tin$ the $enera# 1e#0are.

In a Reso#ution
*(
dated (3 4e&ruar5 ()*), the appe##ate 2ourt denied No##ora=s "otion 0or
re2onsideration. The a##e$ations in the "otion 0or re2onsideration 1ere a "ere rehash
o0 No##ora=s ear#ier ar$u"ents, and there 1as no reason 0or the appe##ate 2ourt to "odi05 its
3) %epte"&er ())- !e2ision.

No##ora 0i#ed the present petition 0or revie1 &e0ore this Court on G Apri# ()*).

The Iss%e


The issue in this 2ase is 1hether No##ora is $ui#t5 &e5ond reasona&#e dou&t o0 the 2ri"e o0
&i$a"5.


The Co%"!&s R%$#'(

No##ora=s petition has no "erit. Ce a00ir" the ru#in$s o0 the appe##ate 2ourt and o0 the tria#
2ourt.

Elements of Bigamy

Arti2#e 3.- o0 the Revised Pena# Code provides:

Art. 3.-. ,igamy" The pena#t5 o0 prision mayor sha## &e i"posed upon an5 person 1ho
sha## 2ontra2t a se2ond or su&se<uent "arria$e &e0ore the 0or"er "arria$e has &een #e$a##5
disso#ved, or &e0ore the a&sent spouse has &een de2#ared presu"ptive#5 dead &5 "eans o0 a
Eud$"ent rendered in the proper pro2eedin$s.

The e#e"ents o0 the 2ri"e o0 &i$a"5 are:

*. That the o00ender has &een !ega!!y married.
(. That the "arria$e has not been !ega!!y disso!ved or, in 2ase his or her spouse is a&sent,
the absent spouse cou!d not yet be presumed deada22ordin$ to the Civi# Code.
3. That he 2ontra2ts a second or subse-uent "arria$e.
.. That the se2ond or su&se<uent "arria$e has a## the essentia! re-uisites for va!idity"
*3


The 2ir2u"stan2es in the present 2ase satis05 a## the e#e"ents o0 &i$a"5. 6*7 No##ora is
#e$a##5 "arried to PinatH
*.
6(7 No##ora and Pinat=s"arria$e has not &een #e$a##5 disso#ved
prior to the date o0 the se2ond "arria$eH 637 No##ora ad"itted the e+isten2e o0 his se2ond
"arria$e to ,era#dinoH
*/
and 6.7 No##ora and ,era#dino=s "arria$e has a## the essentia#
re<uisites 0or va#idit5 e+2ept 0or the #a2D o0 2apa2it5 o0No##ora due to his prior "arria$e.
*G

The "arria$e 2erti0i2ate
*'
o0 No##ora and Pinat=s "arria$e states
that No##ora and Pinat 1ere "arried at %apan$ Pa#a5 IEELI4 Chur2h,%apan$ Pa#a5, %an
;ose de# onte, Bu#a2an on G Apri# *---. Rev. ;onathan !e esa, inister o0 the
IEELI4 Chur2h o00i2iated the 2ere"on5. The "arria$e
2erti0i2ate
*8
o0 No##ora and ,era#dino=s "arria$e states that No##ora and ,era#dino 1ere
"arried at a+=s Restaurant, 9ue:on Avenue, 9ue:on Cit5, etro ani#a on 8 !e2e"&er
())*. Rev. Fonorato !. %antos o00i2iated the 2ere"on5.

A 2erti0i2ation dated . Nove"&er ())3 0ro" the O00i2e o0 the Civi# Re$istrar ,enera# reads:

Ce 2erti05 that ATILANO ;R O. NOLLORA 1ho is a##e$ed to have &een &orn on 4e&ruar5
((, *-G8 0ro" ATILANO . NOLLORA %R and 4LALIANA OCLARIT, appears in our
Nationa# Indi2es o0 arria$e 0or ,roo" 0or the 5ears *-'3 to ())( 1ith the 0o##o1in$
in0or"ation:

!ate o0 arria$e P#a2e o0 arria$e
a7 Apri# )G, *--- &7 %AN ;O%E !EL ONTE,
B@LACAN
a7 !e2e"&er )8, ())* &7 9@EZON CITM, ETRO
ANILA 6(nd !istri2t7
*-

Be0ore the tria# and appe##ate 2ourts, No##ora put up his us#i" re#i$ion as his so#e de0ense.
Fe a##e$ed that his re#i$ion a##o1s hi" to "arr5 "ore than on2e.
,rantin$ arguendo that No##ora is indeed o0 us#i" 0aith at the ti"e o0 2e#e&ration o0 &oth
"arria$es,
()
No##ora2annot den5 that &oth "arria$e 2ere"onies 1ere not 2ondu2ted in
a22ordan2e 1ith the Code o0 us#i" Persona# La1s, or Presidentia# !e2ree No. *)83. The
app#i2a&#e Arti2#es in the Code o0 us#i" Persona# La1s read:

Art. *.. .ature" / arria$e is not on#5 a 2ivi# 2ontra2t &ut a 2ivi# institution. Its nature,
2onse<uen2es and in2idents are $overned &5 this Code and the%hari=a and not su&Ee2t to
stipu#ation, e+2ept that the "arria$e sett#e"ents to a 2ertain e+tent 0i+ the propert5 re#ations
o0 the spouses.

Art. */. Essentia! )e-uisites" / No "arria$e 2ontra2t sha## &e per0e2ted un#ess the 0o##o1in$
essentia# re<uisites are 2o"p#ied 1ith:
6a7 Le$a# 2apa2it5 o0 the 2ontra2tin$ partiesH
6&7 utua# 2onsent o0 the parties 0ree#5 $ivenH
627 O00er 6ijab7 and a22eptan2e 6-abu!7 du#5 1itnessed &5 at #east t1o 2o"petent persons
a0ter the proper $uardian in "arria$e 6wa!i7 has $iven his 2onsentH and
6d7 %tipu#ation o0 the 2usto"ar5 do1er 6mahr7 du#5 1itnessed &5 t1o 2o"petent persons.
Art. *G. (apacity to contract marriage" / 6*7 An5 us#i" "a#e at #east 0i0teen 5ears o0 a$e
and an5 us#i" 0e"a#e o0 the a$e o0 pu&ert5 or up1ards and not su00erin$ 0ro" an5
i"pedi"ent under the provisions o0 this Code "a5 2ontra2t "arria$e. A 0e"a#e is presu"ed
to have attained pu&ert5 upon rea2hin$ the a$e o0 0i0teen.
+ + +.

Art. *'. 0arriage (eremony" / No parti2u#ar 0or" o0 "arria$e 2ere"on5 is re<uired &ut
the ijab and the -abu! in "arria$e sha## &e de2#ared pu&#i2#5 in the presen2e o0 the person
so#e"ni:in$ the "arria$e and the t1o 2o"petent 1itnesses. The de2#aration sha## &e set
0orth in an instru"ent in trip#i2ate, si$ned or "arDed &5 the 2ontra2tin$ parties and said
1itnesses, and attested &5 the person so#e"ni:in$ the "arria$e. One 2op5 sha## &e $iven to
the 2ontra2tin$ parties and another sent to the Cir2uit Re$istrar &5 the so#e"ni:in$ o00i2er
1ho sha## Deep the third.

Art. *8. #uthority to so!emni1e marriage" / arria$e "a5&e so#e"ni:ed:
6a7 B5 the proper wa!i &5 the 1o"an to &e 1eddedH
6&7 @pon the authorit5 o0 the proper wa!i, &5 an5 person 1ho is 2o"petent under us#i"
#a1 to so#e"ni:e "arria$eH or
627 B5 the Eud$e o0 the 'haria !istri2t Court or 'haria Cir2uit Court or an5 person
desi$nated &5 the Eud$e, shou#d the proper wa!i re0use 1ithout Eusti0ia&#e reason, to
authori:e the so#e"ni:ation.

Art. *-. P!ace of so!emni1ation" / arria$e sha## &e so#e"ni:ed pu&#i2#5 in an5 "os<ue,
o00i2e o0 the 'haria Eud$e, o00i2e o0 the Cir2uit Re$istrar, residen2e o0 the &ride or
her wa!i, or at an5 other suita&#e p#a2e a$reed upon &5 the parties.

Art. (). 'pecification of dower" / The a"ount or va#ue o0 do1er "a5 &e 0i+ed &5 the
2ontra2tin$ parties 6mahr/musamma7 &e0ore, durin$ or a0ter the 2e#e&ration o0 "arria$e. I0
the a"ount or the va#ue thereo0 has not &een so 0i+ed, a proper do1er 6mahr/mith!7 sha##,
upon petition o0 the 1i0e, &e deter"ined &5 the 2ourt a22ordin$ to the so2ia# standin$ o0 the
parties.

Indeed, Arti2#e *36(7 o0 the Code o0 us#i" Persona# La1s states that >AiBn 2ase o0 a
*a""#a(e +e!,ee' a -%s$#* a'. a 'o'/-%s$#*, so$e*'#0e. 'o! #' ao".a'e ,#!h
-%s$#* $a, o" !h#s Co.e, !he AFa*#$1 Co.e o2 !he Ph#$#))#'es, o" E3e%!#4e O".e" No.
259,in #ieu o0 the Civi# Code o0 the Phi#ippinesB sha$$ a))$1.? No##ora=s re#i$ious a00i#iation
is not an issue here. Neither is the 2#ai" thatNo##ora=s "arria$es 1ere so#e"ni:ed a22ordin$
to us#i" #a1. Thus, re$ard#ess o0 his pro0essed re#i$ion, No##ora 2annot 2#ai" e+e"ption
0ro" #ia&i#it5 0or the 2ri"e o0 &i$a"5.
(*

No##ora asserted in his "arria$e 2erti0i2ate 1ith ,era#dino that his 2ivi# status is >sin$#e.?
oreover, &oth o0 No##ora=s "arria$e 2ontra2ts do not state that he is a us#i". A#thou$h
the truth or 0a#sehood o0 the de2#aration o0 one=s re#i$ion in the "arria$e 2erti0i2ate is not an
essentia# re<uire"ent 0or "arria$e, su2h o"issions are su00i2ient proo0s
o0 No##ora=s #ia&i#it5 0or &i$a"5. No##ora=s 0a#se de2#aration a&out his 2ivi# status is thus
0urther 2o"pounded &5 these o"issions.

AATTM. CAL!INO:B
9: In 5our "arria$e 2ontra2t, r. Citness, 1ith ;esusa Pinat, 5ou indi2ated here as 5our
re#i$ion, Catho#i2 Pente2osta#, and 5ou 1ere sa5in$ that sin2e ;anuar5 *), *--(, 5ou are
a#read5 a ABus#i" 2onvert. . . 5ou said, r. Citness, that 5ou are a#read5 a
ABus#i" 2onvert sin2e ;anuar5 *), *--(. Fo1ever, in 5our "arria$e 2ontra2t
1ith ;esusa Pinat, there is no indi2ation here that 5ou have indi2ated 5our re#i$ion. Ci## 5ou
p#ease $o over 5our "arria$e 2ontra2tN

ANOLLORA:B
A: Chen 1e $ot "arried, the5 Eust p#a2ed there Catho#i2 &ut I didn=t Dno1 1h5 the5 did not
p#a2e an5 Catho#i2 there.

+ + +

6: No,, -". 7#!'ess, I ,o%$. $#8e !o a$$ 1o%" a!!e'!#o' ,#!h "es)e! !o 1o%" *a""#a(e
o'!"a! ,#!h 1o%" o/a%se. #' !h#s ase, Ro,e'aGe"a$.#'o, 3 3 3 ,#$$ 1o% )$ease !e$$
%s, -". 7#!'ess, o's#.e"#'( !ha! 1o% sa#. !ha! 1o% a"e a$"ea.1 a 9-:%s$#* o'4e"! o'
Ja'%a"1 15, 1992, ,h1 #' !he *a""#a(e o'!"a! ,#!h Ro,e'a Ge"a$.#'o, 1o%
#'.#a!e. !he"e 1o%" "e$#(#o' as Ca!ho$#, -". 7#!'ess;
A: S#'e I ,as a 2o"*e" Ca!ho$# a'. s#'e I ,as !he' 8ee)#'(, I ,as 8ee)#'( #! as a
se"e! *1 +e#'( *1 <a$#8/Is$a*, !ha!&s ,h1 I )$ae. !he"e Ca!ho$# s#'e I 8'o, !ha!
!he so#e!1 .oes'&! a))"o4e a Ca!ho$# !o *a""1 a'o!he", !ha!&s ,h1 I )$ae. !he"e
Ca!ho$# as *1 "e$#(#o', s#".

6: Ho, a+o%! %'.e" !he o$%*', =#4#$ s!a!%s,> ,h1 .#. 1o% #'.#a!e !he"e !ha! 1o%&"e
s#'($e, -". 7#!'ess;

A: I a$so 8e)! #! as a se"e! !ha! I ,as *a""#e., ea"$#e" *a""#e..
((
6E"phasis supp#ied7

+ + +

APRO%EC@TOR TAMLOR:B
9: Cou#d 5ou die 0or 5our ne1 re#i$ion, r. No##oraN

A: Mes, "a=a".

9: I0 5ou 1ou#d die 0or 5our ne1 re#i$ion, 1h5 did 5ou a##o1 that 5our 0aith &e indi2ated as
Catho#i2 1hen in 0a2t 5ou 1ere a#read5 as 5ou a##e$ed ABus#i" to &e put in 5our "arria$e
2ontra2tN

+ + +

AA:B I don=t thinD there is an5thin$ 1ron$ 1ith it, I Eust si$ned it so 1e 2an $et "arried
under the Catho#i2 ri$hts Asi2B &e2ause a0ter that 1e even $ot "arried under the
ABus#i" ri$hts Asi2B, 5our Fonor.

+ + +

9: @nder 5our us#i" 0aith, i0 5ou "arr5 a se2ond 1i0e, are 5ou re<uired under 5our 0aith
to se2ure the per"ission o0 5our 0irst 1i0e to $et "arriedN

A: Mes, "a=a".

9: !id 5ou se2ure that per"ission 0ro" 5our 0irst 1i0e, ;esusa No##oraN

A: I 1as not a&#e to asD an5 per"ission 0ro" her &e2ause she 1as ver5 "ad at "e, at the
start, she 1as a#1a5s ver5 "ad, "a=a".
(3


In his petition &e0ore this Court, No##ora 2asts dou&t on the va#idit5 o0 his "arria$e
to ,era#dino. No##ora "a5 not i"pu$n his "arria$e to,era#dino in order to e+tri2ate
hi"se#0 0ro" 2ri"ina# #ia&i#it5H other1ise, 1e 1ou#d &e openin$ the doors to a##o1in$ the
so#e"ni:ation o0 "u#tip#e 0#a1ed "arria$e 2ere"onies. As 1e stated in 2enebro v" (ourt of
#ppea!s:
(.
There is there0ore a re2o$nition 1ritten into the #a1 itse#0 that su2h a "arria$e, a#thou$h
void a& initio, "a5 sti## produ2e #e$a# 2onse<uen2es. A"on$ these #e$a# 2onse<uen2es is
in2urrin$ 2ri"ina# #ia&i#it5 0or &i$a"5. To ho#d other1ise 1ou#d render the %tate=s pena#
#a1s on &i$a"5 2o"p#ete#5 nu$ator5, and a##o1 individua#s to de#i&erate#5 ensure that ea2h
"arita# 2ontra2t &e 0#a1ed in so"e "anner, and to thus es2ape the 2onse<uen2es o0
2ontra2tin$ "u#tip#e "arria$es, 1hi#e &e$ui#in$ thron$s o0 hap#ess 1o"en 1ith the pro"ise
o0 0uturit5 and 2o""it"ent.


7HEREFORE, 1e DEN? the petition. The !e2ision o0 the Court o0 Appea#s in CA-,.R.
CR No. 3*/38 pro"u#$ated on 3) %epte"&er ())- and the Reso#ution pro"u#$ated on (3
4e&ruar5 ()*) are AFFIR-ED. Petitioner Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r. is $ui#t5 &e5ond
reasona&#e dou&t o0 Bi$a"5 in Cri"ina# Case No. 9-).-*(-)3* and is senten2ed to su00er
the pena#t5 o0 i"prison"ent 1ith a ter" o0 t1o 5ears, 0our "onths and one da5
o0 prision correcciona! as "ini"u" to ei$ht 5ears and one da5 o0 prision mayor as
"a+i"u" o0 his indeter"inate senten2e, as 1e## as the a22essor5 pena#ties provided &5 #a1.

Costs a$ainst petitioner Ati#ano O. No##ora, ;r.

SO ORDERED.



ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Asso2iate ;usti2e


7E CONC@R:




ART@RO D. <RION
Asso2iate ;usti2e




DIOSDADO -. PERALTA JOSE PORT@GAL PEREA
Asso2iate ;usti2e Asso2iate ;usti2e




JOSE C. -ENDOAA
Asso2iate ;usti2e


ATTESTATION
I attest that the 2on2#usions in the a&ove !e2ision had &een rea2hed in 2onsu#tation &e0ore
the 2ase 1as assi$ned to the 1riter o0 the opinion o0 the Court=s !ivision.



ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Asso2iate ;usti2e
Chairperson


CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to %e2tion *3, Arti2#e LIII o0 the Constitution, and the !ivision Chairperson=s
Attestation, I 2erti05 that the 2on2#usions in the a&ove !e2ision had &een rea2hed in
2onsu#tation &e0ore the 2ase 1as assi$ned to the 1riter o0 the opinion o0 the Court=s
!ivision.



RENATO C. CORONA
Chie0 ;usti2e