Title
Lasanas vs. People
Case
G.R. No. 159031
Decision Date
Jun 23, 2014
Noel Lasanas convicted of bigamy for marrying Josefa Eslaban without annulling his prior marriage to Socorro Patingo; good faith defense rejected.
A

Case Digest (G.R. No. 253305)

Facts:

On February 16, 1968, accused Noel A. Lasanas married Socorro Patingo in San Miguel, Iloilo without a marriage license and without an affidavit of cohabitation; the marriage was later reaffirmed in a religious ceremony on August 27, 1980. On December 27, 1993, he married Josefa Eslaban in Iloilo City, with his civil status appearing as single, and he filed a complaint for annulment of his first marriage only on July 26, 1996.

In October 1998, Socorro charged him with bigamy. After indictment, the RTC Branch 38 convicted him in Criminal Case No. 49808 (judgment October 30, 2000), and the CA affirmed his conviction on August 29, 2002.

Issues:

  • Whether the absence of a judicial declaration of nullity of the first marriage precluded conviction for bigamy.
  • Whether the validity of the subsequent marriage was an essential element that was lacking.
  • Whether the accused’s good faith and lack of criminal intent warranted acquittal.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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