Psychological incapacity after Tan-Andal
“Ayaw magpatingin sa psychiatrist ng asawa mo. Pwede pa bang ma-annul ang kasal?”
Psychological incapacity under Article 36 is a legal concept, not a medical illness. The Supreme Court En Banc in Tan-Andal dismantled the rigid psychiatric requirement of Molina, holding that an enduring personality structure may be proven through ordinary lay testimony.
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Read the strip. The last panel does not answer — you do, before the rule shows up.
A small law office. Jenny sits across from Atty. Santos, clutching financial records, police blotters, and rehab receipts.
JENNY“Atty., sampung taon na kaming kasal ni Ronald. Nalulong sa shabu, binenta mga ari-arian namin, at iniwan kami ng anak ko na baon sa utang.”
Severe domestic dysfunction and enduring pattern of marital failure.
Atty. Santos examines the files and looks up with a furrowed brow.
ATTY. SANTOS“May psychiatric evaluation ba si Ronald? Kasi under the 1997 Molina guidelines, kailangan ng ekspertong psychiatrist na mag-diagnose sa kanya.”
The old rigid Molina doctrine: requiring clinical psychiatric examination.
Jenny bursts into tears, shaking her head.
JENNY“Nagtago na po si Ronald sa probinsya! Ayaw pumunta sa doktor, at wala po akong ₱150,000 pambayad sa private psychiatrist!”
The practical barrier: respondent refuses to participate and fees are prohibitive.
Atty. Santos smiles, setting aside the old manual and pulling out G.R. No. 196359.
ATTY. SANTOS“Huwag kang mag-alala, Jenny. Binago na ng Korte Suprema ang patakaran sa Tan-Andal v. Andal.”
Vote before the rule.