• NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
Baguio Chronicle
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Baguio Chronicle
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

Kuwentong Peyups – Breach of a Promise to Marry

Dennis Gorecho by Dennis Gorecho
June 14, 2022
in Opinion
Reading Time: 4 mins read
5
SHARES
18
VIEWS

A MERE breach of a promise to marry is not an actionable wrong, as long as it is not of such extent as would palpably and unjustifiably contradict good customs.

 In any case, the party seeking to recover damages must have acted in good faith.

 I was still  a  freshman at the  UP College of Law when I first  read the 1964 case of Wassmer v. Velez  (120 Phil 1440 ) wherein  the Supreme Court  allowed the recovery of damages as a result of a canceled marriage.

ADVERTISEMENT

 Preparations for the wedding had already been made – a marriage license had been secured; wedding invitations printed and distributed; dresses for the bride, maid of honor, and flower girl purchased; bridal showers given and gifts received; the matrimonial bed bought, complete with accessories – only to have the wedding canceled just two days before its intended date.

  The Supreme Court  ruled that, while a breach of promise to marry was not actionable, walking out of a wedding two days prior, after all had been prepared, was quite different.

The defendant’s  act  was  deemed “palpably and unjustifiably contrary to good customs,” for which the award of damages was proper.

Indeed, “the extent to which acts not contrary to law may be perpetrated with impunity is not limitless,” as these acts are still subject to the human relations provisions of the New Civil Code.

  However,  the Supreme Court stressed in the recent case of Jhonna Guevarra vs Jan Banach, (G.R. No. 214016 November 24, 2021) that the party seeking to recover damages must have acted in good faith.

Banach, a German,   alleged that Guevarra had repeatedly expressed her  love and willingness  to marry him so that he would  send her money, only to break up with him after he had done so.

Banach went to court seeking the return of the P500,000 that he gave to Guevarra for their supposed conjugal home.

He claimed that these acts amounted to fraud, or at the very least unjust enrichment.

On the other hand, Guevarra  called off the engagement after she had discovered Banach’s actions were tainted with fraud and deceit; he did not have the purest intentions in marrying her.

 

He lied about his marital status as  he  told her that he was  a divorced man even if  he was still  married to his third wife.

Banach even hid his true name from Guevarra.

Finding out that one’s betrothed is still married to another person, and that he is not who he says he is, are reasons enough to justify the wedding’s cancellation.  

In granting the petition where the award of actual damages worth P500,000 was deleted, my former UP Law professor and SC Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said, “Litigation to the sorrows caused by a broken heart and a broken promise must be discouraged.”

 The  unjust  enrichment  principle  only  applies  if  the  property  is  acquired  without  legal  grounds.

Banach gave Guevarra P500,000 as a gift to help her and her family with their possible eviction from their home. The money being a gift, the Court said that Guevarra cannot  be  compelled  to  return  the P500,000  given to her.

 

Justice Leonen further said that an individual has the autonomy to choose whom

 

to marry, or whether to marry at all.

 

 

They must be free to make that choice without any fear of legal retribution or liability.

 

The decision on whether to marry is one that should be freely chosen, without the 

 

pressures of a possible civil suit should a person realize that their intended partner is

 

 not right for them.

 

“We recognize instances when the breach of one’s commitment in an intimate

 

relationship is a consequence of their realization that marriage may not be the wisest 

 

path they could take given their circumstances,” Leonen said.

 

“Choosing a person to marry is intimately connected to a person’s autonomy.  Any State interest in the institution of marriage must not lead to an unjustified intrusion into one’s individual autonomy and human dignity. It must only be done when public interest is imperiled. It is not within the courts’ competence to reach too far into intimate relations. Courts, through litigation, should not dictate on or even pressure a person into accepting a life of marriage with a person they reject. Courts must, as much as possible, refrain from meddling in these personal affairs.” Leonen added. 

 

( Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.)

 

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Rooster’s Tales – ‘Faky faky’ news and its faces

Next Post

FACT CHECK: Leni-Kiko tandem refuses to disclose SOCE #FactsFirstPH

Dennis Gorecho

Dennis Gorecho

ATTY. DENNIS R. GORECHO had two of Eraserheads band members as his roommates while studying at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He was a staff photographer of the UP Collegian and wrote for the Manila-based newspaper Today. He was admitted to the bar in 1999 after which he joined the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan (SVBB) Law Office where he is now a junior partner and heads the seafarers’ division.

Related Posts

New Heights – Millstones and milestones

March 28, 2023

On Point – Flight may equate to guilt

March 28, 2023

Rooster’s Tales – Igorots red-tagged!

Flowers for Lolas – Accurate historical inclusion while the comfort women’s voices can still be heard

Grassroots etc – What in Life is Left for Me?

Inside the Dugout – Baseball fever

Latest Stories

New Heights – Millstones and milestones

March 28, 2023

On Point – Flight may equate to guilt

March 28, 2023

Rooster’s Tales – Igorots red-tagged!

March 28, 2023

Baguio Chronicle

 

The Baguio Chronicle is the fastest- growing news publication in Northern Luzon today. It was established on December 6, 2009 in Baguio City.

© 2022 The Baguio Chronicle Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In