CamachoReyesv.Reyes,G.R.No.

185286,
Aug.18,2010
FACTS: Petitioner Maria Socorro Camacho-Reyes met respondent Ramon
Reyes at the UP Diliman, in 1972 when they were both 19 years old.
Petitioner enjoyed respondents style of courtship which included dining
out, unlike other couples their age who were restricted by a university
students budget. At that time, respondent held a job in the family business,
the Aristocrat Restaurant. Petitioners good impression of the respondent
was not diminished by the latters habit of cutting classes, not even by her
discovery that respondent was taking marijuana. On December 5, 1976,
petitioner and respondent got married. They lived with Ramons parents
and they were supported by them. They had a child which made their
financial difficulties worse. All the business ventures of Ramon were
unsuccessful and Socorro became the breadwinner of the family. To make
things worse, despite the fact that Socorro would undergo an operation for
removal of a cyst, respondent remained unconcerned and unattentive; and
simply read the newspaper, and played dumb when petitioner requested
that he accompany her as she was wheeled into the operating room. They
tried to attend counseling sessions but nothing has changed. Sometime in
1996, petitioner confirmed that respondent was having an extra-marital
affair. RTC granted the petition. CA reversed. Hence, this petition.
ISSUE: W/N Ramon is psychologically incapacitated

HELD: Yes. Marriage is null and void. The lack of personal examination
and interview of the respondent, or any other person diagnosed with
personality disorder, does not per se invalidate the testimonies of the
doctors. Neither do their findings automatically constitute hearsay that
would result in their exclusion as evidence. In the instant case,
respondents pattern of behavior manifests an inability, nay, a
psychological incapacity to perform the essential marital obligations as
shown by his: (1) sporadic financial support; (2) extra-marital affairs; (3)
substance abuse; (4) failed business attempts; (5) unpaid money
obligations; (6) inability to keep a job that is not connected with the family
businesses; and (7) criminal charges of estafa.