TITLE:ImeldaManalaysayPilapilvHon.

CoronaIbaySomera
CITATION:GRNo.80116,June30,1989|174SCRA653

FACTS:
Imelda M. Pilapil, a Filipino citizen, was married with private
respondent, Erich Ekkehard Geiling, a German national before the
RegistrarofBirths,MarriagesandDeathsatFriedensweiler,Federal
RepublicofGermany. TheyhaveachildwhowasbornonApril20,
1980 and named Isabella Pilapil Geiling. Conjugal disharmony
eventuatedinprivaterespondentandheinitiatedadivorceproceeding
againstpetitionerinGermanybeforetheSchonebergLocalCourtin
January1983.Thepetitionerthenfiledanactionforlegalseparation,
supportandseparationofpropertybeforetheRTCManilaonJanuary
23,1983.
ThedecreeofdivorcewaspromulgatedonJanuary15,1986onthe
groundoffailureofmarriageofthespouses.Thecustodyofthechild
wasgrantedtothepetitioner.
OnJune27,1986,privaterespondentfiled2complaintsforadultery
before the City Fiscal ofManila allegingthat while still married to
Imelda,latterhadanaffairwithWilliamChiaasearlyas1982and
anothermannamedJesusChuasometimein1983.
ISSUE:Whether private respondent can prosecute petitioner on the
groundofadulteryeventhoughtheyarenolongerhusbandandwifeas
decreeofdivorcewasalreadyissued.

HELD:
The law specifically provided that in prosecution for adultery and
concubinage,thepersonwhocanlegallyfilethecomplaintshouldbe
theoffendedspouseandnobodyelse.Thoughinthiscase,itappeared
that private respondent is the offended spouse, the latter obtained a
validdivorceinhiscountry,theFederalRepublicofGermany,andsaid
divorceanditslegaleffectsmayberecognizedinthePhilippinesinso
far as he is concerned. Thus, under the same consideration and
rationale,privaterespondentisnolongerthehusbandofpetitionerand
has no legal standing to commence the adultery case under the
imposturethathewastheoffendedspouseatthetimehefiledsuit.