Not valid because they were forced to enter the union

not valid because they were forced to enter the union and Maxion was married to
someone else at that time.
ISSUE: WON Lilia’s first marriage is void?
HELD: No. It’s voidable. Petition dismissed.
RATIO: There is no need for petitioner to prove that her first marriage was vitiated by
force committed against both parties because assuming this to be so, the marriage
will not be void but merely viodable (Art. 85, Civil Code), and therefore valid until
annulled. Since no annulment has yet been made, it is clear that when she married
respondent she was still validly married to her first husband, consequently, her
marriage to respondent is VOID (Art. 80, Civil Code).
There is likewise no need of introducing evidence about the existing prior marriage of
her first husband at the time they married each other, for then such a marriage though
void still needs according to this Court a judicial declaration of such fact and for all
legal intents and purposes she would still be regarded as a married woman at the
time she contracted her marriage with respondent Karl Heinz Wiegel; accordingly, the
marriage of petitioner and respondent would be regarded VOID under the law.
Lolita D. Enrico v. Heirs of Eulogio B. Medinaceli - September 28, 2007
Facts: Petitioner, Lolita D. Enrico, is the second wife of Eulogio Medinacili. They were
married on August 24, 2004. This marriage was celebrated 4 months after Eulogio’s
first wife died on May 2004.
On February, 2005, or six months after his second marriage, Eulogio died.
The respondents are Eulogio’s heirs and seek a declaration of nullity of the
marriage of Petitioner Lolita and Eulogio on the ground that the marriage was
celebrated without a valid marriage license. And that 5-year cohabitation exception
could not apply since Eulogio was a bachelor for only 4 months.
Petitioner answered the complaint and alleged that they have been living as
husband and wife for 21 years as in fact they had 2 children. Further, petitioner
contended that it is only the contracting parties while living can file an action for
declaration of nullity of their marriage.
RTC dismissed the complaint but on reconsideration reinstated the case.
Petitioner Enrico directly filed for Rule 65 in the SC.
Issue: Do the heirs have standing to file the action for the declaration of nullity? NO.
Ruling: SC grants the petition and dismisses the petition for declaration of nullity filed
by the heirs.
First, Void marriages solemnized under the Family Code are governed by
the A.M. 02-11-10 of the SC, that is, marriages entered into on and after August 3,
1988. The A.M. of the SC provides that “a petition for declaration of absolute nullity of
void marriage may be filed solely by the husband or the wife.” It is clear. Thus, the
heirs have no standing. Case Dismissed!