THIRD DIVISION

[G.R. No. 165545. March 24, 2006.]

SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, petitioner, vs. TERESITA JARQUE VDA. DE

BAILON, respondent.

Danilo R. Tancioco for petitioner.

Cesar Malazarte for respondent.

SYLLABUS

1. POLITICAL LAW; ADMINISTRATIVE LAW; SOCIAL SECURITY

COMMISSION (SSC); CANNOT REVIEW, MUCH LESS REVERSE, DECISIONS
RENDERED BY COURTS OF LAW. — That the SSC is empowered to settle any dispute with
respect to SSS coverage, benefits and contributions, there is no doubt. In so exercising such
power, however, it cannot review, much less reverse, decisions rendered by courts of law as it
did in the case at bar when it declared that the December 10, 1970 CFI Order was obtained
through fraud and subsequently disregarded the same, making its own findings with respect to
the validity of Bailon and Alice's marriage on the one hand and the invalidity of Bailon and
respondent's marriage on the other. In interfering with and passing upon the CFI Order, the SSC
virtually acted as an appellate court. The law does not give the SSC unfettered discretion to trifle
with orders of regular courts in the exercise of its authority to determine the beneficiaries of the
SSS.

2. CIVIL LAW; PERSONS; MARRIAGE; SUBSEQUENT MARRIAGE

CONTRACTED DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE FIRST SPOUSE IS ILLEGAL AND
VOID AB INITIO; EXCEPTIONS. — Under the foregoing provision of the Civil Code, a
subsequent marriage contracted during the lifetime of the first spouse is illegal and void ab initio
unless the prior marriage is first annulled or dissolved or contracted under any of the three
exceptional circumstances. It bears noting that the marriage under any of these exceptional cases
is deemed valid "until declared null and void by a competent court." It follows that the onus
probandi in these cases rests on the party assailing the second marriage.

3. ID.; FAMILY CODE; MARRIAGE; PRESUMPTIVE DEATH; ABSENTEE'S

MERE REAPPEARANCE EVEN IF MADE KNOWN TO THE SPOUSE IN THE
SUBSEQUENT MARRIAGE, WILL NOT TERMINATE SUCH MARRIAGE. — The
termination of the subsequent marriage by affidavit provided by Article 42 of the Family Code
does not preclude the filing of an action in court to prove the reappearance of the absentee and
obtain a declaration of dissolution or termination of the subsequent marriage. If the absentee
reappears, but no step is taken to terminate the subsequent marriage, either by affidavit or by
court action, such absentee's mere reappearance, even if made known to the spouses in the
subsequent marriage, will not terminate such marriage. Since the second marriage has been
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 contracted because of a presumption that the former spouse is dead, such presumption continues
inspite of the spouse's physical reappearance, and by fiction of law, he or she must still be
regarded as legally an absentee until the subsequent marriage is terminated as provided by law.

4. ID.; ID.; ID.; CAN BE ASSAILED ONLY DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE
PARTIES. — It bears reiterating that a voidable marriage cannot be assailed collaterally in a
direct proceeding. Consequently, such marriages can be assailed only during the lifetime of the
parties and not after the death of either, in which case the parties and their offspring will be left
as if the marriage had been perfectly valid. Upon the death of either, the marriage cannot be
impeached, and is made good ab initio.

5. POLITICAL LAW; ADMINISTRATIVE LAW; SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

(SSS); IN CASE OF MARRIAGE BY REASON OF PRESUMPTIVE DEATH, THE WIFE IN
THE SECOND MARRIAGE WHICH WAS NULLIFIED IS THE DEPENDENT
SPOUSE-BENEFICIARY OF THE DECEASED MEMBER. — In the case at bar, as no step
was taken to nullify in accordance with law, Bailon's and respondent's marriage prior to the
former's death in 1998, respondent is rightfully the dependent spouse-beneficiary of Bailon.

DECISION

CARPIO MORALES, J : p

The Court of Appeals Decision 1(1) dated June 23, 2004 2(2) and Resolution dated
September 28, 2004 3(3) reversing the Resolution dated April 2, 2003 4(4) and Order dated June
4, 2003 5(5) of the Social Security Commission (SSC) in SSC Case No. 4-15149-01 are
challenged in the present petition for review on certiorari.

On April 25, 1955, Clemente G. Bailon (Bailon) and Alice P. Diaz (Alice) contracted
marriage in Barcelona, Sorsogon. 6(6)

More than 15 years later or on October 9, 1970, Bailon filed before the then Court of
First Instance (CFI) of Sorsogon a petition 7(7) to declare Alice presumptively dead.

By Order of December 10, 1970, 8(8) the CFI granted the petition, disposing as follows:

WHEREFORE, there being no opposition filed against the petition notwithstanding

the publication of the Notice of Hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the
country, Alice Diaz is hereby declared to [sic] all legal intents and purposes, except for
those of succession, presumptively dead.

SO ORDERED. 9(9) (Underscoring supplied)

Close to 13 years after his wife Alice was declared presumptively dead or on August 8,
1983, Bailon contracted marriage with Teresita Jarque (respondent) in Casiguran, Sorsogon.
10(10)

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 On January 30, 1998, Bailon, who was a member of the Social Security System (SSS)
since 1960 and a retiree pensioner thereof effective July 1994, died. 11(11)

Respondent thereupon filed a claim for funeral benefits, and was granted P12,000 12(12)
by the SSS.

Respondent filed on March 11, 1998 an additional claim for death benefits 13(13) which
was also granted by the SSS on April 6, 1998. 14(14)

Cecilia Bailon-Yap (Cecilia), who claimed to be a daughter of Bailon and one Elisa
Jayona (Elisa) contested before the SSS the release to respondent of the death and funeral
benefits. She claimed that Bailon contracted three marriages in his lifetime, the first with Alice,
the second with her mother Elisa, and the third with respondent, all of whom are still alive; she,
together with her siblings, paid for Bailon's medical and funeral expenses; and all the documents
submitted by respondent to the SSS in support of her claims are spurious. DSETcC

In support of her claim, Cecilia and her sister Norma Bailon Chavez (Norma) submitted
an Affidavit dated February 13, 1999 15(15) averring that they are two of nine children of
Bailon and Elisa who cohabited as husband and wife as early as 1958; and they were reserving
their right to file the necessary court action to contest the marriage between Bailon and
respondent as they personally know that Alice is "still very much alive." 16(16)

In the meantime, on April 5, 1999, a certain Hermes P. Diaz, claiming to be the brother
and guardian of "Aliz P. Diaz," filed before the SSS a claim for death benefits accruing from
Bailon's death, 17(17) he further attesting in a sworn statement 18(18) that it was Norma who
defrayed Bailon's funeral expenses.

Elisa and seven of her children 19(19) subsequently filed claims for death benefits as
Bailon's beneficiaries before the SSS. 20(20)

Atty. Marites C. de la Torre of the Legal Unit of the SSS Bicol Cluster, Naga City
recommended the cancellation of payment of death pension benefits to respondent and the
issuance of an order for the refund of the amount paid to her from February 1998 to May 1999
representing such benefits; the denial of the claim of Alice on the ground that she was not
dependent upon Bailon for support during his lifetime; and the payment of the balance of the
five-year guaranteed pension to Bailon's beneficiaries according to the order of preference
provided under the law, after the amount erroneously paid to respondent has been collected. The
pertinent portions of the Memorandum read:

1. Aliz [sic] Diaz never disappeared. The court must have been misled by
misrepresentation in declaring the first wife, Aliz [sic] Diaz, as presumptively dead.

xxx xxx xxx

. . . the Order of the court in the "Petition to Declare Alice Diaz Presumptively
Dead," did not become final. The presence of Aliz [sic] Diaz, is contrary proof that
rendered it invalid.

xxx xxx xxx

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 3. It was the deceased member who abandoned his wife, Aliz [sic] Diaz. He,
being in bad faith, and is the deserting spouse, his remarriage is void, being bigamous.

xxx xxx xxx

In this case, it is the deceased member who was the deserting spouse and who
remarried, thus his marriage to Teresita Jarque, for the second time was void as it was
bigamous. To require affidavit of reappearance to terminate the second marriage is not
necessary as there is no disappearance of Aliz [sic] Diaz, the first wife, and a voidable
marriage [sic], to speak of. 21(21) (Underscoring supplied)

In the meantime, the SSS Sorsogon Branch, by letter of August 16, 2000, 22(22) advised
respondent that as Cecilia and Norma were the ones who defrayed Bailon's funeral expenses, she
should return the P12,000 paid to her.

In a separate letter dated September 7, 1999, 23(23) the SSS advised respondent of the
cancellation of her monthly pension for death benefits in view of the opinion rendered by its
legal department that her marriage with Bailon was void as it was contracted while the latter's
marriage with Alice was still subsisting; and the December 10, 1970 CFI Order declaring Alice
presumptively dead did not become final, her "presence" being "contrary proof" against the
validity of the order. It thus requested respondent to return the amount of P24,000 representing
the total amount of monthly pension she had received from the SSS from February 1998 to May
1999. EcTIDA

Respondent protested the cancellation of her monthly pension for death benefits by letter
to the SSS dated October 12, 1999. 24(24) In a subsequent letter dated November 27, 1999
25(25) to the SSC, she reiterated her request for the release of her monthly pension, asserting
that her marriage with Bailon was not declared before any court of justice as bigamous or
unlawful, hence, it remained valid and subsisting for all legal intents and purposes as in fact
Bailon designated her as his beneficiary.

The SSS, however, by letter to respondent dated January 21, 2000, 26(26) maintained the
denial of her claim for and the discontinuance of payment of monthly pension. It advised her,
however, that she was not deprived of her right to file a petition with the SSC.

Respondent thus filed a petition 27(27) against the SSS before the SSC for the restoration
to her of her entitlement to monthly pension.

In the meantime, respondent informed the SSS that she was returning, under protest, the
amount of P12,000 representing the funeral benefits she received, she alleging that Norma and
her siblings "forcibly and coercively prevented her from spending any amount during Bailon's
wake." 28(28)

After the SSS filed its Answer 29(29) to respondent's petition, and the parties filed their
respective Position Papers, one Alicia P. Diaz filed an Affidavit 30(30) dated August 14, 2002
with the SSS Naga Branch attesting that she is the widow of Bailon; she had only recently come
to know of the petition filed by Bailon to declare her presumptively dead; it is not true that she
disappeared as Bailon could have easily located her, she having stayed at her parents' residence
in Barcelona, Sorsogon after she found out that Bailon was having an extramarital affair; and
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 Bailon used to visit her even after their separation.

By Resolution of April 2, 2003, the SSC found that the marriage of respondent to Bailon
was void and, therefore, she was "just a common-law-wife." Accordingly it disposed as follows,
quoted verbatim:

WHEREFORE, this Commission finds, and so holds, that petitioner Teresita

Jarque-Bailon is not the legitimate spouse and primary beneficiary of SSS member
Clemente Bailon.

Accordingly, the petitioner is hereby ordered to refund to the SSS the amount of
P24,000.00 representing the death benefit she received therefrom for the period February
1998 until May 1999 as well as P12,000.00 representing the funeral benefit.

The SSS is hereby ordered to pay Alice (a.k.a. Aliz) Diaz-Bailon the appropriate
death benefit arising from the demise of SSS member Clemente Bailon in accordance with
Section 8(e) and (k) as well as Section 13 of the SS Law, as amended, and its prevailing
rules and regulations and to inform this Commission of its compliance herewith.

SO ORDERED. 31(31) (Underscoring supplied)

In so ruling against respondent, the SSC ratiocinated.

After a thorough examination of the evidence at hand, this Commission comes to

the inevitable conclusion that the petitioner is not the legitimate wife of the deceased
member.

xxx xxx xxx

There is . . . ample evidence pointing to the fact that, contrary to the declaration of
the then CFI of Sorsogon (10th Judicial District), the first wife never disappeared as the
deceased member represented in bad faith. This Commission accords credence to the
findings of the SSS contained in its Memorandum dated August 9, 1999, 32(32) revealing
that Alice (a.k.a. Aliz) Diaz never left Barcelona, Sorsogon, after her separation from
Clemente Bailon . . . . cSCTID

As the declaration of presumptive death was extracted by the deceased member

using artifice and by exerting fraud upon the unsuspecting court of law, . . . it never had the
effect of giving the deceased member the right to marry anew. . . . [I]t is clear that the
marriage to the petitioner is void, considering that the first marriage on April 25, 1955 to
Alice Diaz was not previously annulled, invalidated or otherwise dissolved during the
lifetime of the parties thereto. . . . as determined through the investigation conducted by the
SSS, Clemente Bailon was the abandoning spouse, not Alice Diaz Bailon.

xxx xxx xxx

It having been established, by substantial evidence, that the petitioner was just a
common-law wife of the deceased member, it necessarily follows that she is not entitled as
a primary beneficiary, to the latter's death benefit. . . .

xxx xxx xxx

It having been determined that Teresita Jarque was not the legitimate surviving
spouse and primary beneficiary of Clemente Bailon, it behooves her to refund the total
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 amount of death benefit she received from the SSS for the period from February 1998 until
May 1999 pursuant to the principle of solutio indebiti . . .

Likewise, it appearing that she was not the one who actually defrayed the cost of the
wake and burial of Clemente Bailon, she must return the amount of P12,000.00 which was
earlier given to her by the SSS as funeral benefit. 33(33) (Underscoring supplied)

Respondent's Motion for Reconsideration 34(34) having been denied by Order of June 4,
2003, she filed a petition for review 35(35) before the Court of Appeals (CA).

By Decision of June 23, 2004, the CA reversed and set aside the April 2, 2003 Resolution
and June 4, 2003 Order of the SSC and thus ordered the SSS to pay respondent all the pension
benefits due her. Held the CA:

. . . [T]he paramount concern in this case transcends the issue of whether or not the
decision of the then CFI, now RTC, declaring Alice Diaz presumptively dead has attained
finality but, more importantly, whether or not the respondents SSS and Commission can
validly re-evaluate the findings of the RTC, and on its own, declare the latter's decision to
be bereft of any basis. On similar import, can respondents SSS and Commission validly
declare the first marriage subsisting and the second marriage null and void?

xxx xxx xxx

. . . while it is true that a judgment declaring a person presumptively dead never

attains finality as the finding that "the person is unheard of in seven years is merely a
presumption juris tantum," the second marriage contracted by a person with an absent
spouse endures until annulled. It is only the competent court that can nullify the second
marriage pursuant to Article 87 of the Civil Code and upon the reappearance of the
missing spouse, which action for annulment may be filed. Nowhere does the law
contemplates [sic] the possibility that respondent SSS may validly declare the second
marriage null and void on the basis alone of its own investigation and declare that the
decision of the RTC declaring one to be presumptively dead is without basis.

Respondent SSS cannot arrogate upon itself the authority to review the
decision of the regular courts under the pretext of determining the actual and lawful
beneficiaries of its members. Notwithstanding its opinion as to the soundness of the
findings of the RTC, it should extend due credence to the decision of the RTC absent of
[sic] any judicial pronouncement to the contrary. . . . SCEDaT

. . . [A]ssuming arguendo that respondent SSS actually possesses the authority to

declare the decision of the RTC to be without basis, the procedure it followed was
offensive to the principle of fair play and thus its findings are of doubtful quality
considering that petitioner Teresita was not given ample opportunity to present evidence for
and her behalf.

xxx xxx xxx

Respondent SSS is correct in stating that the filing of an Affidavit of Reappearance

with the Civil Registry is no longer practical under the premises. Indeed, there is no more
first marriage to restore as the marital bond between Alice Diaz and Clemente Bailon was
already terminated upon the latter's death. Neither is there a second marriage to terminate
because the second marriage was likewise dissolved by the death of Clemente Bailon.

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 However, it is not correct to conclude that simply because the filing of the Affidavit
of Reappearance with the Civil Registry where parties to the subsequent marriage reside is
already inutile, the respondent SSS has now the authority to review the decision of the RTC
and consequently declare the second marriage null and void. 36(36) (Emphasis and
underscoring supplied)

The SSC and the SSS separately filed their Motions for Reconsideration 37(37) which
were both denied for lack of merit.

Hence, the SSS' present petition for review on certiorari 38(38) anchored on the
following grounds:

THE DECISION OF THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS IS CONTRARY TO

LAW.

II

THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS GRAVELY ABUSED ITS DISCRETION

AMOUNTING TO LACK OF JURISDICTION. 39(39)

The SSS faults the CA for failing to give due consideration to the findings of facts of the
SSC on the prior and subsisting marriage between Bailon and Alice; in disregarding the
authority of the SSC to determine to whom, between Alice and respondent, the death benefits
should be awarded pursuant to Section 5 40(40) of the Social Security Law; and in declaring that
the SSS did not give respondent due process or ample opportunity to present evidence in her
behalf.

The SSS submits that "the observations and findings relative to the CFI proceedings are
of no moment to the present controversy, as the same may be considered only as obiter dicta in
view of the SSC's finding of the existence of a prior and subsisting marriage between Bailon and
Alice by virtue of which Alice has a better right to the death benefits." 41(41)

The petition fails.

That the SSC is empowered to settle any dispute with respect to SSS coverage, benefits
and contributions, there is no doubt. In so exercising such power, however, it cannot review,
much less reverse, decisions rendered by courts of law as it did in the case at bar when it
declared that the December 10, 1970 CFI Order was obtained through fraud and subsequently
disregarded the same, making its own findings with respect to the validity of Bailon and Alice's
marriage on the one hand and the invalidity of Bailon and respondent's marriage on the other.

In interfering with and passing upon the CFI Order, the SSC virtually acted as an
appellate court. The law does not give the SSC unfettered discretion to trifle with orders of
regular courts in the exercise of its authority to determine the beneficiaries of the SSS. DAHSaT

The two marriages involved herein having been solemnized prior to the effectivity on
August 3, 1988 of the Family Code, the applicable law to determine their validity is the Civil
Code which was the law in effect at the time of their celebration. 42(42)
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 Article 83 of the Civil Code 43(43) provides:

Art. 83. Any marriage subsequently contracted by any person during the
lifetime of the first spouse of such person with any person other than such first spouse shall
be illegal and void from its performance, unless:

(1) The first marriage was annulled or dissolved; or

(2) The first spouse had been absent for seven consecutive years at the time of the
second marriage without the spouse present having news of the absentee being alive, or if
the absentee, though he has been absent for less than seven years, is generally considered as
dead and believed to be so by the spouse present at the time of contracting such subsequent
marriage, or if the absentee is presumed dead according to Articles 390 and 391. The
marriage so contracted shall be valid in any of the three cases until declared null and
void by a competent court. (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

Under the foregoing provision of the Civil Code, a subsequent marriage contracted
during the lifetime of the first spouse is illegal and void ab initio unless the prior marriage is
first annulled or dissolved or contracted under any of the three exceptional circumstances. It
bears noting that the marriage under any of these exceptional cases is deemed valid "until
declared null and void by a competent court." It follows that the onus probandi in these cases
rests on the party assailing the second marriage. 44(44)

In the case at bar, as found by the CFI, Alice had been absent for 15 consecutive years
45(45) when Bailon sought the declaration of her presumptive death, which judicial declaration
was not even a requirement then for purposes of remarriage. 46(46)

Eminent jurist Arturo M. Tolentino (now deceased) commented:

Where a person has entered into two successive marriages, a presumption arises in
favor of the validity of the second marriage, and the burden is on the party attacking the
validity of the second marriage to prove that the first marriage had not been dissolved; it is
not enough to prove the first marriage, for it must also be shown that it had not ended when
the second marriage was contracted. The presumption in favor of the innocence of the
defendant from crime or wrong and of the legality of his second marriage, will prevail over
the presumption of the continuance of life of the first spouse or of the continuance of the
marital relation with such first spouse. 47(47) (Underscoring supplied)

Under the Civil Code, a subsequent marriage being voidable, 48(48) it is terminated by
final judgment of annulment in a case instituted by the absent spouse who reappears or by either
of the spouses in the subsequent marriage.

Under the Family Code, no judicial proceeding to annul a subsequent marriage is

necessary. Thus Article 42 thereof provides:

Art. 42. The subsequent marriage referred to in the preceding Article shall be
automatically terminated by the recording of the affidavit of reappearance of the absent
spouse, unless there is a judgment annulling the previous marriage or declaring it void ab
initio.

A sworn statement of the fact and circumstances of reappearance shall be recorded

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 in the civil registry of the residence of the parties to the subsequent marriage at the instance
of any interested person, with due notice to the spouses of the subsequent marriage and
without prejudice to the fact of reappearance being judicially determined in case such fact
is disputed. (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

The termination of the subsequent marriage by affidavit provided by the above-quoted

provision of the Family Code does not preclude the filing of an action in court to prove the
reappearance of the absentee and obtain a declaration of dissolution or termination of the
subsequent marriage. 49(49)

If the absentee reappears, but no step is taken to terminate the subsequent marriage, either
by affidavit or by court action, such absentee's mere reappearance, even if made known to the
spouses in the subsequent marriage, will not terminate such marriage. 50(50) Since the second
marriage has been contracted because of a presumption that the former spouse is dead, such
presumption continues inspite of the spouse's physical reappearance, and by fiction of law, he or
she must still be regarded as legally an absentee until the subsequent marriage is terminated as
provided by law. 51(51)

If the subsequent marriage is not terminated by registration of an affidavit of

reappearance or by judicial declaration but by death of either spouse as in the case at bar,
Tolentino submits:

. . . [G]enerally if a subsequent marriage is dissolved by the death of either spouse,

the effects of dissolution of valid marriages shall arise. The good or bad faith of either
spouse can no longer be raised, because, as in annullable or voidable marriages, the
marriage cannot be questioned except in a direct action for annulment. 52(52)
(Underscoring supplied) SaITHC

Similarly, Lapuz v. Eufemio 53(53) instructs:

In fact, even if the bigamous marriage had not been void ab initio but only voidable
under Article 83, paragraph 2, of the Civil Code, because the second marriage had been
contracted with the first wife having been an absentee for seven consecutive years, or when
she had been generally believed dead, still the action for annulment became extinguished as
soon as one of the three persons involved had died, as provided in Article 87, paragraph 2,
of the Code, requiring that the action for annulment should be brought during the
lifetime of any one of the parties involved. And furthermore, the liquidation of any
conjugal partnership that might have resulted from such voidable marriage must be carried
out "in the testate or intestate proceedings of the deceased spouse," as expressly provided in
Section 2 of the Revised Rule 73, and not in the annulment proceeding. 54(54) (Emphasis
and underscoring supplied)

It bears reiterating that a voidable marriage cannot be assailed collaterally except in a

direct proceeding. Consequently, such marriages can be assailed only during the lifetime of the
parties and not after the death of either, in which case the parties and their offspring will be left
as if the marriage had been perfectly valid. 55(55) Upon the death of either, the marriage cannot
be impeached, and is made good ab initio. 56(56)

In the case at bar, as no step was taken to nullify, in accordance with law, Bailon's and
respondent's marriage prior to the former's death in 1998, respondent is rightfully the dependent
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 spouse-beneficiary of Bailon.

In light of the foregoing discussions, consideration of the other issues raised has been
rendered unnecessary.

WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED.

No costs.

SO ORDERED.

Carpio and Tinga, JJ., concur.

Quisumbing, J., is on official leave.

Footnotes
1. Penned by Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando and concurred in by Justices Mariano C. del
Castillo and Edgardo F. Sundiam.
2. CA rollo, pp. 147-157.
3. Id. at 195.
4. Id. at 47-55.
5. Id. at 56.
6. SSC records, p. 112.
7. Id. at 65-67.
8. CA rollo, pp. 6-9.
9. Id. at 8-9.
10. SSC records, p. 127.
11. CA rollo, p. 11.
12. SSC records, p. 48.
13. Ibid.
14. Id. at 96-97.
15. Id. at 55.
16. Ibid.
17. Id. at 109.
18. Id. at 110.
19. Herminia Bailon-Argente, Cecilia Bailon-Yap, Norma Bailon-Chavez, Roselyn Bailon-Ledesma,
Susan J. Bailon, Charito Bailon-Soriano, and Clemente J. Bailon, Jr.
20. SSC records, pp. 113-120.
21. Id. at 135-136.
22. Id. at 137.
23. Id. at 124.
24. Id. at 125.
25. Id. at 129-130.
26. Id. at 134.
27. CA rollo, pp. 12-14.
28. SSC records, p. 149.
29. CA rollo, pp. 15-19.
30. Id. at 144.
31. Rollo, pp. 56-57.
32. Pertinent portions of the Memorandum provide:
xxx xxx xxx
1. Based on the interview conducted by our Account Officer, Mr. Rolando G. Gomez
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 to [sic] the relatives of Alice (not Aliz) Diaz namely: Rogelio Del Prado and Emelita Diaz at
Poblacion Sur, Barcelona, Sorsogon they alleged that subject deceased member and Alice live
[sic] as husband and wife for only a year. Alice never left Barcelona, Sorsogon since their
separation and is not dependent for support nor received support from the deceased member. . . .
33. Rollo, pp. 53-56.
34. SSC records, pp. 172-174.
35. CA rollo, pp. 2-5.
36. Rollo, pp. 41-44.
37. CA rollo, pp. 161-170.
38. Rollo, pp. 10-34.
39. Id. at 22.
40. SEC. 5. Settlement of Disputes. — (a) Any dispute arising under this Act with respect to
coverage, benefits, contributions and penalties thereon or any other matter related thereto, shall
be cognizable by the Commission, and any case filed with respect thereto shall be heard by the
Commission, or any of its members, or by hearing officers duly authorized by the Commission
and decided within the mandatory period of twenty (20) days after the submission of the
evidence. The filing, determination and settlement of disputes shall be governed by the rules and
regulations promulgated by the Commission.
xxx xxx xxx
41. Rollo, p. 28.
42. Article 256 of the Family Code itself limited its retroactive governance only to cases where it
thereby would not prejudice or impair vested or acquired rights in accordance with the Civil
Code or other laws.
43. Article 41 of the Family Code now provides:
Art. 41. A marriage contracted by any person during the subsistence of a previous marriage
shall be null and void, unless before the celebration of the subsequent marriage, the prior spouse
had been absent for four consecutive years and the spouse present had a well-founded belief that
the absent spouse was already dead. In case of disappearance where there is danger of death
under the circumstances set forth in the provisions of Article 391 of the Civil Code, an absence
of only two years shall be sufficient.
For the purpose of contracting the subsequent marriage under the preceding paragraph, the
spouse present must institute a summary proceeding as provided in this Code for the declaration
of presumptive death of the absentee, without prejudice to the effect of reappearance of the
absent spouse.
44. Armas v. Calisterio, 386 Phil. 402, 409 (2000).
45. CA rollo, p. 8.
46. Jones v. Hortiguela, 64 Phil. 179, 183 (1937).
47. I A. Tolentino, COMMENTARIES AND JURISPRUDENCE ON THE CIVIL CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES 282 (1999 ed.). (Citations omitted)
48. Art. 85. A marriage may be annulled for any of the following causes, existing at the time of the
marriage:
xxx xxx xxx
(2) In a subsequent marriage under Article 83, Number 2, that the former husband or
wife believed to be dead was in fact living and the marriage with such former husband or wife
was then in force;
xxx xxx xxx (Underscoring supplied)
Art. 87. The action for annulment of marriage must be commenced by the parties and
within the periods as follows:
xxx xxx xxx
(2) For causes mentioned in number 2 of Article 85, by the spouse who has been
absent, during his or her lifetime; or by either spouse of the subsequent marriage during the
lifetime of the other;
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 xxx xxx xxx
49. Supra note 47, at 284.
50. Ibid.
51. Id. at 285-286.
52. Supra note 47, at 287.
53. 150 Phil. 204 (1972).
54. Id. at 213.
55. Niñal v. Bayadog, 384 Phil. 661, 673 (2000). (Citations omitted)
56. Id. at 674.

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 Endnotes

1 (Popup - Popup)
1. Penned by Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando and concurred in by Justices Mariano C. del
Castillo and Edgardo F. Sundiam.

2 (Popup - Popup)
2. CA rollo, pp. 147-157.

3 (Popup - Popup)
3. Id. at 195.

4 (Popup - Popup)
4. Id. at 47-55.

5 (Popup - Popup)
5. Id. at 56.

6 (Popup - Popup)
6. SSC records, p. 112.

7 (Popup - Popup)
7. Id. at 65-67.

8 (Popup - Popup)
8. CA rollo, pp. 6-9.

9 (Popup - Popup)
9. Id. at 8-9.

10 (Popup - Popup)
10. SSC records, p. 127.

11 (Popup - Popup)

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 11. CA rollo, p. 11.

12 (Popup - Popup)
12. SSC records, p. 48.

13 (Popup - Popup)
13. Ibid.

14 (Popup - Popup)
14. Id. at 96-97.

15 (Popup - Popup)
15. Id. at 55.

16 (Popup - Popup)
16. Ibid.

17 (Popup - Popup)
17. Id. at 109.

18 (Popup - Popup)
18. Id. at 110.

19 (Popup - Popup)
19. Herminia Bailon-Argente, Cecilia Bailon-Yap, Norma Bailon-Chavez, Roselyn Bailon-Ladesma,
Susan J. Bailon, Charito Bailon-Soriano, and Clemente J. Bailon, Jr.

20 (Popup - Popup)
20. SSC records, pp. 113-120.

21 (Popup - Popup)
21. Id. at 135-136.

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 22 (Popup - Popup)
22. Id. at 137.

23 (Popup - Popup)
23. Id. at 124.

24 (Popup - Popup)
24. Id. at 125.

25 (Popup - Popup)
25. Id. at 129-130.

26 (Popup - Popup)
26. Id. at 134.

27 (Popup - Popup)
27. CA rollo, pp. 12-14.

28 (Popup - Popup)
28. SSC records, p. 149.

29 (Popup - Popup)
29. CA rollo, pp. 15-19.

30 (Popup - Popup)
30. Id. at 144.

31 (Popup - Popup)
31. Rollo, pp. 56-57.

32 (Popup - Popup)
32. Pertinent portions of the Memorandum provide:
xxx xxx xxx
1. Based on the interview conducted by our Account Officer, Mr. Rolando G. Gomez
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 to [sic] the relatives of Alice (not Aliz) Diaz namely: Rogelio Del Prado and Emelita Diaz at
Poblacion Sur, Barcelona, Sorsogon they alleged that subject deceased member and Alice live
[sic] as husband and wife for only a year. Alice never left Barcelona, Sorsogon since their
separation and is not dependent for support nor received support from the deceased member. . . .

33 (Popup - Popup)
33. Rollo, pp. 53-56.

34 (Popup - Popup)
34. SSC records, pp. 172-174.

35 (Popup - Popup)
35. CA rollo, pp. 2-5.

36 (Popup - Popup)
36. Rollo, pp. 41-44.

37 (Popup - Popup)
37. CA rollo, pp. 161-170.

38 (Popup - Popup)
38. Rollo, pp. 10-34.

39 (Popup - Popup)
39. Id. at 22.

40 (Popup - Popup)
40. SEC. 5. Settlement of Disputes. — (a) Any dispute arising under this Act with respect to
coverage, benefits, contributions and penalties thereon or any other matter related thereto, shall
be cognizable by the Commission, and any case filed with respect thereto shall be heard by the
Commission, or any of its members, or by hearing officers duly authorized by the Commission
and decided within the mandatory period of twenty (20) days after the submission of the
evidence. The filing, determination and settlement of disputes shall be governed by the rules and
regulations promulgated by the Commission.
xxx xxx xxx

41 (Popup - Popup)
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 41. Rollo, p. 28.

42 (Popup - Popup)
42. Article 256 of the Family Code itself limited its retroactive governance only to cases where it
thereby would not prejudice or impair vested or acquired rights in accordance with the Civil
Code or other laws.

43 (Popup - Popup)
43. Article 41 of the Family Code now provides:
Art. 41. A marriage contracted by any person during the subsistence of a previous marriage
shall be null and void, unless before the celebration of the subsequent marriage, the prior spouse
had been absent for four consecutive years and the spouse present had a well-founded belief that
the absent spouse was already dead. In case of disappearance where there is danger of death
under the circumstances set forth in the provisions of Article 391 of the Civil Code, an absence
of only two years shall be sufficient.
For the purpose of contracting the subsequent marriage under the preceding paragraph, the
spouse present must institute a summary proceeding as provided in this Code for the declaration
of presumptive death of the absentee, without prejudice to the effect of reappearance of the
absent spouse.

44 (Popup - Popup)
44. Armas v. Calisterio, 386 Phil. 402, 409 (2000).

45 (Popup - Popup)
45. CA rollo, p. 8.

46 (Popup - Popup)
46. Jones v. Hortiguela, 64 Phil. 179, 183 (1937).

47 (Popup - Popup)
47. I A. Tolentino, COMMENTARIES AND JURISPRUDENCE ON THE CIVIL CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES 282 (1999 ed.). (Citations omitted)

48 (Popup - Popup)
48. Art. 85. A marriage may be annulled for any of the following causes, existing at the time of the
marriage:
xxx xxx xxx
(2) In a subsequent marriage under Article 83, Number 2, that the former husband or
wife believed to be dead was in fact living and the marriage with such former husband or wife
was then in force;
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 xxx xxx xxx (Underscoring supplied)
Art. 87. The action for annulment of marriage must be commenced by the parties and
within the periods as follows:
xxx xxx xxx
(2) For causes mentioned in number 2 of Article 85, by the spouse who has been
absent, during his or her lifetime; or by either spouse of the subsequent marriage during the
lifetime of the other;
xxx xxx xxx

49 (Popup - Popup)
49. Supra note 47, at 284.

50 (Popup - Popup)
50. Ibid.

51 (Popup - Popup)
51. Id. at 285-286.

52 (Popup - Popup)
52. Supra note 47, at 287.

53 (Popup - Popup)
53. 150 Phil. 204 (1972).

54 (Popup - Popup)
54. Id. at 213.

55 (Popup - Popup)
55. Niñal v. Bayadog, 384 Phil. 661, 673 (2000). (Citations omitted)

56 (Popup - Popup)
56. Id. at 674.

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