Court of Appeals upholds annulment of Kristine-Diet marriage

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the decision of a Makati City regional trial court annulling the marriage of ABS-CBN talents Diether Ocampo and Kristine Hermosa.

In a nine-page decision of its second division, the appellate court said it found no reason to reverse the decisions of Makati RTC dated March 31, 2006 and June 6, 2006.

“We cannot but sustain the court a quo in declaring as void ab initio the marriage between the petitioner and respondent which was purportedly solemnized on Sept. 21, 2004 at Jaen, Nueva Ecija,” the ruling stated.

“It is a hornbook doctrine that findings of fact of trial courts are entitled to great weight on appeal and should not be disturbed except for strong and valid reasons,” added the decision penned by Associate Justice Sesinando Villon.

Division chair and Associate Justice Portia Hormachuelos and Associate Justice Noel Tijam. Villon concurred with the decision.

In appealing the RTC decision with the Supreme Court, the Solicitor General argued that the marriage of Ocampo and Hermosa, Diether Pascual and Kristine Orille in real life, was executed with regularity, citing marriage license and certificate of marriage.

But the CA ruled: “We find evidence on record sufficient to prove petitioner’s allegation that the marriage ceremony as stated in the Certificate of Marriage between her and respondent, which was supposed to have been celebrated on Sept.21, 2004 at Jaen, Nueva Ecija did not actually take place.”           — Edu Punay