25/01/2025
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฌ๐ฒ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
In the landmark decision ๐.๐. ๐๐จ. ๐๐๐๐๐๐, the Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of a husband found guilty of psychological violence under Section 5(i) of Republic Act No. 9262, also known as the ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข-๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ.
The Court ruled that engaging in an extramarital relationship, abandoning the wife and children, and failing to provide financial support caused the victim mental and emotional anguish, satisfying the elements of the offense.
๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง:
1๏ธโฃ ๐๐ฌ๐ฒ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐:
Acts of inflicting emotional and mental suffering, such as abandonment, public ridicule, and denial of financial support, constitute psychological violence under RA 9262.
2๏ธโฃ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฌ๐ฒ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง:
The Supreme Court reiterated that a psychological evaluation is not indispensable in proving psychological violence. The victim's testimony alone, if credible and consistent, is sufficient to establish mental and emotional suffering.
3๏ธโฃ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ:
The accused was sentenced to an indeterminate penalty of prison correctional to prison mayor, fined PHP 200,000, and ordered to undergo mandatory psychological counseling or psychiatric treatment.
4๏ธโฃ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ:
The Court emphasized that mere denial of wrongdoing is not enough to overcome the victimโs positive and categorical testimony.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐
๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฌ:
This decision reinforces the protection offered under RA 9262 and highlights the seriousness of psychological abuse within relationships. Women and their children are encouraged to seek legal remedies if they experience emotional or financial abuse in their domestic life.
If you or someone you know is facing domestic abuse, legal remedies are available. Seek legal assistance and protect your rights.