Man faces P4.1M suit for cancelling wedding

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By Elias O. Baquero

Monday, April 11, 2011

A DOCTOR from Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) is facing a P4.1-million damage suit as a result of an eleventh hour cancellation of a civil wedding with his girlfriend, who is a medical student.

The case, docketed under Civil Case No. LP-11-0032 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Las Piñas, Metro Manila, was filed by the 24-year-old woman against a 28-year-old surgeon at the VSMMC.

SunStar Cebu obtained a copy of the court document, but failed to reach either party for comment.

The woman said they are both from General Santos City and that they had a relationship.

In her affidavit dated March 24, 2011 and sworn to before lawyer Edcel Bolinao, she said the doctor proposed marriage on May 12, 2010, and she accepted his proposal.

They informed their respective families, relatives and friends of their engagement.

Her family was excited.

Pamanhikan

The doctor made the traditional “pamanhikan” on June 27, 2010, attended by their respective families, who celebrated their engagement and discussed the wedding preparations.

The bride-to-be agreed to shoulder the majority of the costs for the wedding as her
family gave the parties the assurance of their all-out-support to give their daughter the “dream wedding” they envisioned.

They then proceeded to meet with wedding suppliers, select wedding sponsors and informed them and the guests about the wedding date, place and time. They booked plane tickets for the wedding guests and sponsors from abroad and other parts of the country.

To prepare them spiritually for a married life, they attended a Pre-Cana seminar and marriage counseling session at the Redemptorist Church in Cebu City last Aug. 1 as per certificate issued by Rev. Fr. Ricky Acero. They applied for a marriage license, which was issued by Gen. Santos City Civil Registrar Isabelita Talizo dated Jan. 3, 2011.

Paid

By December 2010, the woman had already made various payments to wedding suppliers estimated at P500,000.

But she was shocked when told by the doctor through his mobile phone last Jan. 26 that he had doubts about marrying her because of his work and insecurities. Last Jan. 30, he told her that he did not love her anymore.

Thereafter, the doctor sent her a text message informing her that he is calling off their wedding supposedly last March 19.

She was devastated and her entire family was embarrassed and was left to explain to wedding guests and sponsors what happened.

Pursuant to Article 21 of the New Civil Code and related laws and jurisprudence, she prayed for the court to order the doctor to pay her P1 million in actual damages, P2 million as moral damages, P1 million as exemplary damages, and P100,000 as attorney’s fees.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on April 11, 2011.