Ghosted

Dear Atty. Kathy,

My cousin, C, and her boyfriend, BF, had an engagement party last month, where they also announced that C is 3 months pregnant. They were supposed to get married within the year and already applied for a marriage license. However, when C was making arrangements for the wedding while BF was abroad for work, C was shocked when she could not claim the marriage license because she was informed by the releasing staff in the Local Civil Registry that the marriage license application was withdrawn and canceled by BF. C has been trying to contact BF but the latter could not be reached and was not answering her calls and messages. BF’s family would also tell C that they don’t know anything. Because of the canceled wedding and the idea of being a solo parent, C has been experiencing sleepless nights and has suicidal thoughts. I am hoping to help my cousin explore her options. What case can she file against BF?

Spencer

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Dear Spencer,

The Supreme Court has ruled that withdrawal of the marriage application arbitrarily and publicly at the Local Civil Registrar, while the engaged woman is pregnant, is an act that transcends simple heartbreak and enters the realm of “psychological violence.”

Section 5.(i) of Republic Act 9262 — Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, specifically penalizes acts that cause mental or emotional suffering, to wit:

(i) Causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule or humiliation to the woman or her child, including, but not limited to, repeated verbal and emotional abuse, and denial of financial support or custody of minor children of access to the woman’s child/children.

In connection with this, the following elements have to be established: sexual or dating relationship, withdrawal of the marriage license without notice after a public commitment, and the acts being complained resulted in the woman’s emotional anguish.

Based solely on your narration, it appears that C was engaged to BF when she was pregnant, but the latter suddenly and secretively withdrew and cancelled the marriage license application; and now, C is suffering from sleepless nights and suicidal thoughts.

In view of the foregoing, subject to evidence and other circumstances, the foregoing presents a possible case for the crime of violence against women, particularly under Section 5.(i) of Republic Act 9262 — Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.

(XXX versus People of the Philippines, G.R. No. E-00648, 29 July 2026.)

Atty. Kathy Larios