15/03/2026
⚖️ THE LEGAL AXIS #11
Navigating the Law with Atty. Dan Axis Mari
CONCUBINAGE VS. ADULTERY
"Atty, bakit kapag babae ang nangaliwa, kulong agad? Pero kapag lalaki, kailangan muna may ibang 'binabahay' bago makasuhan?"
1. THE LAW
Under the Revised Penal Code, magkaiba ang requirements para ma-convict ang asawa. Depende kung si Mister o si Misis ang nag-cheat:
PARA KAY MISIS (ADULTERY): Under Article 333 (RPC), kahit isang beses lang na "nagloko," pwedeng makasuhan.
"Adultery is committed by any married woman who shall have sexual in*******se with a man not her husband and by the man who has carnal knowledge of her knowing her to be married..."
PARA KAY MISTER (CONCUBINAGE): Under Article 334, hindi sapat ang isang "one-night stand" lang. Kailangan pasok sa tatlong specific modes na ito:
"Any married man who shall -
[1] keep a mistress in the conjugal dwelling, or
[2] shall have sexual in*******se, under scandalous circumstances, with a woman who is not his wife, or
[3] shall cohabit with her in any other place..."
2. SCENARIOS
Common situations para hindi tayo malito!:
SCENARIO A (One-Night Stand): Nahuli ni Misis si Mister na nag-check in sa hotel kasama ang ibang eabab nang isang gabi. Hindi sila doon nakatira at walang "public scandal."
VERDICT: HINDI ito Concubinage. Dahil walang "cohabitation" o "scandalous circumstances," mahihirapan tayo sa Art. 334. Pero!!!! pwedeng-pwede itong ikaso sa ilalim ng VAWC (RA 9262) dahil sa psychological violence.
SCENARIO B (The Hotel Check-in): Nahuli ni Mister si Misis sa loob ng hotel room na may kasamang ibang lalaki.
VERDICT: ADULTERY. Under the law, kahit isang beses lang ang sexual act, sapat na to para sa conviction ni Misis at ng 3rd party.
3. PENALTIES
FOR ADULTERY (Art. 333):
"Adultery shall be punished by prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods. The adulterer shall suffer the same punishment..."
Pareho silang pwedeng makulong ng 2 years, 4 months, and 1 day to 6 years.
FOR CONCUBINAGE (Art. 334):
"The guilty husband shall be punished by prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods. The concubine shall suffer the penalty of destierro."
Si Mister ay makukulong lang ng 6 months and 1 day to 4 years and 2 months.
For the Mistress, Destierro. Hindi siya ikukulong pero pagbabawalan siyang lumapit sa inyo (radius of 25km to 250km). Hmmm!
Dahil mahirap i-prove ang Concubinage, ang ibang option ni Misis ngayon ay ang RA 9262. In the case of ### v. People (G.R. No. 252739):
"Marital infidelity is one such form of domestic violence that not only transgresses the matrimonial vows of faithfulness and commitment, but also inflicts inconceivable psychological and emotional harm upon the aggrieved spouse and their children……… the Court declares marital infidelity to be a form of psychological violence punishable under Republic Act No. 9262”
Sa VAWC case, mas malawak ang protection at hindi kailangan ng "cohabitation" para maging liable si Mister sa emotional pain na dinulot niya.
In Chua-Chiba v. Chiba (G.R. No. 277020):
"Adultery and concubinage are private crimes that may be prosecuted only upon a complaint filed by the offended spouse..." Dapat ang offended spouse mismo ang pipirma sa Complaint-Affidavit!
Pwede ko bang kasuhan ang kabit lang at patawarin ang asawa ko?
HINDI. Under Section 5, Rule 110 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure: "The offended party cannot institute criminal prosecution without including the guilty parties, if both are alive..." Hindi mo sila pwedeng paghiwalayin sa demanda.
Know your rights, know your axis!
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice.