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I need your help especially on the jurisdiction of the court. The second wedding was contracted in the Phil Em. and I'm confused whether where should the case be filed. Thank you so much!FACTS
Marvin married his girlfriend in the Philippine embassy of The Hague, Netherlands on January 25, 1989. Marvin is a seaman, who has been separated from his legal wife, Tina.
Marvin and Tina was married on October 22, 1980 and separated after 6 years.
Tina discovered the 2nd marriage of Marvin on January 28, 1999 and filed a bigamy case with the Prosecutor's office of Biñan, Laguna on January 28, 2012. Finding probable cause, the bigamy case was filed in the RTC of Biñan, Laguna. Marvin filed a motion to quash the information based on the following grounds:
1. The action has already prescribed - the 2nd marriage was registered on 1989 or more than 20 years after the case was filed.
2. The court trying the case has no jurisdiction over the case filed - the alleged crime was committed outside the jurisdiction of the Philippine courts and one of the main characteristics of criminal law is territoriality, that criminal law punish crimes committed within Philippine territory and the only exception are those instances found under Article 2 of the Revised Penal Code.
ISSUE
1. Whether or not the action has already prescribed.
2. Whether or not the RTC-Biñan has jurisdiction over the case.
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