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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, PETITIONER, VS. EDNA ORCELINO-VILLANUEVA, RESPONDENT. [DISSENTING OPINION LEONEN, J.]

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, PETITIONER, VS. EDNA ORCELINO-VILLANUEVA, RESPONDENT. [DISSENTING OPINION LEONEN, J.]

G.R. No. 210929 | 2015-07-29

DISSENTING OPINION
 
LEONEN, J.: 
 
Edna Orcelino-Villanueva (Edna) was a domestic helper based in Singapore. In 1993, she came home immediately after she heard news from her children that her husband, Romeo L. Villanueva (Romeo), left their conjugal dwelling. She came home, leaving her work, for the purpose of looking for her husband and taking care of her children. She had limited resources for her search. 
 
For 15 or 16 years, she endured the absence of her husband. Within those long years, whether in good times or bad, she never heard from him. He did not discharge any of his duties as husband. 
 
In ruling...