Court of Appeals (File photo) MANILA - The Supreme Court announced two new additions to the Court of Appeals (CA) on Friday. Appointed to the appellate court by President Rodrigo Duterte were Makati Regional Trial Court's Maximo de Leon and Talisay City, Cebu judge Jacinto Fajardo. The 57-year-old de Leon, who hails from Taal, Batangas, obtained his law degree from the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City, Camarines Sur. He also holds a Master of Laws degree from the San Beda Graduate School. Fajardo, 67, born in Gubat, Sorsogon, finished his law studies at the San Beda University. In 2014, de Leon decided against a case initiated by then Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Henares, who wanted schools to file for tax exemption subject to the agency's approval. He ruled that imposing the prerequisite was a diminution of the constitutional privilege exempting schools from taxes. Non-stock and non-profit educational institutions are exempt from tax under Section 30 (H)
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Philippine Supreme Court under fire for legalizing divorce
Catholic conservatives angry at ruling that makes it easier to annul marriages
Father Ranhilio Aquino, dean of the San Beda Graduate School of Law, is seen here inside the session hall of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. (Photo supplied)
Critics have accused the highest court in the Philippines of making marriage annulments easier by modifying the boundaries of a legal technicality widely used as grounds to dissolve marriages in the only Christian country apart from the Vatican where divorce is not legal.
The technicality is referred to as psychological incapacity and is defined as a condition that prevents a spouse from complying with fundamental marital obligations such as sexual fidelity, honesty or reasonable behavior.