Bunag Jr. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 101749 July 10, 1992Facts:ConradoBunagJr. andZenaidaCiriloweresweetearts. !n"e#te$%er &, 197', Bunag, Jr.a%du(ted and %rougt Cirilo to te $otel were e de)lowered er against er will and (onsent. *en,a)ter #ro$ising to $arry Cirilo, Bunag Jr. %rougt er to te ouse o) is grand$oter in +a$#lona, ,as+i-as, were tey li.ed togeter. !n "e#te$%er 29, 197', Bunag Jr. le)t and ne.er returned. Cirilo )iled a (o$#laint )or da$ages)or %rea( o) #ro$ise to $arry against Bunag, Jr. and is )ater Bunag, "r., wo allegedly (ondoned andsu##orted is son/s #ro$ise to $arry Cirilo. !n 0ugust 20, 19&', a)ter )inding tat Bunag Jr. ad )or(i%lya%du(ted and ra#ed Cirilo, te trial (ourt rendered a de(ision ordering Bunag, Jr. to #ay er +&0,000.00 as$oral da$ages, +20,000.00 as e1e$#lary da$ages, a$ong oters. Bunag, "r. was a%sol.ed )ro$ any andall lia%ility. Bunag Jr. a##ealed te de(ision to Court o) 0##eals, %ut te a##ellate (ourt a))ir$edin totote 2udg$ent o) te trial (ourt. Bunag Jr. )iled tis #etition )or re.iew )ro$ te de(ision o) te Court o)0##eals. 0side )ro$ raising #ure 3uestions o) )a(t, wi( te "u#re$e Court re)used to settle, Bunag Jr.asserted tatsin(e te a(tionin.ol.esa %rea(o) #ro$ise to $arry,tetrial (ourt erredinawardingda$ages.Issue: 45N a $ere %rea( o) #ro$ise to $arry is an a(tiona%le wrong.Ruling:Generally, a %rea( o) #ro$ise to $arry #er se is not a(tiona%le, e1(e#t were te #lainti)) asa(tually in(urred e1#enses )or te wedding and te ne(essary in(idents tereo).6owe.er,teawardo)$oralda$agesisallowedin(asess#e(i)iedinoranalogoustotose#ro.ided in 0rti(le 2219 o) te Ci.il Code. Correlati.ely, underArticle 21 o) said Code, in relation to#aragra# 10 o) said Article 2219, any person who willfully causes loss or injury to another in a mannerthat is contrary to morals, good customs or public policy shall compensate the latter for moral damages.0rti(le 21 was ado#ted to re$edy te (ountless ga#s in te statutes wi( lea.e so $any .i(ti$s o) $oralwrongs el#less e.en toug tey a.e a(tually su))ered $aterial and $oral in2ury, and is intended to.ou(sa)e ade3uate legal re$edy )or tat untold nu$%er o) $oral wrongs wi( is i$#ossi%le )or u$an)oresigt tos#e(i)i(ally#ro.ide)orintestatutes. *ea(tso)BunagJr.irre$issi%ly(onstitutea(ts(ontrary to $orals and good (usto$s.+etition is denied.Note7 Itisnotnownecessarythatacriminalprosecutionforrapebefirstinstitutedandprosecutedtofinaljudgment beforeacivil actionbasedonsaidoffenseinfavorof theoffendedwomancanlikewisebeinstituted and prosecuted to final judgment. Moral damages are not awarded to penalize the defendant but to compensate the plaintiff for injuries hemay have suffered.