SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First,Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
.sermh.' 
di}fh;r tlf tip: ~~{,rTrhsf ~ 
'14 
MAY 14 P5 :12 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2225 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Executive Order No, 209 (B.O, No. 209), otherwise known as The Family Code of the 
Philippines, currently lists (1) lack of parental consent, (2) insanity, (3) fraud, (4) force, 
intimidation, or undue influence, (5) impotence, and (6) sexually transmissible diseases as 
valid causes for annulment, yet all allegations therefor are subject to court investigations. 
Parties seeking annulment thus require legat counsel for assistance in filing petitions and 
substantiating claims. Hence, annulment is widely considered a lengthy, tedious, and 
financially exhaustive procedure. 
Despite its high cost in funds and time, many Filipinos still pursue annulment since it 
severs a union while allowing remarriage. The most recent records from the Office of the 
Solicitor General (OSG) attest to an increasing number of annulment cases in the Philippines. 
A total of 10,528 annulment cases were filed with the OSG last 2012, as opposed to the 9,133 
filed in 2011. These figures present an opportunity to dispense with the backlog of cases and 
culture of delay besieging lower courts. 
This bill addresses such concerns by providing an additional ground for annulment 
under Title I, Chapter 3 of B.O. No. 209, Given that both parties mutually seek the annulment 
and can furnish documents proving a separation period of at least 5 years, no judgment on 
the pleadings, summary judgment, or confession of judgment shall be necessary. The 
separation period is crucial as the ultimate expression of the couple's desire for an annulment. 
This amendment likewise caters to those who cannot afford legal services by making 
litigation as simple and expedient as possible. 
In view of the foregOing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
~~-----::::>:::======-
======= 
......... 
7> 
-
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2225 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
;,S.?Il1:lh 
(l1)fflft t"lr i~~ ~('rr .. br~ 
"14 
MAY 14 P5 :12 
AMENDING TITLE I, CHAPTER 3, OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, PRESCRIBING AN 
ADDITIONAL GROUND FOR ANNULMENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title I, Chapter 3 of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as The Family 
Code of the Philippines, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"TITLE I. MARRIAGE-
CHAPTER 3. VOID AND VOIDABLE MARRIAGES-
Art. 45 -A. A marriage may also be annulled if the parties have been separated in fact 
for at least five years. 
On this ground, both parties may mutually seek for the annulment, and while no 
judgment on the pleadings, summary judgment, or confession of judgment shall be 
allowed, the parties shall both be required as far as practicable to present affidavits or 
certifications from parents, children of legal age, and other relatives attesting to the fact 
of the separation period without prejudice to whatever documents the court may 
further require. 
If either or both parties are indigent or cannot afford the services of lawyers, the court 
shall dispense with the need for lawyers and keep the processes as simple and as 
expediently as possible to avoid tedious and expensive litigation proceedings. 
In cases where both parties mutually seek the annulment on this ground, the court 
shall likewise find ways to expedite the proceedings to avoid protracted and expensive 
trials." 
SEC. 2. Separability Clause. -
If any proVISIOn or part thereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provisions not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 


SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,