Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative PABLO JOHN F. GARCIA     
___________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Although marriage is an institution that the State is interested in, it is also a religious 
act.  In fact, for the predominant Catholic of our country, it is a sacrament and marriage 
is not considered valid insofar as Catholics are concerned unless celebrated in 
accordance with the solemnities of the church.  Marriage, therefore, is an element in the 
exercise of religious freedom.  So logically, if the marriage, insofar as the contracting 
parties are concerned, is validated by the laws of the Church, then it necessarily follows 
that by the same laws, such marriage can also be invalidated or annulled. 
The law recognizes as valid a marriage solemnized in accordance with the laws of 
the church.  In other words, the State respects the laws of the church.  To give full force 
and effect to this principle of State recognition of the law of the church, it is but proper, if 
not logical that the state must also respect the annulment of a marriage that results from 
application of church laws.  This holds true to all other established churches or religions. 
In this connection, it is noteworthy that ever since the adoption of the New Civil 
Code; the state recognizes Muslim divorces or dissolutions of marriages in accordance 
with the Muslim law.  Under the principle of equality before the law, if Muslim divorces are 
legalized, there could be no serious objections to recognizing the annulment of a marriage 
by a church or by any other established and duly recognized religious denomination. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly urged. 
Rep. PABLO JOHN F. GARCIA 
3rd District, Province of Cebu 
July 4, 2022 
10:30 am
1021


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
___________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative PABLO JOHN F. GARCIA     
___________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
LEGALIZING CHURCH ANNULMENT OR DISSOLUTION OF CERTAIN MARRIAGES 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1.  Whenever a marriage, duly and legally solemnized by a priest, 
minister, imam, rabbi, or presiding elder of an established church or religion in the 
Philippines is subsequently annulled or dissolved in a final judgment or decree by said 
church or religion, in accordance with the canons or precepts of the latter, the said 
annulment or dissolution shall be recognized and given full force and effect in the 
Philippines. 
Sec. 2.  The final judgment or decree of annulment or dissolution referred to in the 
next-preceding section shall be recorded in the appropriate civil registry, within thirty (30) 
days from issuance of said final judgment or decree of annulment or dissolution. 
Sec. 3.  Any act or provision of law inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed. 
Sec. 4.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
1021