Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Complex, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4408

House Bill No.

Introduced by: Gabriela Women's Party Reps. Luzviminda C. Ilagan and Emmi A, De Jesus

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Underpinning this proposal is a commitment to the policy of the State to protect and strengthen marriage
and family as basic asocial institutions, to value the dignity of every human person, to guarantee full respect for
human rights, and to ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men,

In the Filipino culture, marriage is regarded as a sacred union, and the family founded on marriage is
considered as a fount of love, protection and care. Philippine soclety generally frowns upon and discourages marital
break-ups and so provides cultural and legal safeguards to preserve marital relations. Cultural prescriptions and
religious norms keep many couples together despite the breakdown ofthe marriage. But the cultural prescriptions for
women and men differ. Women are traditionally regarded as primarily responsible for making the marriage work and
are expected to sacrifice everything to preserve the marriage and the solidarity of the family, While absolute fidelity is
demanded of wives, men are granted sexual license to have affairs outside marriage. Yet when marriage fails, the
‘woman is blamed for its failure.

Reality tells us that there are many failed, unhappy marriages across all Filipino classes. Many couples
especially from the marginalized sectors, who have no access to the courts simply end up separating without the
benefit of legal processes. The sheer number of petitions that have been fled since 1988 for the declaration of the
nulity of the marriage of the marriage under Article 36 of the Family Code (commonly known as ‘annulment’ shows
that there are just too many couples who are desperate to get out of failed marriages.

Even when couples start out well in their marriage, political, economic and social realities take their toll on
their relationship. Some are nat prepared to handle the intricacies of the married life. For a large number of women,
the inequalities and violence in marriage negate its ideals as the embodiment of love, care and safety and erode the
bases upon which a marriage is founded, The marital relations facltate the commission of violence and perpetuate
their oppression. Official figures show that 14.4 % of married women experience physical violence and 23 %
experience emotional violence from their husbands, According to the Philippine National Police, within the context of
rising VAW incidence through 2004 to 2012, physical injuries account for 21 %,

Since the ratification of the Philippine Constitution in 1987, many things beyond the control of spouses did
happen to our society that put tremendous pressure on the stability of Filipino families. Our govemment has
intensified its labor export program, tearing hundreds of thousands of families apart and forcing couples to make-do


with long-distance relationships, aggravating their vulnerabilities to extra-marital indiscretions and resulting in rising
incidences of OFWs seeking annulment of their marriages. Moreover, as a result of one economic crisis after
another, with endless increases in the prices of basic commodities and attended by the government's abandonment
of the state responsibilty to provide essential social services, husbands and wives are both forced to hook on to
multiple odd-jobs and do extra work hours for augmenting their devalued income, thereby reducing the quality time
necessary to nourish family relationships. The interconnectvity brought about by advances in modern transportation
and information technology has also increased the number of mixed marriages among Filipinos, exposing them to
foreign family cultures that often grate against their marriages

These social forces constitute a veritable assault on the Filipino family, shoving upwards the number of
couples looking for an ‘escape hatch’ from their troubled marriages other than those already provided by our
mariage laws, Thus, according to the Department of Justice, petitions for nulity and annulment have significantly
risen ~ more than doubled - in the last ten years, from 4,620 in 2004 to 10,528 in 2011. Ifthe 2011 figure is to be
broken down, this means 29.6 petitions a day. interestingly, the figure refers only to annulment and declaration of
nullity cases invoking the grounds of psychological incapacity and inherent defects in the validity of the marriage. It
does not include legal separation and annulment based on other grounds such as presumptive death (read:
abandonment). It also does not include marital dissolution cases based on petitions for judicial recognition of divorce
decrees obtained in foreign forums which constitute 47 % of the total marital dissolution cases handled by our courts,
suggesting of a growing number of aggrieved parties who are using foreign judicial systems to skirt around the
absence of divorce law in the country.

Given these realities, couples must have the option to avail of remedies that will pave the way for the
attainment of their full human development and self-fulfillment and the protection of their human rights. Existing laws
are not enough to guarantee and protect these rights. To quote the Women's Legal Bureau, Inc., a legal resource
NGO for women:

"The present laws relating to separation of couples and termination of marriage are inadequate to respond to the
myriad causes of falled marriages. Particularly, the remedies of declaration of nullity and annulment do not cover the
problems that occur during the existence of mariage. Legal separation, an the other hand, while covering problems
during marriage, does not put an end to mariage,’

‘Though both divorce and a declaration of nullity of a marriage allow the spouses to remarry, the two remedies differ in
concept and basis. A declaration of nullity presupposes that the mariage is void from the beginning and the court
declares its non-existence... Beyond the) grounds specified [nthe law), declaration of null is not possible."

‘tn annulment, the marriage of the partes is declared defective from the begining, albeit itis considered valid until
annulled. The defect can be used fo nulily the mariage within a specified period but the same maybe ignored and the
‘marriage becomes perfectly valid after the lapse of that period, or the defect maybe cured through some act. The
defect relates to the time of the celebration ofthe mariage and has nothing to do with circumstances occuring after
the marrage is celebrated. In annulment, the manage is legally cancelled, and the man and woman are restored fo
their single status.

‘Since August 3, 1968, couples have been given a way out of faled marriages through Aricle 36... The remedy
provided under Article 36 is declaration of nulity of the marriage. The article voids a marriage where one party is
‘psychologically incapacitated’ to comply with the essentials of mantal obligations. Consistent with the concept of void
‘marriages (where the remedy is declaration of null), the law requires that the incapacity must have existed at the
time of the celebration of the marriage..n practice, Antle 36 has become a form of divorce, as valid marriages are
declared void every day in the guise of ‘psychological incapacity’. The innumerable Article 36 cases brought to trial
courts are an indication ofthe elastcty of Article 36 to acconymodate the needs of many couples desing to terminate
their marriages. Its proof that divorce is needed in the Philpines. Article 36 provides @ remedy only for spouses vito
ccan prove ‘psychological incapacity’. The concept certainly cannot accommodate all cases where divorce would be
‘necessary. What we need isa divorce law that defines cleery and unequivocally the grounds and terms for terminating

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@ marriage. That law will put an end to the creative efforts played dally in courtrooms across the county to
accommodate 2 wide range of cases in order to prove ‘psychological incapacity’ (Women's Legal Bureau, The
Relevance of Divorce in the Philppines, 1998).

Thus, this bill seeks to introduce divorce as another option for couples in failed and irreparable marriages.

This bill was crafted in consultation with women lawyers and inspired by the studies and inputs of various
‘women's groups and the experiences of spouses gathered by GABRIELA from its various chapters nationwide

Historically, divorce had been part of the legal system. In the beginning of the 16% century, before the
Spanish colonial rule, absolute divorce was widely practiced among ancestral tribes such as the Tagbanwas of
Palawan, the Gadangs of Nueva Vizcaya, the Sagadas and Igorots of the cordilleras, and the Manobos, B'laans and
Moslems of the Visayas and Mindanao islands. Divorce was also available during the American period, starting from
1917 (under Act No. 2710 enacted by the Philippine Legislature), and during the Japanese occupation (under
Executive Order No. 144) and after, until 1950. it was only on August 30, 1950, when the New Civil code took effect,
that divorce was disallowed under Philippine law. Only egal separation was avallable. The same rule was adopted by
the Family code of 1988, which replaced the provisions of the New Civil code on marriage and the family, although
the Family Code introduced the concept of ‘psychological incapacity’ as a basis for declaring the marriage void

{In recognition of the history of divorce in the Philippines, the framers of the 1987 Constitution left the wisdom
of legalizing divorce to Congress, Thus, the 1987 Constitution does not prohibit the legalization of divorce.

Given the country's history, the bill seeks to restore divorce as a rights-based option for majrity of Filipinos,
an option based on the recognition that the right to enter into @ marriage contract has the corresponding spousal right
to end such contract when it has reached the point of irreparabilty. The fling of this bill is anchored on a strong
sense of confidence that it will be used responsibly by Filipino couples. This confidence stems from the experiences
of Filipino families that show that separation is usually the last resort of many Filipino couples whose marriage has
failed. Cases of battered women also support this, Battered women invariably seek separation only after so many
years of trying to make the marriage work; separation only becomes imperative for them when they realize that itis
Necessary for their and their children’s survival. Divorce could actually provide protection to battered women and their
children from further violence and abuse. With the predominance of the Catholic faith in the Philippines, the fear that
divorce will erode personal values on marriage appears unfounded, The experience of Italy, where the Vatican is
located, and Spain, two predominantly Catholic countries which practice divorce supports this. Historically, those
Countries have a low rate of divorce, Italy has a divorce rate of 181 per 1000 married population while the divorce
rate in Spain had experienced a decline since 2007,

This bill is respectful of and sensitive to differing religious beliefs in the Philippines. It recognizes that the
Plurality of religious beliefs and cultural sensibilities in the Philippines demand that different remedies for failed
marriages should be made available. For this reason, the bill retains the existing remedies of legal separation,
declaration of nullity of the marriage, and annulment and only adds divorce as one more remedy. Couples may
choose from these remedies depending on their situation, religious beliefs, cultural sensibilities, needs, and
‘emotional state. While divorce under this proposed measure severs the bond of marriage, divorce as a remedy need
‘ot be for the purpose of remarriage; it may be resorted to by individuals to achieve peace of mind and facilitate their
Pursuit of full human development. This bill also seeks to make Philippine law consistent with the way it treats
religious beliefs with respect to termination of marriage. Philippine law thraugh the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of
the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 1983 [1977]) allows divorce among Filipino Muslims, in deference to the
'slamic faith which recognizes divorce. Non-Muslim Filipinos should have the same option under Philippine law, in
accordance with their religious beliefs.

The bill proposes five grounds for divorce, Al the five grounds are premised on the irreparable breakdown of
the marriage and the total non-performance of marital obligations. Thus, the bill provides that a petition for divorce

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maybe filed when the petitioner has been separated de facto (in fact) from his or her spouse for atleast five years at
the time of the filing of the petition and reconciliation is highly improbable, or when the petitioner has been legally
separated from his or her spouse for at least two years at the time of the fling of the petition and reconciliation is,
highly improbable.

Not all circumstances and situations that cause the total breakdown of a marriage could be defined in this
proposed measure, Thus, the bill also provides that divorce maybe granted when the spouses suffer from
irreconcilable differences that have caused the imeparable breakdown of the marriage. Spouses living in a state of
irreparable marital conflict or discord should be given the opportunity to present their marital contrarieties in court and
have those differences adjudged as constituting a substantial ground to put an end to the marriage.

Another ground for divorce included in the bill is when one or both spouses are psychologically
incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations. This provision will consequently repeal Article 36 of the
Family Code, The bill seeks to include ‘psychological incapacity’ in the grounds for divorce in the belief that the
concept is consistent with the termination of marital ties rather than with a void marriage.

The bil seeks to eliminate ‘condonation of the act’ and ‘consent to the act’ as grounds for denying a pettion
for legal separation and, by extension, a petition for divorce, Many spouses especially women ignore the offense
because ofthe social and economic conditions they are in, Many women in the marginalized sectors tend to condone
the offense because they are economically dependent on their spouses or because of the women-centered stigma
attached to faled marriages. Some women who are perceived to be condoning the acts of their husbands actualy
suffer from the cycle of spousal abuse such that they have become so disempowered to address thelr situation.

Under the proposed measure, a decree of divorce dissolves the absolute community or conjugal partnership
of gains. The assets shall be equally divided between the spouses. However, ths bil also proposes that in addition to
his or her equal share in the assets, the spouse who is not gainfully employed shall be entitled to support until he or
she finds adequate employment but the right shall only be effective for not more than one year. This provision is,
meant to address the economic deprivation or poverty that many women experience as a result as a result of marital
break-up,

The bill also proposes that the custody of any minor child shall be decided by the court in accordance with
the best interests of the child and their support provided in accordance with the Family Court provisions on support.
Actual, moral and exemplary damages shall be awarded to the aggrieved spouse when proper in accordance with
the provisions of the Civil Code on damages. The proposed measure also provides that parties shall be disqualified
from inheriting from each other by intestate succession, Moreover, provisions in favor of ane spouse made in the will
of the other spouse shal be revoked by operation of law.

The Philippines is the only remaining country in the world without a divorce law. This bill is being introduced
based on indications that Philippine society is ready for the legalization of divorce.

The sanctity of marriage is not based on the number of marriages existing but on the qually of marital
relationships. When marriage is no longer viable, divorce should be an option.

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Thus, the passage of the bill is urgently requested

ey ‘ho. Vr
IZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN EMMI A. DE JES¥S
Gabriela Women's Party

Gabriela Women's Party Page | 5


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Complex, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4408

House BillNo,_—_”

Introduced by: Gabriela Women’s Party Reps. Luzviminda C. llagan and Emmi A. De Jesus

AN ACT
INTRODUCING DIVORCE IN THE PHILIPPINES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
ARTICLES 26, 55 TO 66 AND REPEALING ARTICLE 36 UNDER TITLE Il OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO,
209, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philigpines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title 1! of Executive Order No. 209, as amended, otherwise known as The Family Code of the
Philippines, is hereby amended to read as follows’

‘TITLE Il
LEGAL SEPARATION AND DIVORCE’

SECTION 2, Articles 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 of Executive Order No. 209, as
amended, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines, are also hereby amended as follows’

“Art, 55 (A). A Petition for legal separation may be filed on any of the following grounds’

(1) Repeated physical violence or grossly abusive conduct directed against the petitioner, a common
child, or a child of the petitioner;

(2) Physical violence or moral pressure to compel the petitioner to change religious or political
affiliation;

(3) Attempt of respondent to corrupt or induce the petitioner, a common child, or a child of the
petitioner, to engage in prostitution, or connivance in such corruption or inducement;

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(4) Final judgment sentencing the respondent to imprisonment of more than six (6) years, even if
pardoned;

(6) Drug addiction or habitual alcoholism of the respondent;

(6) Lesbianism or homosexuality of the respondent;

(7) Contracting by the respondent of a subsequent bigamous marriage, whether in the Philippines or
abroad;

(8) Sexual infidelity or perversion;

(9) Attempt by the respondent against the life ofthe petitioner; or

(10)Abandonment of petitioner by respondent without justifiable cause for more than one (1) year.

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For purposes of this Article, the term ‘child’ shall include a child by nature or by adoption,
(B) APETITION FOR DIVORCE MAY BE FILED ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS

(1) THE PETITIONER HAS BEEN SEPARATED DE FACTO FROM HIS OR HER SPOUSE FOR AT
LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS AT THE TIME OF THE FILING OF THE PETITION AND
RECONCILIATION IS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE;

(2) THE PETITIONER HAS BEEN LEGALLY SEPARATED FROM HIS OR HER SPOUSE FOR AT
LEAST TWO (2) YEARS AT THE TIME OF THE FILING OF THE PETITION AND
RECONCILIATION IS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE;

(3) WHEN ANY OF THE GROUNDS FOR LEGAL SEPARATION UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS
ARTICLE HAS CAUSED THE IRREPARABLE BREAKDOWN OF THE MARRIAGE;

(4) WHEN ONE OR BOTH SPOUSES ARE PSYCHOLOGICALLY INCAPACITATED TO COMPLY
WITH THE ESSENTIAL MARITAL OBLIGATIONS;

(5) WHEN THE SPOUSES SUFFER FROM IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES THAT HAVE
CAUSED THE IRREPARABLE BREAKDOWN OF THE MARRIAGE;

“Article 68, The petition for legal separation OR DIVORCE shall be denied on any of the following grounds
[(1) When the aggrieved party has condoned the offense or act complained of;

(2) Where the aggrieved party has consented to the commission of the offense or act complained
of)

{(3)] [1] Where there is connivance between the parties in the commission of the offense or act
constituting the ground for legal separation OR DIVORCE;

{(4) Where both parties have given ground for legal separation:]

{(5)] (2) Where there is collusion between the parties to obtain the decree of legal separation OR
DIVORCE; [or


(6) the action is barred by prescription,’

“Article 57. [An action for legal separation shall be filed within five years from the time of the occurrence of
the cause.] AN ACTION FOR LEGAL SEPARATION OR DIVORCE MAY BE FILED AT ANYTIME.”

“Article 58. An action for legal separation shall in no case be tried before six (6) months shall have elapsed
since the filing of the petition, THE SAME RULE SHALL APPLY TO AN ACTION FOR DIVORCE BASED
ON ARTICLES 55 (B), NUMBERS 3 AND 5 OF THIS CODE. THIS RULE SHALL NOT APPLY WHERE
THE ACTION FOR LEGAL SEPARATION OR DIVORCE INVOLVES ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO, 9262, IN SUCH A CASE, SECTION 19
OF REPUBLIC ACT 9262 SHALL APPLY",

“Article 59. No legal separation OR DIVORCE may be decreed unless the Court has taken steps towards
the reconciliation of the spouses and is fully satisfied, despite such efforts, that reconciliation is highly
improbable."

“Article 60, No decree of legal separation OR DIVORCE shall be based upon a stipulation of facts or a
confession of judgment

In any case, the Court shall order the prosecuting attorney or fiscal assigned to it to take steps to
prevent collusion between the parties and to take care that the evidence is not fabricated or suppressed.”

“Article 64. After the fing of the petition for legal separation OR DIVORCE, the spouses shall be entiled to
live separately from each other.

The Court, in the absence of a written agreement between the spouses, shall designate either of
them or a third person to administer the absolute community or conjugal partnership property, The
administrator appointed by the Court shall have the same powers and duties as those of a guardian under
the Rules of Court.”

“Article 62. During the pendency of the action for legal separation OR DIVORCE, the provisions of Article
49 shall likewise apply to the support of the spouses and the custody and support of their common
children.”

“Article 63, (A), The decree of legal separation shall have the following effects.

(1) The spouses shall be entitled to live separately from each other, but the marriage bonds shall not
be severed;

(2) The absolute community or the conjugal partnership shall be dissolved and liquidated AND THE
ASSETS SHALL BE EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN THE SPOUSES but the offending spouse
shall [have no right to any share of the net profits eared by the absolute community or the

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conjugal partnership, which shall be forfeited in accordance with the provisions of Article 43 (2)]
PAY THE INNOCENT SPOUSE ACTUAL, MORAL AND EXEMPLARY DAMAGES IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CIVIL CODE ON DAMAGES;

(3) The custody of the minor children shall be awarded to the innocent spouse, subject to the
provisions of Article 213 of this code; [and]

(4) THE INNOCENT SPOUSE AND THE CHILDREN SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SUPPORT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CODE;

(6) THE CHILDREN SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THEIR PRESUMPTIVE LEGITIME WHICH SHALL BE
COMPUTED AS OF THE DATE OF THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF THE COURT; AND

{(4)] (6) The offending spouse shall be disqualified from inheriting from the innocent spouse by intestate

succession. Moreover, provisions in favor of the offending spouse made in the will of the innocent

spouse shall be revoked by operation of law

(B) THE DECREE OF DIVORCE SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING EFFECTS:

(1) THE MARRIAGE BONDS SHALL BE SEVERED;

(2) THE ABSOLUTE COMMUNITY OR THE CONJUGAL PARTNERSHIP OF GAINS SHALL BE

DISSOLVED AND LIQUIDATED AND THE ASSETS SHALL BE EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEENT

HE SPOUSES. IN THE PARTITION OF THE ASSETS, THE PRESUMPTIVE LEGITIME OF THE

COMMON CHILDREN, COMPUTED AS OF THE DATE OF THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF THE

COURT, SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THEM. THE PARTITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE

PROPERTIES OF THE SPOUSES AND THE DELIVERY OF THE CHILDREN'S PRESUMPTIVE

LEGITIME SHALL BE RECORDED IN THE APPROPRIATE CIVIL REGISTRY AND REGISTRIES

OF PROPERTY, OTHERWISE THE SAME SHALL NOT AFFECT THIRD PERSONS;

IN ADDITION TO HIS OR HER EQUAL SHARE IN THE ASSETS OF THE ABSOLUTE

COMMUNITY OR THE CONJUGAL PARTNERSHIP, THE SPOUSE WHO IS NOT GAINFULLY

EMPLOYED SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SUPPORT FROM THE OTHER SPOUSE UNTIL HE OR

SHE FINDS ADEQUATE EMPLOYMENT, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE SUPPORT SHALL

ONLY BE FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE FINALITY OF THE DECREE OF DIVORCE, AND

PROVIDED FURTHER THAT THE RIGHT TO SUPPORT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE

PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 201 OF THIS CODE;

(4) ACTUAL, MORAL AND EXEMPLARY DAMAGES SHALL BE AWARDED TO THE AGGREVED
SPOUSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CIVIL CODE ON DAMAGES;

(6) THE CUSTODY OF NAY MINOR CHILDREN SHALL BE DECIDED BY THE COURT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN, SUBJECT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 213 OF THIS CODE;

(6) THE CHILDREN SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SUPPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS CODE;

(7) CHILDREN CONCEIVED OR BORN BEFORE THE DECREE OF DIVORCE HAS BECOME
FINAL AND EXECUTORY SHALL BE CONSIDERED LEGITIMATE; AND.

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(8) THE PARTIES SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM INGHERITING FROM EACH OTHER BY
INTESTATE SUCCESSION. MOREOVER, PROVISIONS IN FAVOR OF ONE SPOUSE MADE IN
‘THE WILL OF THEOTHER SPOUSE SHALL BE REVOKED BY OPERATION OF LAW,

‘Article 64. After the finality of the decree of legal separation OR DIVORCE, the innocent spouse IN THE
CASE OF LEGAL SEPARATION OR IN THE CASE OF DIVORCE UNDER ARTICLE 56 (8) NUMBERS 3
AND § may revoke the donations made by him or by her in favor of the offending spouse, as well as the
designation of the of the latter as beneficiary in any insurance policy, even if such designation be stipulated
as irrevocable. The revocation of donations shall be recorded in the registers of property in the places
where the properties are located. Alienations, liens and encumbrances registered in good faith before the
recording of the complaint for revocation in the registries of property shall be respected. The revocation of
cr change in the designation of the insurance beneficiary shall take effect upon written notification thereof
to the [insured] INSURER

The action to revoke the donation under this Article must be brought within five (5) years from the time the
decree of legal separation OR DIVORCE has become final,”

‘Aticle 65, If the spouses WHO HAVE BEEN LEGALLY SEPARATED should reconcile, a corresponding
joint manifestation under oath duly signed by them shall be filed with the court in the same proceeding for
legal separation.’

‘Article 66. The reconciliation referred to in the preceding Article shall have the following consequences:

(1) The legal separation proceedings, if still pending, shall thereby be terminated at whatever stage; and

(2) The final decree of legal separation shall be set aside, but the separation of property {and any forfeiture
of the share of the guilly spouse already effected] shall subsist, unless the spouses agree to revive
their former property regime.

The court's order containing the foregoing shall be recorded in the proper civil registries’
SECTION 3, Article 26 of the Family Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

‘Article 26, All marriages solemnized outside of the Philippines, in accordance with the laws in force in the
country where they were solemnized, and valid there as such, shall also be valid in this country, except
those prohibited under Articles 36 (1), (4), (6) and (6), [36], 37 and 38

Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a divorce is thereafter
obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall likewise
have the capacity to remarry under Philippine law. A DECREE OF DIVORCE VALIDLY OBTAINED BY A
FILIPINO CITIZEN ABROAD SHALL BE VALID IN THIS COUNTRY ONLY AFTER A DETERMINATION
BY A PHILIPPINE COURT THAT THE SAME IS BASED ON A GROUND FALLING UNDER ARTICLE 55
(8) OF THIS CODE.’

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SECTION 4, Article 36 of the Family Code is hereby repealed.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — The provisions of any law, executive order, presidential decree or any

other issuance inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Reet

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. ~ If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid, all other provisions
not affected thereby shall remain valid

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.