TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
J t ;
ol ilu ..
25 JUL15 P5:16
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.
RECEIVED OV.
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE CIVIL EFFECTS OF CHURCH DECREED ANNULMENT
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Under Section 2, Article XV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the State 
recognizes marriage as an inviolable social institution. As marriage is the 
foundation of the family, the State shall defend the right of spouses to found a 
family in accordance with their religious convictions.
According to the 2020 Census of the Philippine Statistics Authority, 
seventy-eight percent (78%) of the household population in the Philippines is 
Roman Catholic while six percent (6%) are from the Muslim minority. In a 
predominantly Catholic or Christian Philippines, marriage is also a religious act. 
Although it is a religious act, marriage solemnized in the church is recognized by 
the State. Consequently, the State should also recognize the annulment of 
marriage granted by the church.
Similar to this principle is the recognition the State gives to divorce under 
Islamic Laws through Presidential Decree No. 1083. Thus, there should also be 
State recognition of annulments granted by the Church or by any duly 
recognized religious denomination, consistent with the principle of equality 
before the law.
Although divorce remains a contentious issue in the Catholic Church, 
annulment of marriage is allowed. However, the process is both inefficient and 
arduous depending on the nature of the case and the available evidence. As a 
result, the annulment process can take years to conclude. On September 8, 
2015, Pope Francis released two motu proprio documents that were meant to 
make the annulment process more efficient. The date of effectivity for the 
documents is December 8, 2015.
Given the strides taken by the Church to improve the efficiency of the 
annulment process and the State's principle of equality before the law, this bill 
proposes to recognize church annulments to have the same effect as an 
annulment declared by a competent court.


In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.
IGUEL "MIGZ" F. ZUBIRI


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
■ 'tDifiir' ol :lif »
25 JUL 15 P5:16
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.
RECEIVED 8V;
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE CIVIL EFFECTS OF CHURCH DECREED ANNULMENT
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Church Decreed Annulment Act".
SEC. 2. Whenever a marriage, duly and legally solemnized by a priest, minister, 
imam, rabbi or presiding elder of any church or religious sect in the Philippines is 
subsequently annulled or dissolved in a final judgment or decree in accordance with the 
canons or precepts of the church or religious sect, the said annulment or dissolution 
shall have the same effect as a decree of annulment or dissolution issued by a 
competent court.
SEC. 3. The final judgment or decree of annulment or dissolution issued by the 
proper church or religious sect 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. 4. Either of the former spouses may marry again after complying with the 
requirements of the preceding paragraph and Article 52 of Executive Order No. 209 or 
the Family Code of the Philippines, otherwise, the subsequent marriage shall be null and 
void.
In securing a marriage license, the spouse involved must present a certified true 
copy of the said final judgment or decree of declaration of nullity, annulment or 
dissolution of marriage registered with the appropriate civil registry.


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SEC. 5. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
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inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended,
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repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 6. If any part or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid,
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other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to remain in full
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force and effect.
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SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in any
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newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,