HOUSE OF RE PRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
pare, 18 JUL 2016

twe:__ 20

Republic of the Philippines.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

BULLS AND :NDEX SERVICE

1629
HOUSE BILLNO.

INTRODUCED BY: HON. GWENDOLYN F. GARCIA.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Although marriage is an institution that the State is interested in, if 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 martiage, 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.

Cth tte
HON, LYN F. GARCIA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

c
HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY: HON, GWENDOLYN 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
Teligion 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 3. Any act or provision of law inconsistent this Act is hereby
repealed.

SECTION 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,