Gwen’s proposed marriage law nears approval

CEBU, Philippines - The proposal of Cebu third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia providing for additional requirements for male foreigners desiring to marry Filipino women is nearing approval.

The House of Representatives has passed on second reading Garcia’s proposed measure amending Article 21 of Executive Order 209 (Family Code of the Philippines).

The House Committee on Revision of Laws headed by Pangasinan Representative Marlyn L. Primicias-Agabas endorsed for plenary approval House Bill 4828 which substituted HB No. 2387that Garcia authored.

Garcia said some of the foreigners coming to the country to marry Filipino women are vagabonds or social and moral “derelicts” in their own country.

“The real motive for marriage is only to take advantage and exploit our women by making them work for the family and worse, by sending them to prostitution and other degrading and dehumanizing occupations,” Garcia said.

She said exploitation of Filipino women through the so-called mail-order or pen-pal, Facebook, website-made, and other internet-made marriages, has not only caused untold miseries and sufferings to Filipino women but has also brought dishonor and disgrace to womanhood.

Under the measure, the prospective foreign husband shall provide a certificate of good moral character and a certificate that he has a gainful trade, business, employment or other lawful source of income to be issued by his country’s diplomatic or consular official, in addition to the usual certificate of legal capacity. — (FREEMAN)