House OKs bill allowing Pinoys divorced from foreigners to remarry

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives approved last night a bill that allows a Filipino to remarry in the country if he or she is legally divorced abroad.

Approved on third and final reading was House Bill 5907 or the proposed “Act Recognizing the Capacity of the Filipino Spouse to Remarry When the Alien Spouse has Obtained a Foreign Judicial Decree of Absolute Divorce.”

The bill was authored by Reps. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro and Magtanggol Gunigundo of Valenzuela City.

Some 203 lawmakers voted to pass the measure with Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza voting against it.

Only one out of the 204 congressmen present in yesterday’s session voted against House Bill 5907 or the bill allowing a Filipino spouse to remarry in case the alien spouse has obtained a decree of absolute divorce from a foreign judicial body.

“Buhay party-list cannot participate in the votation of a serious matter that is the product of an erroneous and capricious system where laws are being passed without proper dissemination or information,” Atienza said.

He said he recognizes the good intention of the measure, although it was never debated on floor prior to second reading approval two weeks ago.

Endorsed by the House committee on revision of laws, the measure allows Filipino spouses to remarry if their original partners are able to win a divorce decree from a foreign court.

The bill seeks to amend Executive Order No. 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines.

Another objective of the proposed statute is to simplify the process of recognition of a foreign judgment on divorce obtained by a foreign spouse.