Is it possible for two individuals, both of Filipino citizenry, to tie the knot abroad and for it to be recognized here?
This was a question raised in the ‘Yes or No’ segment of “CIA with BA” on its recent episode.
Show host Senator Alan Peter Cayetano answered a “yes,” noting that it mainly depends on the legal capacity of the individuals concerned.
But it doesn’t end there. They also have to fulfill certain “requisites.”
He explained, “Meron kasing tinatawag na formal at essential requisites. So basta’t ‘yung essential requisite (ay) nandiyan — ibig sabihin, nasa edad, wala silang ibang asawa, babae’t lalake — pwedeng mag-asawa abroad, susundin lang nila ‘yung formal requirements ng batas doon…”
The lawmaker elucidate further. “Halimbawa, dito sa Pilipinas, bawal ikasal ang magpinsang-buo. Hindi ka ngayon pwedeng magpunta doon (sa ibang bansa) tapos ikakasal. (Ganun din) kapag babae sa babae, lalake sa lalake — hindi pwede sa atin. Pupunta sa abroad, magpapakasal (pero) tatanungin kung valid dito. So kailangan ‘yung essential requisite dito.”
Generally, essential requisites are primary, while the formal requisites are supplementary.
“Kung may asawa ka na dito, kahit sundin mo ‘yung batas do’n, hindi pwedeng mag-asawa ulit,” the Senator added.
Pero kung ‘yung formal requisites lang, halimbawa, ‘yung marriage license… kung anong batas do’n (sa ibang bansa), sundin lang nila, pwede na dito,” he continued.
“CIA with BA” airs every Sunday, 11pm on GMA7.
