Good info. I had always been told the opposite. Nice to know that they recognize a foreign divorce for both parties.
I concur I basically did the same thing and the registrar here at NSO accepted the Divorce decree from USA with Philippine Consul Generals Letter stating the Divorce decree was legitimate. Yes we can both legally remarry. P.S. - I was living in the PI at the time of the Divorce also! So don't believe people who tell you it can't be done! I did it!
I didn't need to have the Noreco Seminar i was told foreigners did not need to take it. some type of dignitary waiver i think they called it.
Unless the marriage has been properly recorded here in the PI, why bother with an annulment? If she wants to marry again here in the Philippines, she'll have to get what is called a CERNOMA. That is a search of the records to see if she was previously married. If there is no record because she didn't properly record the first one, then she's in the clear to marry again. I suggest that in six months or so, she apply for a CERNOMA just to make sure there really is no record. If, unexpectedly there is a record of her first marriage, then she's up a creek and annulment is the only recourse. (I guess it's possible that the person who officiated at the first marriage may be required to submit notice, however.)
but as earlier mentioned, abandonment is not grounds for an annulment in the Philippines. Legal separation is the only thing she can go for if he is not around. It sounds ridiculous to the other 6 billion or so people that don't live in the Philippines but that's the way it is here and it's on Filipinos to pressure their government to change if they don't like it. I don't see it changing anytime soon though: it's a highly religious country with average IQ scores in the 80s.....that's just a recipe for disaster IMO.
Another thing is adultery charge is only available to the spouse. The unmarried sexual partner of the spouse has no legal liability even if its a foreigner. Of course plenty will try and make threats and even some will try file charges as the lawyers aremore then happy to file nonsense as long as their fee is paid first but there is no legal standing to go after any1 but the cheating spouse.
