Pwede ba kaming kasuhan ng bigamy or concubinage kapag nag permanent residence sa ibang bansa?

Josefa Santos
is a sdsadas in Canada

Attorney, I have a boyfriend who is married in the Philippines. But he is now a permanent residence in other country. Kung magfile sya ng divorce sa current residence nya, pwede ba niya itong ipadala sa Pinas? To confirm na nag file sya ng divorce sa ibang bansa. Legal po b yun? Wala po silang anak. And if ever ba na magpakasal kami sa ibang bansa and magplano na bumili ng property sa Pinas? May maihahabol ba ang ex wife nya? And pwede pa rin ba kaming kasuhan ng concubinage or bigamy kung parehas naman kami permanent residence sa ibang bansa?

 

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Adelaimar C Arias-Jose
is a Legal expert in the Philippines
Ganito kasi iyon, ang kasal ng mga Pilipino, kahit saan mang lupalop sila pumunta, kasal pa rin sila. Ngayon, ang boyfriend mo ay hindi pa citizen ng ibang bansa. Siya ay permanent resident pa lamang. So, Pilipino pa siya. Hindi pa nawawala ang kanyang pagka-Pilipino. Walang diborsiyo para sa mga Pilipino kahit saan pa mang lugar sila ng mundo maparoon.

Nagbabago lang ang lahat kung maging citizen na ang boyfriend mo sa ibang bansa. Kapag citizen na siya doon, puede na niyang i-divorce ang dati niyang asawa dito sa Pilipinas. Puede na niyang ipa-register ang foreign divorce niya sa Pilipinas at ang Civil Registrar ay ikakabit ang Certificate of Divorce niya doon sa dati niyang Marriage Certificate. This means, the Philippine laws recognize the divorce as to the non-Filipino spouse.

Puede na kayong magpakasal.

At this time, if the legal spouse of your boyfriend can get evidence na binabahay ka ng boyfriend mo and you are living as husband and wife even though he is married and you know he is married, well, you can, indeed be sued criminally for concubinage. If he gets divorced now that he is not yet a citizen of another country, the marriage will be bigamous (hihingan din kayo ng foreign country ng CENOMAR -- certificate of no marriage). Siyempre, dahil sa kasal pa ang boyfriend mo sa ilalim ng batas ng Pilipinas, wala kayong makukuhang CENOMAR.

Iyon na nga lang, kung ang acts of concubinage ay nangyari sa ibang bansa at hindi dito sa Pilipinas, medyo mahihirapan na dito i-try ang boyfriend mo. Kasi, our criminal laws are usually applicable only within Philippine territory. So, if you and your boyfriend live together abroad and not here in the Philippines, then it will be difficult to prosecute you here for acts done elsewhere. It's still possible but it will be difficult.

The best thing to do is to consult a lawyer, preferably an immigration lawyer in that country where your boyfriend is a permanent resident.

About the author

Adelaimar C Arias-Jose

I am a graduate of the UP College of Law. Member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines since 1995. I am currently involved in private practice in criminal, civil and labor law.
Profession: Lawyer
Adelaimar C. Arias-Jose
Office Address: #34 St. Michael Street
Philippines , Manila , Makati
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