In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has recognized the divorce decree obtained by a Filipino against foreign spouse.
Voting 10-3 with the abstention of one magistrate, the SC declared as valid in the Philippines the divorce in marriages obtained by a Filipino against his or her foreign spouse.
“The Court…ruled that a foreign divorce secured by a Filipino against a foreign spouse is also considered valid in the Philippines, even if it is the Filipino spouse who files for divorce abroad,” SC spokesperson Theodore Te, said in a media briefing in Baguio City.
The ruling came after upholding the decision of the Court of Appeal recognizing the divorce decree granted by a Japanese court on Dec. 6, 2011 to Marelyn Tanedo Manalo against her husband Minoru Yoshino.
Manalo filed a petition before the Dagupan court seeking to recognition of the judgment in the foreign court in the Philippines. However, the lower court denied her plea prompting her to go to the Court of Appeals.
