Rule on foreigners wanting to marry Filipinas
By Irene Arsenia, Staff Reporter
DUBAI - Expatriates in the UAE gave mixed reactions to new Philippine legislation passed on Wednesday requiring foreigners planning to marry Filipinas to show further proof of financial capacity to support the bride.
Under the new legislation, foreigners would be required to produce a certificate of good moral character and a certificate of employment or business certificate issued by his country’s diplomatic or consular official, in addition to the certificate of legal capacity to marry.
The new legislation is meant to "protect Filipino women against exploitation of foreigners who marry without evident means to support a family,” Pangasinan Representative Marlyn Primicias-Agabas was quoted in a Philippine Star report.
The bill was an improvement to the one originally authored by Cebu Representative Gwendolyn Garcia, who said some foreigners seek Filipino brides "only to take advantage and exploit our women by making them work for the family and worse, by sending them to prostitution and other degrading and dehumanizing occupations.” The practice has "not only caused untold misery and suffering to our Filipino women but it has also brought dishonour and disgrace to the Filipino womanhood,” Garcia said.
Claire M. of Dubai told PilipinasToday.Net said she welcomed the legislation. “I have relatives and friends who are married to foreigners. Although theirs is a different story because they married out of love, I think this legislation will help protect Filipinas in general from possible horrific situations,” she said.
Janice M. of Abu Dhabi said that while the intention of the proposal is good, “it is not a guarantee because some Filipinas want to marry foreigners anyway without love or security involved.” Steve of Dubai agreed, adding that a prenuptial agreement must also be made mandatory.
“We’ve heard about so many horror stories of mail-order brides ending up exploited or dead, so this is a good step,” she Alyssa G. of Al Ain told PilipinasToday.Net.
