Philippine Divorce Law
PH divorce law
March 11, 1917
Philippine courts could grant an absolute divorce on the grounds of adultery on the part of the wife or concubinage on the part of the husband by virtue of Act No. 2710 of the Philippine Legislature. (Republic v. Manalo, En Banc, G.R. No. 221029, 24 April 2018, Per Peralta, J.)
March 25, 1943
[P]ursuant to the authority conferred upon him by the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Japanese Forces in the Philippines and with the approval of the latter, the Chairman of the Philippine Executive Commission promulgated an E.O. No. 141 (“New Divorce Law“), which repealed Act No. 2710 and provided eleven grounds for absolute divorce, such as intentional or unjustified desertion continuously for at least one year prior to the filing of the action, slander by deed or gross insult by one spouse against the other to such an extent as to make further living together impracticable, and a spouse’s incurable insanity. (Ibid.)
August 30, 1950
[U]pon the effectivity of Republic Act No. 386 or the New Civil Code, an absolute divorce obtained by Filipino citizens, whether here or abroad, is no longer recognized. (Ibid.)
~ Present
Through the years, there has been constant clamor from various sectors of the Philippine society to re-institute absolute divorce. . (Ibid.)
