For the second quarter of 2009, the Embassy noted an increase in the number of illegal recruitment cases.  On 29 July, the Embassy repatriated four (4) more OFWs (3 males, 1 female) who were lured into paying between Php300,000 and Php500,000 apiece to unscrupulous individuals in exchange for high-paying but non-existent jobs in the Bahamas.

In February, the victims accompanied by one of the alleged recruiters flew from Manila to Bangkok where they were supposed to receive their visas to the Bahamas.  Upon arriving in Bangkok, however, they were billeted in a hotel and told to wait for their visa appointments. Their wait turned from days into weeks and weeks into months. In the meantime, they were also abandoned by their recruiters.  On the first week of June, they finally decided to seek the assistance of the Embassy.

The OFWs were provided lodging at the Embassy premises.  On 29 July, they were finally repatriated to the Philippines.

During the same period, the Embassy provided assistance to OFWs who missed or were unable to take their connecting flights; and visited Filipino inmates in various jails, among other consular services.

Q & A ON CONSULAR MATTERS

Q. I am a Filipina who was formerly married to an American national.  My husband and I got married in Manila.  He filed for divorce, and obtained a divorce decree, against me in Guam.  I recently met and fell in love with Juan Palakpak, a native of Borongan, Samar.  We plan to go back to the Philippines in December and get married in Bohol.  A friend told me that divorce is not recognized in the Philippines, hence I cannot remarry under Philippine law.  Is my friend correct?

A. It is true that divorce is not recognized in the Philippines.  However, there is an exception to this rule.  The exception can be found in Article 26, paragraph 2, of the Philippine Family Code, which provides that:

“Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall have capacity to remarry under Philippine law.” (Underscoring supplied)

Your case falls squarely within the above exception.  You were married to a foreigner who subsequently obtained a valid divorce against you abroad. That divorce capacitated you to remarry (or marry Juan) under Philippine law.