Anti-Mail Order Spouse Act passed
Congress has approved the proposed “Anti-Mail Order Spouse Act” which penalizes unlawful practices, businesses, and schemes of matching and offering Filipinos to foreign nationals for purposes of marriage of common law partnership.
On May 23, 2016, the House of Representatives adopted the Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 3209, as an amendment to House Bill 5572, which was approved on third and final reading on May 19, 2015.
The adopted measure, which seeks to repeal Republic Act No. 6955, also referred to as the “Anti-Mail Order Bride Law” will now be transmitted to President Aquino's desk for his signature.
“The State shall prevent the exploitation of Filipinos, and protect them from unlawful practices, businesses, and schemes, which offer Filipinos for marriage to unscrupulous foreign nationals and expose them to abuse, exploitation, prostitution, and violent situations,” according to the adopted version of the bill.
The bill provides that it shall be unlawful for any person, whether natural or juridical, to commit, directly or indirectly, engage in any business or scheme for money, profit, material, economic or other consideration which has for its purpose the matching or offering of a Filipino to foreign national for the purpose of marriage or common law partnership on a mail-order basis or through personal introduction, email, or websites in the internet.
Legitimate dating websites, which have for their purpose connecting individuals with shared interests in order to cultivate personal and dating relationships, are not covered by the Act.
Violators of the proposed Act shall be slapped with a penalty of imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of 1500,000 to 11 million.
A penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of 12 million to 15 million await offenders who are part of a syndicate.