00:00In a twist of fate, the Supreme Court has ruled that hiding one's true sexual identity such as homosexuality can be grounds for annulment.
00:08As the old idiom goes, what's done in the dark will come to light.
00:12And in marriage, truth must never play second fiddle.
00:15Arnoel Talacay reports.
00:19This is Amy De Los Santos, a lady guard.
00:22She says she was not picky when looking for a boyfriend during her youth.
00:30But if her husband happens to be part of the LGBTQIA plus community, it's okay with her.
00:40He says acceptance is the key.
00:47Recently, the Supreme Court or RECI Second Division has ruled in favor of an annulment case filed by a woman
00:53after she discovered that her husband was actually a member of the LGBTQIA plus community.
01:00Based on the eight-page decision of the SC Second Division, marriage is a legal contract for a lifelong union between a man and a woman that complies with the law.
01:11Therefore, it can be declared void if there is deception or fraud involved.
01:16According to Article 46 of the Family Code of the Philippines, concealing one's homosexuality is considered a form of deception or fraud.
01:25However, Bahaghari, an LGBTQIA plus group in the country, expressed hope that this should not become a reason to lower the morale of the closeted LGBTQIA plus individuals.
01:38The group says that there are reasons why some of them choose to hide their identity and still enter into marriage.
01:45We live in a society na pinipressure ang mga LGBT mula pa pagkabata, yung iba bugbog sarado pa, na magpakalalaki halimbawa o magpakababae, to the point na mapipressure sila magpakasal.
01:59In our culture, marriage is important and sacred.
02:04That's why the Catholic Church advises to get to know well your partner before saying I do, so that the couple's relationship won't end and let go.
02:15Kapag ako ay nagkakasal, palagi kong sinasabi, marriage is not just love.
02:25Okay? Marriage is a commitment.
02:29Commitment to say yes.
02:32Love is presupposed in marriage.
02:35Based on the data from a research article titled Divorce and Separation in the Philippines, Trends and Correlates, from 2001 to 2014, the number of Filipino couples filing for annulment cases in the country increased.
02:51According to data from the Commission on Population and Development, the number of marriages in the country decreased in 2023 compared to 2020.
03:00Father Batak believes that one of the reasons for this is the marriage process itself as some people prefer quick or instant unions.
03:30Father Batak emphasizes that if a couple has problems, they should undergo marriage counseling first because everything can be resolved through good communication including the secrets of the wife or husband.
03:51For the Bahaghari group, there is nothing wrong with being a member of the LGBTQIA plus community who got married and ended up separated because they considered it just a part of sexual incompatibility.
04:06Noel Talakay from the National TV Network for New and Better Philippines.
