Filipinos Married in Singapore

[bmacainag]

Hello everyone,

I have a question that I'm itching to get answered and can't find any resources in google. So here it goes and I'm hoping someone have experience on this matter.

I am a Filipino who worked in Singapore on 2013 to 2014. At that time, I wanted my girlfriend to live with me there so we arranged a marriage in Singapore, for her dependent pass. But this marriage is not known in the Philippines because we did not file it in Philippines' registry of marriages.

On 2014, we decided to go home to the Philippines. Then, a year later, we broke up and now, I have a new girlfriend. Sooner or later, I will propose marriage to her. I figure that my current girlfriend and I cannot get married here in the Philippines, even if my ex-wife and I did not file our marriage, if I am still married in Singapore since marriage is international law. If I choose to continue with marrying my current girlfriend, it will seem that that marriage is not valid because of the same reason.

I can, however, file the marriage here in the Philippines but we do not have divorce in the Philippines. Annulment on the other hand can be very expensive (a lot more than Singapore cost, probably) due to court proceedings and lawyer fees.

My questions are:
1. How will I go about getting a divorce in Singapore without living there?

In order to obtain a divorce in Singapore, either you or your spouse must meet the following eligibility requirements under sections 93 and 94 of the Women’s Charter:

1. Be domiciled in Singapore at the point of the commencement of divorce proceedings OR habitually resident in Singapore for at least 3 years, before the commencement of divorce proceedings; AND
2. Have been married for at least 3 years, unless the party filing for divorce has suffered exceptional hardship or exceptionally unreasonable and cruel behaviour

https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-ar ... singapore/

It seems like there is no way for foreigners to apply for divorce when they are not currently residing there.

2. What are my options here in this dilemma?

I cannot just go back in Singapore and file a divorce because it goes against the #1 eligibility requirement of divorce (see above).

Cheers

[sundaymorningstaple]

Apply for a divorce in the 'peens. It's doubtful that you can get a legal annulment (yes, with enough money for a 'donation' you can buy an annulment in the 'peens - that I know) (my extended family - I've been taking care of the g.neice for the past 11 of her twelve years born of that union.) But can't you file for a divorce legally in the 'peens and keep from screwing up your life any further, that's what I'd suggest you do. Otherwise, it is all going to catch up with you eventually. Did you get married in Singapore by the Justice of the Peace at ROM? (Divorce in the 'peens should be possible) Or did you marry in one of the Catholic Churches in Singapore (I am assuming you are both Catholics and not from Mindanao - only annulment is possible). In fact, I guess you only have annulment as an option if you want to marry another Filipina girl who is also Catholic. (Yes, I'm married to a Catholic but not a Catholic myself so while married in a Catholic church, we had to be married outside of the Sanctuary).

[bmacainag]

There is no divorce in the Philippines, only annulment. Did you mean I can bribe the officials for an annulment? Setting aside that it's illegal, that's going to be a whole lot of money for bribing I imagine.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Possibly, if both of you want the divorce then you all might be able to convince them that the marriage was never consummated (with a donation of course). No children, correct? Chancy I know, but just throwing ideas out there.

[bmacainag]

No children. We may be able to pull that non-consummated marriage. Thank you for your inputs!

[bmacainag]

Talked to a lawyer earlier. She told me that there was a new circular late last year for implementing stricter scrutiny for annulment procedures here in the Philippines. The shortest annulment proceeding is now two (2) years. Just mentioning it here.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Wow. But that might be your only route. Good Luck. Oh, if you find another way out. Let us know?

[betty22]

there is a FB group on annulment and divorce lawyer, I bet you can find it on FB, I think the name of the group is Pinoys Free Legal advice, must be a couple of groups. please see it and join to all of them

{sanitized by moderator}

[sundaymorningstaple]

bmacainag, the above post is from a spammer in the 'peens so you might want to check out the mentions group on FB. The poster has been banned and the link deleted (the link is to an online casino). But the group may or may not be legit.

[PNGMK]

Yeah this is a mess. Not easy to resolve BUT if one party is still resident in Singapore she can apply for a divorce with you as a non resident party. Is your SBX wife still resident in Singapore?

[sundaymorningstaple]

PNGMK, I don't think either are in Singapore. That's were the mess come from.

"On 2014, we decided to go home to the Philippines. Then, a year later, we broke up....."

[PNGMK]

This is why we need some little island state to open up for "online divorces that you can file remotely for some price completed in 24 hours". I'm honestly surprised St Kitts etc don't already offer it as they do with passports.