G.R. No. 227605, December 5, 2019, IN RE: PETITION FOR JUDICIAL RECOGNITION OF DIVORCE BETWEEN MINURO* TAKAHASHI AND JULIET RENDORA MORAÑA, JULIET RENDORA MORAÑA, PETITIONER, VS. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, RESPONDENT.

G.R. No. 227605, December 5, 2019, IN RE: PETITION FOR JUDICIAL RECOGNITION OF DIVORCE BETWEEN MINURO^* TAKAHASHI AND JULIET RENDORA MORAÑA,

JULIET RENDORA MORAÑA, PETITIONER, VS. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, RESPONDENT.

https://attyrobertdivinagracia.net/a-foreign-decree-of-divorce-may-be-recognized-in-the-philippines-although-it-was-the-filipino-spouse-who-obtained-the-same/

Juliet and Minoru Takahashi were married in Manila in 2002.  After 10 years and the relationship between them having turned sour, the mayor of Fukuyama City granted Juliet and Minoru a Divorce Report.

Thus, Juliet filed a petition for recognition of the Divorce Report.  Among the documents offered by the petitioner were the Divorce Report dated May 22, 2012, and the Certificate of All Matters and its English translation.  The RTC however denied her petition.  According to the RTC, Juliet was the one who secured the Divorce Decree, a fact not allowed by Philippine laws; she was not able to present the Divorce Decree, and the Divorce Report cannot take the place of the divorce decree itself; she also failed to present proof of Japanese law on divorce.  The CA agreed with the RTC and dismissed Juliet’s appeal.

In her petition for review on certiorari before the Supreme Court, she maintains that contrary to the RTC stand that she alone secured the divorce, she and her husband filed the divorce report, as she herself has difficulty understanding the Japanese language.  Her husband suggested the action of divorce so they can ask for financial assistance of the children. The Divorce Report and Certificate of All Matters were duly authenticated by the Japanese embassy, hence it complied with the Rules of Court requirement on proving foreign documents;

Issue:

1. Whether or not a Filipino wife who filed for divorce abroad may file a petition for recognition of divorce decree in the Philippines;
2. Whether or not the Divorce Report may take the place of the Divorce Decree;
3. Whether or not the Divorce Decree and Certificate of All Matters  authenticated by the Japanese embassy presented by petitioner complied with the rule on authentication of foreign judgment/document; and
4. Whether or the pertinent Japanese law on divorce was proven in this case.

The Ruling:

The Court granted the petition but remanded the case to the lower court to conduct hearing on whether or not Japanese law was adequately proved.  It ruled that even assuming that petitioner was the one who secured the divorce decree, the same does not militate against her, as denying her petition would run counter to the spirit of Art. 26 of the Family Code, which is to prevent a situation where the Filipino spouse of a foreign national who was granted divorce would remain married under Philippine law.  It also ruled as sufficient compliance with the rules on authentication of foreign documents the authentication by the Japanese embassy of the Divorce Report and Certificate of All Matters.

“While Philippine law does not allow absolute divorce, Article 26 of the Family Code allows a Filipino married to a foreign national to contract a subsequent marriage if a divorce decree is validly obtained by the alien spouse abroad, thus:

Article 26. x x x

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 likewise have capacity to remarry under Philippine law.

Under the second paragraph of Article 26, the law confers jurisdiction on Philippine courts to extend the effect of a foreign divorce decree to a Filipino spouse without undergoing trial to determine the validity of the dissolution of the marriage.

According to Judge Alicia Sempio-Diy, a me1nber of the Civil Code Revision Committee, the idea is to avoid the absurd situation of a Filipino as still being married to his or her alien spouse, although the latter is no longer married to the former because he or she had obtained a divorce abroad that is recognized by his or her national law. The aim was to solve the problem of many Filipino women who, under the New Civil Code, are still considered married to their alien husbands even after the latter have already validly divorced them under their (the husbands’) national laws and perhaps have already married again.

In Corpuz v. Sto. Tomas and Garcia v. Recio,the Court held that in any case involving recognition of a foreign divorce judgment, both the Divorce Decree and the applicable national law of the alien spouse must be proven as facts under our rules on evidence. (Conflicting precedence)

Here, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision denying the petition for recognition of foreign decree of divorce on three (3) grounds, viz.:

1. A divorce decree obtained by a Filipino abroad cannot be recognized in the Philippines because Philippine law does not allow divorce;
2. The Divorce Decree was not presented and proved in evidence; and
3. The existence of the Japanese law on divorce was not proved.

The Court does not agree.

A foreign decree of divorce may be recognized in the Philippines although it was the Filipino spouse who obtained the same

Republic v. Manalo emphasized that even if it was the Filipino spouse who initiated and obtained the divorce decree, the same may be recognized in the Philippines, viz.:

Paragraph 2 of Article 26 speaks of “a divorce x x x validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her to remarry.” Based on a clear and plain reading of the provision, it only requires that there be a divorce validly obtained abroad. The letter of the law does not demand that the alien spouse should be the one who initiated the proceeding wherein the divorce decree was granted. It does not distinguish whether the Filipino spouse is the petitioner or the respondent in the foreign divorce proceeding. x x x

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the word “obtained” should be interpreted to mean that the divorce proceeding must be actually initiated by the alien spouse, still, the Court will not follow the letter of the statute when to do so would depart from the true intent of the legislature or would otherwise yield conclusions inconsistent with the general purpose of the act. Laws have ends to achieve, and statutes should be so construed as not to defeat but to carry out such ends and purposes. As held in League of Cities of the Phils. et al. v. COMELEC et al.:

The legislative intent is not at all times accurately reflected in the manner in which the resulting law is couched. Thus, applying a verba legis or strictly literal interpretation of a statute may render it meaningless and lead to inconvenience, an absu1rd situation or injustice. To obviate this aberration, and bearing in mind the principle that the intent or the spirit of the law is the law itself, resort should be to the rule that the spirit of the law controls its letter.

To reiterate, the purpose of Paragraph 2 of Article 26 is to avoid the absurd situation where the Filipino spouse remains married to the alien spouse who, after a foreign divorce decree that is effective in the country where it was rendered, is no longer married to the Filipino spouse. x x x Whether the Filipino spouse initiated the foreign divorce proceeding or not, a favorable decree dissolving the marriage bond and capacitating his or her alien spouse to remarry will have the same result: the Filipino spouse will effectively be without a husband or wife. A Filipino who initiated a foreign divorce proceeding is in the same place and in like circumstances as a Filipino who is at the receiving end of an alien initiated proceeding. Therefore, the subject provision should not make a distinction. x x x

x x x Moreover, blind adherence to the nationality principle must be disallowed if it would cause unjust discrimination and oppression to certain classes of individuals whose rights are equally protected by law. x x x

x x x In this case, We find that Paragraph 2 of Article 26 violates one of the essential requisites of the equal protection clause. Particularly, the limitation of the provision only to a foreign divorce decree initiated by the alien spouse is unreasonable as it is based on superficial, arbitrary, and whimsical classification.

x x x there is no real and substantial difference between a Filipino who initiated a foreign divorce proceedings and a Filipino who obtained a divorce decree upon the instance of his or her alien spouse. In the eyes of the Philippine and foreign laws, both are considered as Filipinos who have the same rights and obligations in (an) alien land. The circumstances surrounding them are alike. Were it not for Paragraph 2 of Article 26, both are still married to their foreigner spouses who are no longer their wives/husbands. Hence, to make a distinction between them based merely on the superficial difference of whether they initiated the divorce proceedings or not is utterly unfair. Indeed, the treatment gives undue favor to one and unjustly discriminate against the other.

A prohibitive view of Paragraph 2 of Article 26 would do more harm than good. If We disallow a Filipino citizen who initiated and obtained a foreign divorce from the coverage of Paragraph 2 of Article 26 and still require him or her to first avail of the existing “mechanisms” under the Family Code, any subsequent relationship that he or she would enter in the meantime shall be considered as illicit in the eyes of the Philippine law. Worse, any child born out of such “extra-marital” affair has to suffer the stigma of being branded as illegitimate. Surely, these are just but a few of the adverse consequences, not only to the parent but also to the child, if We are to hold a restrictive interpretation of the subject provision. The irony is that the principle of inviolability of marriage under Section 2, Article XV of the Constitution is meant to be tilted in favor of marriage and against unions not formalized by marriage, but without denying State protection and assistance to live-in arrangements or to families formed according to indigenous customs.

This Court should not turn a blind eye to the realities of the present time. x x x it is recognized that not all marriages are made in heaven and that imperfect humans more often than not create imperfect unions. x x x it is hypocritical to safeguard the quantity of existing marriages and, at the same time, brush aside the truth that some of them are of rotten quality.

Going back, We hold that marriage, being a mutual and shared commitment between two parties, cannot possibly be productive of any good to the society where one is considered released from the marital bond while the other remains bound to it. x x x

Indeed, where the interpretation of a statute according to its exact and literal import would lead to mischievous results or contravene the clear purpose of the legislature, it should be construed according to its spirit and reason, disregarding as far as necessary the letter of the law. A statute may, therefore, be extended to cases not within the literal meaning of its terms, so long as they come within its spirit or intent. (Emphasis supplied)

Racho v. Tanaka further enunciated that the prohibition on Filipinos from participating in divorce proceedings will not be protecting our own nationals. Verily, therefore, even. though it was petitioner herself or jointly with her husband who applied for and obtained the divorce decree in this case, the same may be recognized in our jurisdiction. So must it be.

The next question: Were the Divorce Decree itself and the Japanese law on divorce sufficiently proved in this case?

Divorce Decree

Petitioner identified, presented; and formally offered in evidence the Divorce Report^[20] issued by the Office of the Mayor of Fukuyama City. It clearly bears the fact of divorce by agreement of the parties, viz.:

	Husband	Wife
Name	MINORU TAKAHASHI	JULIET MORAÑA TAKAHASHI
Date of Birth	September 13, 1975	July 26, 1978
Address (Registered Address)	82-2 Oaza Managura, Ekiya-cho, Fukuyama City	1-13-15-403 Minato Machi, Fukuyama City
Name of Householder: Tadashi Takahashi	Name of Householder: Juliet Moraña Takahashi
Permanent Domicile (For foreigner, write only the Nationality)	82-2 Oaza Managura, Ekiya-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Head of family Minoru Takahashi	Nationality of Wife Republic of the Philippines
Name of Parents and the Relationship	Father of Husband: Tadashi Takahashi Mother: Tomoe Relationship: Second Son	Father of Wife: Cesar Moraña, Jr. Mother: Zosima Moraña Relationship: Daughter
Type of divorce:	____Divorce by Agreement	____Settlement	____Arranged on
	____Mediation Date:	____Approval of Request	____Date:
	____Arbitration Date:	____Court Decision	____Date:

Both the trial court and the Court of Appeals, nonetheless, declined to consider the Divorce Report as the Divorce Decree itself. According to the trial court, the Divorce Report was “limited to the report of the divorce granted to the parties.”On the other hand, the Court of Appeals held that the Divorce Report “cannot be considered as act of an official body or tribunal as would constitute the divorce decree contemplated by the Rules.” 

The Court is not persuaded. Records show that the Divorce Report is what the Government of Japan issued to petitioner and her husband when they applied for divorce. There was no “divorce judgment” to speak of because the divorce proceeding was not coursed through Japanese courts but through the Office of the Mayor of Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. In any event, since the Divorce Report was issued by the Office of the Mayor of Fukuyama City, the same is deemed an act of an official body in Japan. By whatever name it is called, the Divorce Report is clearly the equivalent of the “Divorce Decree” in Japan, hence, the best evidence of the fact of divorce obtained by petitioner and her former husband.

Notably, the fact of divorce was also supported by the Certificate of All Matters  issued by the Japanese government to petitioner’s husband Minoru Takahashi, indicating the date of divorce, petitioner’s name from whom he got divorced and petitioner’s nationality as well, thus:

	[Date of Divorce] May 22, 2012
Divorce	[Name of Spouse] Juliet Moraña Takahashi
	[Nationality of Spouse] Republic of the Philippines

More, petitioner submitted below a duly authenticated copy of the Divorce Certificate  issued by the Japanese government. The fact alone that the document was submitted to the trial court without anyone identifying it on the stand or making a formal offer thereof in evidence does not call for dismissal of the petition.

For one, the State did not question the existence of the Divorce Report, Divorce Certificate, and more importantly the fact of divorce between petitioner and her husband. As Republic v. Manalo pronounced, if the opposing party fails to properly object, as in this case, the existence of the divorce report and divorce certificate decree is rendered admissible as a written act of the foreign official body.

For another, petitioner explained that despite repeated prompt requests from the Japanese Embassy, the latter released the Divorce Certificate quite belatedly after petitioner had already terminated her testimony and returned to Japan to care for her children. 

Still, another, the Divorce Report, Certificate of All Matters, and Divorce Certificate were all authenticated by the Japanese Embassy. These are proofs of official records which are admissible in evidence under Sections 19 and 24, Rule 132 of the Rules on Evidence, to wit:

Section 19. Classes of Documents. – For the purpose of their presentation (in) evidence, documents are either public or private. Public documents are: 

(a)	The written official acts, or records of the official acts of the sovereign authority, official bodies and tribunals, and public officers, whether of the Philippines, or of a foreign country;

xxx xxx xxx

Section 24. Proof of official record. – The record of public documents referred to in paragraph (a) of Section 19, when admissible for any purpose, may be evidenced by an official publication thereof or by a copy attested by the officer having the legal custody of the record, or by his deputy, and accompanied, if the record is not kept in the Philippines, with a certificate that such officer has the custody. If the office in which the record is kept is in foreign country, the certificate may be made by a secretary of the embassy or legation, consul general, consul, vice consul, or consular agent or by any officer in the foreign service of the Philippines stationed in the foreign country in which the record is kept, and authenticated by the seal of his office.

Finally, the Court has, time and again, held that the court’s primary duty is to dispense justice; and procedural rules are designed to secure and not to override substantial justice. On several occasions, the Court relaxed procedural rules to advance substantial justice.More so here because what is involved is a matter affecting the lives of petitioner and her children; the case is meritorious; the belated issuance of the Divorce Certificate was not due to petitioner’s fault; and the relaxation of the rules here will not prejudice the State.

True, marriage is an inviolable social institution and must be protected by the State. But in cases like these, there is no more “institution” to protect as the supposed institution was already legally broken. Marriage, being a mutual and shared commitment between two parties, cannot possibly be productive of any good to the society where one is considered released from the marital bond while the other remains bound to it.

Law on divorce in Japan

This brings us to the next question: was petitioner able to prove the applicable law on divorce in Japan of which her former husband is a national? On this score, Republic v. Manalo ordained:

Nonetheless, the Japanese law on divorce must still be proved.

x x x The burden of proof lies with the “party who alleges the existence of a fact or thing necessary in the prosecution or defense of an action.” In civil cases, plaintiffs have the burden of proving the material allegations of the complaint when those are denied by the answer; and defendants have the burden of proving the material allegations in their answer when they introduce new matters. x x x

It is well-settled in our jurisdiction that our courts cannot take judicial notice of foreign laws. Like any other facts, they must alleged and proved. x x x The power of judicial notice must be exercised with caution, and every reasonable doubt upon the subject should be resolved in the negative.

Since the divorce was raised by Manalo, the burden of proving the pertinent Japanese law validating it, as well as her former husband’s capacity to remarry, fall squarely upon her. Japanese laws on persons and family relations are not among those matters that Filipino judges are supposed to know by reason of their judicial function.

Here, what petitioner offered in evidence were mere printouts of pertinent portions of the Japanese law on divorce and its English translation. There was no proof at all that these printouts reflected the existing law on divorce in Japan and its correct English translation. Indeed, our rules require more than a printout from a website to prove a foreign law. In Racho,the Japanese law on divorce was duly proved through a copy of the English Version of the Civil Code of Japan translated under the authorization of the Ministry of Justice and the Code of Translation Committee. At any rate, considering that the fact of divorce was duly proved in this case, the higher interest of substantial justice compels that petitioner be afforded the chance to properly prove the Japanese law on divorce, with the end view that petitioner may be eventually freed from a marriage in which she is the only remaining party. In Manalo, the Court, too, did not dismiss the case, but simply remanded it to the trial court for reception of evidence pertaining to the existence of the Japanese law on divorce.

ACCORDINGLY, the petition is GRANTED. The Decision dated July 5, 2016 and Resolution dated October 13, 2016 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 103196 are REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The case is REMANDED to the Regional Trial Court – Branch 29, Manila for presentation in evidence of the pertinent Japanese law on divorce following the procedure in Racho v. Tanaka.^[35] Thereafter, the court shall render a new decision on the merits.

SO ORDERED.

Citations omitted.