REPUBLIC ACT NO. 241, June 12, 1948

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 241, June 12, 1948 ]

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION TWENTY-FIVE OF ACT NUMBERED THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE MARRIAGE LAW," BY EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF THE EXEMPTION FROM THE FORMAL REQUIREMENTS OF MARRIAGE GRANTED THEREIN TO MOHAMMEDANS AND PAGANS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section twenty-five of Act Numbered Thirty-six hundred and thirteen, otherwise known as "The Marriage Law," is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 25. Marriage between Mohammedans and pagans. —Marriages between Mohammedans may be performed in accordance with the rites or practices of their religion, in which case they shall be exempt from the formal requirements of Chapter I of this Act. Marriages between persons who do not profess the Mohammedan or Christian religion nor any particular religion and who inhabit any of the regions of the Philippines which are under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior may also be performed in accordance with the rites and practices of their religion, if they have any, or with tribal customs if not, and are likewise exempt from the formal requirements of said chapter. Persons solemnizing marriages in accordance with this paragraph shall not be obliged to comply with the Provisions of section thirty-four of this Act.

"However, on or after December five, nineteen hundred and sixty-nine, twenty years after the approval of this Act, marriages performed between Mohammedans or pagans shall be solemnized in accordance with the provisions of Chapter I hereof, and all other provisions of this Act shall be in full force and effect. But the President of the Philippines, upon recommendation by the Secretary of the Interior may, at any time before the expiration of said period, by proclamation, make any or all of the provisions of Chapter I of this Act applicable to the Mohammedan and non-Christian inhabitants of any of the provinces under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior when the state of culture and civilization of the Mohammedan or pagan inhabitants of said provinces shall warrant it." SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 12, 1948.