Philippines Supreme Court makes landmark ruling for same-sex couples
The Supreme Court of the Philippines has ruled that same-sex couples who live together may be recognised as co-owners of property acquired during their relationship, provided there is clear proof of actual contribution. In a decision put into effect on February 5 and penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, the Court clarified that because same-sex marriage is not yet legally recognised in the country, property relations between same-sex partners are governed by Article 148 of the Family Code. Unlike Article 147, which presumes joint ownership for couples legally eligible to marry, Article 148 applies to couples prohibited from marriage and requires evidence […]