ANTI-MAIL ORDER BRIDE LAW

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 6955

Policy and Purpose (Section 1):
- The State aims to ensure a decent standard of living for its people.
- The State shall take measures to protect Filipino women from exploitation in pursuit of economic upliftment.

Prohibited Acts (Section 2):
- For any person, entity, or association to:
    - Establish or carry on a business that matches Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals on a mail-order basis or through personal introduction. (Section 2(a)(1))
    - Advertise, publish, print, or distribute materials promoting the prohibited acts. (Section 2(a)(2))
    - Solicit, enlist, or induce Filipino women to join clubs or associations that match them for marriage to foreign nationals for a fee. (Section 2(a)(3))
    - Use the postal service to promote the prohibited acts. (Section 2(a)(4))
- For media entities or advertising agencies to knowingly allow or consent to the prohibited acts. (Section 2(b))

Liability of Officers (Section 3):
- In case of violation by an entity, the officers who knowingly participated shall be held liable.

Penalties (Section 4):
- Imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than eight (8) years.
- Fine of not less than Eight thousand pesos (P8,000) but not more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000).
- If the offender is a foreigner, they shall be immediately deported and barred from entering the country after serving the sentence and paying the fine.

Freedom of Speech and Association (Section 5):
- The Act shall not be interpreted as a restriction on freedom of speech and association for lawful purposes.

Repealing Clause (Section 6):
- All laws, decrees, orders, instructions, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or modified accordingly.

Effectivity (Section 7):
- The Act shall take effect upon publication for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.