Philippines won't grant visas to same-sex spouses

The Philippine justice department has ruled that a family visa cannot be granted to the same-sex spouse of a foreigner working in the country. Justice secretary Hernando Perez said in a legal opinion, a copy of which was obtained Thursday by the Associated Press, that the Philippine constitution and the family code do not recognize gay partnerships. Perez was asked for a ruling by the department of foreign affairs on dealing with same-sex marriages of foreign diplomats and staff of international organizations operating in the country. The department earlier had revoked a non-immigrant visa given to the same-sex spouse of an American director of the Asian Development Bank, even though the women's partnership is recognized in the United States. The officer was replaced in September as part of a routine rotation, bank sources said.