BY CRIS DIAZ
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: A couple was denied of free weeding offered by the city government during the mass weeding in a remote village here Saturday, March 4, 2023.
Joanna and Johnny (not their real names) did not get the sacrament of the civil weeding when found out that they were already officially marriage.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy holds a free weekend mass weeding to unmarried couples to legitimize their relationship as husbands and wives.
On Saturday, the city mayor, together with department heads went to Tuburan, a remote village 29 kilometers southwest of the city, to deliver basic services, including the conduct of free marriage ceremony.
Joanna and Johnny were among the 14 couples who lined up in the village covered court to get the civil weeding blessing of the city executive.
A check on the records of the couple, however, showed that they were already officially marriage several years ago.
The city mayor reminded the couple and those who want to avail of the mass weeding that he (mayor) only officiate marriage to “never-been-marriage” couple.
A “would-be-marriage” couple must first get a “no marriage” certificate from the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) before they will undergo marriage counseling under the city improvement office prior to getting an application for marriage.
“Certainly Joanna and Johnny did not undergo the process, bit they showed in their weeding attire hoping to get through, “ a city official said.
The perks of the city’s mass weeding that includes free roasted pig, wine, cakes, and cash could have lured Joanna and Johnny to join the mass weeding Saturday.
In January this year, a couple was also denied civil marriage rites in a mass weeding here when records showed that the past marriage of the common law wife was not annulled.
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