Dreaming of a destination wedding in the U.S., in Paris, or even in Maldives but you and your partner are both citizens of the Philippines?

This was a question raised in the ‘Yes or No’ segment of ‘CIA with BA’ on its recent episode Sunday, Feb. 25.

“Yes,” Senator Alan Peter Cayetano answered, noting that it still depends upon the capacity or incapacity of the couple.

He explained further: “Meron kasing tinatawag na formal at essential requisite. So basta’t ‘yung essential requisite [ay] nandiyan — ibig sabihin, nasa edad, wala silang ibang asawa, babae’t lalake — pwedeng mag-asawa abroad, susundin lang nila ‘yung formal requirements ng batas doon…”Kuya Alan cited an example to illustrate that formal requisites and essential requisites may vary with each other.

“Halimbawa, dito sa Pilipinas, bawal ikasal ang magpinsang-buo. Hindi ka ngayon pwedeng magpunta doon [sa ibang bansa] tapos ikakasal,” he said.

“Kaya nga ‘yung iba tinatanong dito.. babae sa babae, lalake sa lalake — hindi pwede sa atin. Pupunta sa abroad, magpapakasal [pero] tatanungin kung valid dito. So kailangan ‘yung essential requisite dito. E sa batas natin, nandyan ‘yung edad, ‘yung disqualifications (halimbawa nga, magpinsan), tapos ang nakalagay, babae at lalake,” he said.

Generally, essential requisites are primary, while the formal requisites are supplementary.

“Kung may asawa ka na dito, kahit sundin mo ‘yung batas do’n, hindi ka pwedeng mag-asawa ulit,” he said.

“Pero kung ‘yung formal requisites lang, halimbawa, ‘yung marriage license… kung anong batas do’n (sa ibang bansa), sundin lang nila, pwede na dito,” he continued.

‘CIA with BA’ carries on the legacy of Senator Rene Cayetano, the late father of the sibling senators. The senior Cayetano was a renowned lawyer who gained fame through his radio and TV program 'Compañero y Compañera,' which aired from 1997 to 2001.

The program–hosted by Alan, Pia, and Boy airs every Sunday, 11:00 p.m. on GMA7.