PSA warns vs. fake CENOMAR online 

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) warned the public of the so-called temporary certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) that is being offered online. 

According to Emil Sumangil’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the PSA clarified that there is no such thing as a temporary CENOMAR. 

“Once and for all, hindi nawawala yung marriage. So halimbawa, gusto mo magpakasal at mayroon ka ng previous marriage, siguro ang maganda nilang tignan ay annulment of marriage,” said Emilio Querubin Jr., chief of PSA Civil Register Management Division. 

(Once and for all, marriage will never cease. So for example, if you want to get married again, you can consider getting an annulment of marriage.) 

Overseas Filipino worker “Cynthia” has been separated from her husband since 2012. As someone working abroad, the temporary CENOMARs being offered online caught her attention. 

“Nakikita ko po kasi sa groups na ang daming nag-o-offer doon tapos marami rin ang nagpapagawa,” she said. 

(I saw in the groups that many are offering and availing them.) 

“...Ang akin lang, sana yung mapalaya ko yung sarili ko sa marriage na ilang taon nang hiwalay kami. Iniisip ko na magagamit ko ‘yun someday,” “Cynthia” added. 

(For me, I just want to free myself from the marriage I’ve been into. I thought I could use such a document someday.) 

One online post was offering such a service, claiming that the temporary CENOMARs can be availed even when you are married, and they claimed to be officially issued by the PSA. 

However, the PSA explained that CENOMAR serves as proof that a person is single or has no record of marriage in the Philippines. 

The agency warned that such fake documents can easily be validated by embassies. 

“Once na matingnan po ‘yun at mag-request yung end user ng kopya, iko-compare doon sa binigay sa kanila, mahuli-huli at mahuli-mahuli sila kasi yung marriage hindi naman nawawala sa database ng PSA,” said Querubin. 

(Once it’s checked and the end user requested for a copy, they will compare it with the one they have. So you can still be caught because marriages will remain in PSA’s database.) 

GMA Integrated News reached out to the social media user who posted about the temporary CENOMAR but did not give a response. Meanwhile, the post was already deleted. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News