Philippine top court says same-sex couples can co-own property

BBC News - WorldEN 2 min read 100% complete February 10, 2026 at 07:31 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

The Philippine Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples can be recognized as co-owners of property if both parties contributed to its acquisition. The ruling, made public on Tuesday, involved a dispute between two women over a house in suburban Manila. The court applied Article 148 of the Family Code, which governs property relations of unmarried cohabitants, stating it does not discriminate based on gender. This is the first time Article 148 has been used to decide a case regarding property rights of a same-sex couple in the Philippines, where same-sex unions are outlawed. The court reversed lower court rulings that denied the property claim, citing evidence that one partner paid 50% of the costs. The Supreme Court also called on the government and lawmakers to address the needs of same-sex couples.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Court of Appeals 30% Vatican 40% Camille Ting 50% Manila 50% Marvic Leonen 60% Amy Lazaro Javier 60% Family Code ×370% Philippines ×280% Philippine Supreme Court ×490%

Keywords

same-sex couples 100% property rights 90% philippine supreme court 80% family code 70% co-ownership 70% article 148 60% legal protections 50% lgbt rights 50% philippines 40%