Priscilla Meirelles seeks PH recognition of divorce from John Estrada
Celebrity Priscilla Meirelles has filed a petition in Quezon City to have her Brazilian divorce from actor John Estrada recognized in the Philippines, a significant legal step given the country's strict marital laws.
Priscilla Meirelles has filed a petition with the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City seeking recognition of her divorce from actor John Estrada, which was finalized in Brazil on March 31, 2025. The Brazilian court ruling from the First Family Court of the Judicial District of Boa Vista, State of Roraima officially dissolved their marriage under Brazilian law. Meirelles filed the petition on February 27, 2026, to have this foreign divorce decree and its legal effects officially recognized and enforced in the Philippines, which is a significant legal step given that divorce remains illegal in the Philippines.
Meirelles initially filed for divorce in Brazil in 2024, which she publicly confirmed during her appearance on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" on February 13, 2026. She explained that as a Brazilian citizen, she had the right to pursue divorce in her home country after registering her marriage to Estrada in Brazil following a legal update. The couple had been married for 14 years before their separation.
According to her legal representatives, Meirelles views the petition for Philippine recognition as "an important step in her healing journey, closing a chapter of her life and embarking on a new beginning as a single woman." The petition is intended to formalize her civil status and ensure that all her official documents reflect the change from married to divorced status in the Philippines.
Meirelles cited John Estrada's alleged extramarital activities as the reason for ending their marriage, stating during her television appearance that she decided to divorce after recognizing she could no longer see herself sharing a life with him. Despite the divorce proceedings, both parties have emphasized that their focus remains on co-parenting their daughter, Samantha Anechka. The case highlights the complex legal situation faced by Filipino citizens married to foreigners who obtain divorces abroad, as Philippine law generally does not recognize divorce except in specific circumstances involving foreign nationals.
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