A girl from the Philippines at the age of 13 was married to a 48-year-old man. She became his fifth wife and will live in his family with children of her age, writes The Daily Mail, citing local sources.
The wedding was held in accordance with the customs of local Muslims, and was attended by relatives from both sides. Farmer Abdulrzak Ampatuan, the girl's new husband, said he was happy with a new wife who would take care of his children from older wives. He stressed that he does not plan to have children with her until the girl turns 20.
The man built a small house for his wife, where he would “spend time with her,” and promised to pay for her schooling.
According to the laws of the Muslim region of Mindanao, where newlyweds live, boys can get married at the age of 15, and girls – as soon as they enter the biological transition age. The Philippines is the second country in the world in terms of the number of underage brides, there are more than 726 thousand of them. 15 percent of all girls in the country are married before they turn 18. Their situation is aggravated by the fact that divorce is prohibited by law in the country.
