The Philippines’ Insurance Commission (IC) has stated that individuals in same-sex relationships can assign their partners as beneficiaries for their life insurance plans. This is despite same-sex marriages having yet to be legalised in the country.

The regulator stated this in a legal opinion issued to the University of the Philippines College of Law’s Gender Law and Policy Programme, Philstar reported.

“The [IC] affirms your position that the insured who secures a life insurance policy on his or her own life may designate any individual as beneficiary,” the regulator said in the opinion that was addressed to Professor Leo Battad, chief of the gender law programme.

Battad sought the opinion of the regulator regarding the right of an insured person to designate their beneficiary, referring particularly to LGBT individuals nominating their domestic partners to receive their life insurance benefits.

The Department of Justice also concurred with the IC’s opinion, the report said.

According to Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa, there are several exceptions on who a person can nominate as an insurance beneficiary. However, these have nothing to do with gender and instead seek to prevent criminal acts such as bribery or fraud.

Funa also told Philstar that LGBT individuals can use the legal opinion if an insurance agent refuses to allow them to nominate their partner.