LAST May, the Absolute Divorce Act (House Bill 9349) was approved on its third and final reading. As per the Philippine News Agency (PNA), it received 131 affirmative votes, 109 negative votes, and 20 abstentions.
The author of the bill, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, hopes that this bill will lead to a shift in the attitudes of Filipinos toward marriage and relationships. This bill also acknowledges the need to provide individuals with options if ever they are in unhappy or otherwise irreparable marriages.
He added that the Philippines is the only other country besides the Vatican wherein divorce is still illegal, and will immensely help those who are in toxic, abusive, or long-dead marriages.
He reassures that not all forms of divorce will be recognized and that there will be limited, reasonable grounds for getting divorced, such as:
- psychological incapacity
- irreconcilable differences
- domestic / marital abuse
- one spouse undergoes sex reassignment surgery
- separation for at least five years
He adds that the grounds for legal separation, as per the Family Code of the Philippines, and grounds for the annulment of marriage will also apply as grounds for absolute divorce.
While many have been overjoyed by the passage of this bill, others have shown great opposition to it. In Cebu, for example, the Archdiocese of Cebu has acquired 122, 000 signatures of people who are not in favor of this passing into law.
These signatures, according to the PNA, come from 170 parish churches as part of the “Yes I Do To Marriage, Yes To Family, No Divorce” signature campaign.
As per the head of the Cebu Archdiocesan Matrimonial Tribunal Msgr. Raul Go, the Philippines being the only other country to not legalize divorce is something to be proud of. He adds that Filipinos still hold on to what they believe marriage is designed for.
To hold prayer rally
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, during a form at the Archbishop’s Palace last July 20th, feels that this bill undermines the sanctity of marriage, devalues the solidarity of family, and may be harmful to the children of these families.
With their campaign, Palma has announced that they will be holding a prayer rally against the bill on Sunday, July 27.
Reports state that this rally will show the Catholic church’s resistance toward the passing of the bill. It will happen at the Fuente Osmeña Circle in Cebu City, starting at 1 PM. Attendees will head toward the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño at 3 PM and Palma will then hold mass at 5 PM.
Palma states that divorce is not the solution, and it is better to see marriage as a commitment wherein those involved must keep their promises to one another. He also feels that divorce is what leads to the breakdown of marriages and families, possibly reducing the meaning of marriage altogether.
In a report created by the Social Weather Stations (SWS,) half of the Filipino adult population (50%) is in support of legalizing divorce. Only 31% disagree, while 17% are undecided.
This report interviewed over 1, 500 Filipinos, finding that married couples that can no longer be reconciled and are already separated should be allowed to get divorced.
It can also be noted that, in 2018, the Philippine Statistics Agency (PSA) released a report stating that one in four (26%) of married women aged 15-49 have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence by either their husband or their partner.
Lagman stresses that one benefit of the legalization of divorce would be giving these women an opportunity to be free of their abusers once and for all.
