23 Mayo 2024, Huwebes
Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan
Register now and vote in midterm polls
supports International Nurses’ Day
happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come
Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024
Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party
Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance
supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
Divorce bill approved
By Nidz Godino
“By legalizing divorce, Philippines acknowledges need to provide options for individuals trapped in unhappy and irreparable marriages…this recognition reflects evolving understanding of complexities and challenges can arise within marital unions,” Rep. Edcel Lagman said divided House of Representatives approved on third and final reading absolute divorce bill that in nearly four decades only reached plenary debates in the halls of Congress.
Congressmen voted 126-109 with 20 abstentions in stamping their approval on House Bill 9349 authored by long-time divorce advocate Lagman, said there is now “ imminent liberation for Filipino wives who are entombed in toxic, abusive and long-dead marriages.”
“Divorce is not monster plaguing marriage…it is marital infidelity, abandonment, violence and cruelty, among others, devils that destroy marriages,” first district congressman of Albay province reiterated.
Among those who voted against measure were Reps. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Rufus Rodriguez, Richard Gomez, evangelist-lawmaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list and preacher Bienvenido Abante of Manila’s sixth district.
House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, former seminarian, also voted no.
“May God have mercy on our nation,” Villanueva, Jesus is Lord movement evangelist, said. “We have explained and warned our colleagues of ill effects of measure; accountability is now between them and God.”
“We should have realized that annulment and legal separation exist to remedy problematic marriages without rebelling against God, insulting Him and drawing curses of disobeying Him,” Villanueva warned.
Opposition lawmakers usually lumped for voting practically against all pieces of legislation, three-member Makabayan bloc expressly manifested their desire to have measure approved by their House colleagues from super majority coalition.
“This victory is nearly two decades in the making, following our initial introduction of bill to legalize divorce back in 2005… necessity for this legislation has only grown more urgent over years, easy to romanticize Filipino family as perfect and conflict-free…but reality is that political, economic and social factors often strain marriages, leading to inequalities and violence, Gabriela Women’s Party looks forward to future where all Filipinos have legal means to escape harmful marriages and rebuild their lives…let us give abused women and their children another chance to live in loving and supportive family environment,” Rep. Arlene Brosas of women’s group Gabriela stated.
In statement, Gabriela reported 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey revealed “18 percent of women with intimate partners have experienced violence, while nearly 40 percent of women aged 15-49 have faced controlling behaviors from their partners.”
“Socio-economic challenges in the Philippines such as labor export, low wages, joblessness and rising living costs exacerbate marital issues… proposed divorce legislation acknowledges these realities, providing legal recognition to existing social conditions without further fragmenting already broken homes,” Brosas said.
HB 9349 provides limited grounds and well-defined judicial procedures for divorce and aims to save children from pain, stress and agony brought about by their parents’ marital clashes or irreconcilable differences.
It also allows divorced spouses right to marry again for another chance at marital bliss.
Under bill, troubled couples may file petition for absolute divorce using grounds:
1) legal separation under Article 55 of the Family Code of the Philippines, as modified;
2) annulment of marriage under Article 45 of Family Code of the Philippines, as modified;
3) separation of spouses in fact for at least five years at the time petition for absolute divorce is filed, and reconciliation is highly improbable;
4) psychological incapacity as provided in Article 36 of Family Code of the Philippines;
5) irreconcilable differences; and
6) domestic or marital abuse to include acts under Republic Act 9262, or Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.
ISKUP! 