By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — The House Bill on absolute divorce has been brought to the plenary for debate.
House Bill (HB) No. 9349 or the Absolute Divorce Act has been sponsored during the plenary on Tuesday by Albay Second District Representative Edcel Lagman, Cebu Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia, Negros Occidental Fourth District Rep. Juliet Ferrer, and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas.
Lagman said that divorce is only an option and spouses may or may not petition for divorce or they may avail of dissolution of marriage based on psychological incapacity under Article 36, annulment of marriage under Article 45 or legal separation under Article 55 of the Family Code.
“A divorce decree entitles the parties the right to remarry and have another chance at marital bliss. The divorce decree shall include and protect spousal support, children’s support and custody, and respect of the children’s legitime, as well as the interest of creditors,” he added.
Meanwhile, for Brosas, she said that the legalization of divorce in the country would mean that abused women would be free from domestic situation.
“We in Gabriela Women’s Party believe that beyond being part of this huge global circle, legalizing divorce is a means for abused women to be free from their domestic situation and allow them the opportunity to live a new life, free from violence and abuse,” Brosas said.
Earlier, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said that Philippine laws have been making it difficult for Filipinos to leave unhappy marriages.
“Marriage as the foundation of the family no longer reflects the present realities and sensitives of many Filipino families,” Leonen said.
“The antiquated form from our colonial past is still codified in our laws and is still being reiterated in jurisprudence 135 years later,” he added.
(el Amigo/MNM)
