SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has further pushed for the passage of a measure seeking to legalize divorce in the country.
Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, said it is high time for the Senate to pass Senate Bill 147, or the Dissolution of Marriage Act, which she authored, noting that women experiencing domestic abuse “need this legal course.”
She said it will also protect the children from the pain, anxiety, and trauma that may be obtained by witnessing regular marital clashes.
"Some Filipino women have almost been killed by their own husbands. But most of them cannot leave their marriages because of the prohibitive costs of filing for an annulment. Bigyan na natin ang ating mga kababaihan ng pagkakataong makalaya sa masalimuot at abusadong pagsasama. Bigyan natin sila ng oportunidad na mahalin at magmahal muli. Ipasa na ang Divorce Bill (Let's give our women a chance to be free from complicated and abusive relationships. Let's give them the opportunity to love and love again. Pass the Divorce Bill)," said Hontiveros.
"When a marriage becomes irreparable, it is incumbent upon the State to not only provide relief to spouses, but also protect children from the pain, anxiety, and trauma of witnessing regular marital clashes. Let us give Filipino families the chance to let go of toxic relationships," she added.
Hontiveros cited the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the Philippines Statistics Authority that showed one in every four married women aged 15 to 49 years old has experienced spousal violence, whether physical, sexual, or emotional. It also noted that most of those who agree to instituting divorce are women.
A survey conducted by the Social Weather System in 2017 also showed that at least five in every 10 adult individuals were in favor of legalizing divorce.
Senators Raffy Tulfo and Robin Padilla have earlier filed their respective versions of measures seeking to legalize divorce.
Lawmakers said the process of divorce may take only “a few months,” or at most a year but assured that the procedures will be more accessible and way ahead inexpensive unlike annulment, which is currently available in the country for those seeking the nullity of their marriage.
Annulment makes a marital unity null and void or as if it never happened, while divorce recognizes and ends a legally valid marriage.
Once annulment and/or divorce has reached finality, the husband and wife will be allowed to remarry based on the proposed measure of the three lawmakers.
The children of the estranged parties will still be considered legitimate while their custody, particularly of the minors, will be determined by the court.
The judgment in both processes should provide a liquidation, partition and distribution of the properties of the spouses, the custody and support of the children, the conjugal dwelling and the lot on which it is situated shall be adjudicated in accordance with the Family Code of the Philippines, and the effects on the spouses of the intestate successions, testamentary dispositions, donations, and insurance on beneficiaries shall be observed.
In February, the House Committee on Population and Family Relations approved in principle several bills on divorce and dissolution of marriage.
House Bills 78, 1021, 1593, 2593, 3843, 3885, 4957 and 4998 will be consolidated as it was endorsed to the technical working group tasked to craft a substitute measure.
Hontiveros said the Senate should catch up with the efforts of their counterparts.
"Our counterparts in the House have already been making the moves to help our country catch up with the rest of the world. The Senate must do the same. Past surveys have demonstrated that the majority of Filipinos favor divorce to be instituted in the country. We better listen to our people," she said.
"We are the only country, aside from the Vatican, that doesn't have divorce. As a secular state, this is not something to be proud of. This only shows how left behind we are in addressing the needs and recognizing the lived experiences of our people. 2023 na, wala pa ring divorce. It's time to change this," she added. (SunStar Philippines)