The House of Representatives approved on second reading the bill that seeks to introduce divorce and dissolution of marriage in the country.
Through viva voce or voice voting, the House approved the House Bill 7303, or the proposed “Act Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines,” which is primarily authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.
The bill aims to allow couples to obtain “absolute divorce” after a broken marriage.
Under the bill, the grounds on the granting of an absolute divorce include:
• The grounds for legal separation and annulment of marriage under the Family Code of the Philippines;
• Separation in fact for at least five years;
• Legal separation by judicial decree for at least two years;
• Psychological incapacity;
• Gender reassignment surgery;
• Irreconcilable differences; and
• Joint petition of spouses
The court will not start the trial six months after the petition for divorce was filed to give opportunities for couples to reconcile.
Moreover, the bill states that cases of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are given priority on court hearings.
Another provision in the bill states that the state should ensure that the process of attaining divorce should be inexpensive and affordable.
The bill will proceed to the third reading, where another voting will be done. If approved, the bill will be submitted to the Senate.
Despite this, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez believe that the divorce bill would not be entertained in the Senate.
“Marami kaming pinaghihirapan dito, nagdedebate kami, nagkakasamaan pa kami ng loob pagkatapos naming magawang matapos then it will just be parked in the Senate without any action, and I think ito ganun din mangyayari kahit na ‘yung divorce ipasa namin dito pagdating doon. Barangay election pa-park din nila, death penalty naka-park din sa kanila,” Suarez reportedly said.
Meanwhile, Lito Atienza, a vocal non-supporter of the bill, echoed Suarez’ sentiments.
“Di pag-uusapan sa Senado ‘yan. Dito init na init ‘yung mga kasama ko. Naniniwala ako mga senador mas malawak ang pananaw, mas malalim ang pag-iisip, di pag-uusapan, di nila bibigyan ng ganung halaga tulad nang nakikita niyo dito, nag-iinit ang ulo ng tao sa issue ng divorce,” Atienza declared.
The Philippines and Vatican are the two remaining countries in the world where divorce is not legalized.
