House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Sunday, April 8, said he is in the process of convincing some senators to support the legalization of divorce in the country.
This comes after several senators expressed negative comments regarding the divorce bill. Despite this, Alvarez is still hopeful senators will see the importance of legalizing divorce for couples in broken marriages.
“Hindi ko lang puwedeng banggitin, siguro, pero nag-uusap-usap din kami,” Alvarez said in a radio interview.
“In fact, naka-ilang committee hearings kami diyan [divorce] kahit hanggang doon sa abroad, umiiyak talaga yung mga tao,” he said.
“Kasi ang grounds ng annulment kailangan mag-exist ‘yan before or during the celebration of marriage. Kaya in all decrees ng annulment ay ang sinasabi, meron siyang presumption na it is as is there was no marriage at all kaya ang unmarried is void magmula nung umpisa,” he explained.
“Pero itong dissolution of marriage or divorce, ang grounds nito, nag-e-exist after the celebration of marriage,” he added.
The House Speaker recognized that legalizing divorce in the country could be an uphill battle. However, he is dedicated to explain the provisions of the law especially to President Rodrigo Duterte if the bill will pass the Senate level .
“Kasi may mga tinatawag naman kaming LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council). Magpapaliwanag kami pero gagawin namin yun kapag pumayag na ang Senado, pag aprubado na ng Senado kasi wala namang saysay kung makipag-usap kami sa Pangulo ngayon kung hindi naman payag yung Senado,” Alvarez said.
Earlier, the House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the bill that seeks to introduce divorce and dissolution of marriage in the country.
