The leadership of the House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed a dim chance for the proposal to legalize divorce in the country, stressing that marriage is a sacred vow that should be respected and protected.
Even House Independent Bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that the proposal filed in Congress will not fly considering the fact that the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic nation.
“Marriage is a contract. So any contract should be respected and there are conditions for which each party has to abide and in layman’s term, it’s better to keep, and care it and not allow an easy way out on this obligation,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez said that the sanctity of marriage must be preserved instead of finding ways to wreck it.
“We have to look at our existing laws and culture, and we should be very deliberate about it,” the Leyte lawmaker said. “We have to preserve the sanctity of marriage and family,” Romualdez, a lawyer, said
Belmonte, also a lawyer, also scoffed at the legalization of divorce in the country.
“The proposal to legalize divorce will not pass under my watch,” Speaker Belmonte’s categorical answer in the wake of the recent Social Weather Stations survey results showing majority support for such.
Belmonte expressed belief that a marriage should be worked out; and that for whatever reasons and differences a couple might have, “it should be saved.”
Nevertheless, Belmonte said the House leadership is open to have the measure discussed in the Lower House.
“Yes, [we will open the debate on the matter]. But personally, I do not see it advancing very much,” Belmonte said, noting that the reason being: not only because the measure was unpopular but also due to ‘lack of time.’
Reps. Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela and Silvestre Bello III of 1-BAP party-list, both members of the House minority bloc, also pooh-poohed the measure seeking to legalize divorce in the country.
“The divorce bill will not pass in Congress. It is unconstitutional. Marriage is inviolable,” Albano said.
Bello said what God has put together cannot be separated by any law of man.
“I am against divorce. What God has put together let no man tear asunder. Divorce will trivialize marriage and will encourage promiscuity of both spouses,” Bello, a lawyer, said.
The SWS survey conducted from November 27 to December 1, 2014, it found out that 60 percent of Filipino adults in favor of the legalization of divorce. The survey showed 38 percent “strongly” agreed and 22 percent “somewhat” agreed.
The survey firm noted that the current percentage of Filipino adults who are in favor of legalizing divorce is higher than the 50 percent in March, 2011and 43 percent in May, 2005.
The militant Gabriela Women’s Party, through its Reps. Luz Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus, had earlier filed House Bill 4408 or “An Act Introducing Divorce in the Philippines” – a measure that had long been pending for action.
The proponents of the measure said that legalization of divorce in the country would help liberate couples who are in unhappy and irreconcilable marriages.
The measure allows those who have been separated for five years and those already legally separated for two years to apply for divorce.
The grounds for legal separation may also apply when these same grounds have already caused the irreparable breakdown of the marriage.
As provided under Article 36 of the Family Code, psychological incapacity is one of the prime grounds for legal separation or nullity of marriage.