Imee wants more grounds for legal separation
Published Dec 22, 2019 12:00 am
By Hannah Torregoza
Senator Josefa Imelda “Imee” Marcos is now pushing for a bill that seeks to expand the grounds for legal separation.
Senator Josefa Imelda "Imee" Marcos (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Marcos, in filing Senate Bill No. 1230, affirms the government should consider expanding the basis for legal separation and give viable options to individuals who have gone through “a burdensome, abusive, or unhealthy marriage.”
“Despite the lack of a divorce law in the Philippines and the difficulties of obtaining a civil or religious annulment, the modern reality is that a growing number of Filipinos have effectively severed their marital ties and live outside of officially- sanctioned conjugal unions,” Marcos said in the explanatory note of the bill.
“This bill seeks to encompass this truth by expanding the grounds for the filing of a petition for legal separation under Executive Order No. 209, such as the deprivation of financial support and causing of mental or emotional anguish, ridicule or public humiliation to the petitioner or their common child, among others,” the senator said.
Marcos said it is imperative that Executive Order No. 209, or the “Family Code of the Philippines” is amended to ensure that petition for legal separation can be filed on the grounds of an actual or threatened physical violence or grossly abusive conduct directed against the petitioner, a common child or the child of the petitioner.
The bill also seeks to ensure that the obligation of the offending spouse to his/her children will continue even after their separation is finalized.
“The unrealistic obligation to observe mutual love and support between spouses shall also be severed once separation is finalized,” she said.
“However, the obligation to the common children is explicitly stated, to be charged against the offending spouse,” Marcos said.
The measure also seeks to include spouses who deprive or threaten to deprive their partners or their common children with financial support legally due him/her, or are deliberately providing the petitioner’s children insufficient financial support.
It also seeks to cover those spouses who deprive his/her children of a legal right.
Furthermore, the bill seeks to amend EO 209 to ensure that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are seeking legal separation be given preference by the courts.
“For the welfare of the common children, justice for the aggrieved spouse, and future prospects of all family members, this bill’s passage is earnestly sought,” Marcos said.
Senator Josefa Imelda "Imee" Marcos (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Marcos, in filing Senate Bill No. 1230, affirms the government should consider expanding the basis for legal separation and give viable options to individuals who have gone through “a burdensome, abusive, or unhealthy marriage.”
“Despite the lack of a divorce law in the Philippines and the difficulties of obtaining a civil or religious annulment, the modern reality is that a growing number of Filipinos have effectively severed their marital ties and live outside of officially- sanctioned conjugal unions,” Marcos said in the explanatory note of the bill.
“This bill seeks to encompass this truth by expanding the grounds for the filing of a petition for legal separation under Executive Order No. 209, such as the deprivation of financial support and causing of mental or emotional anguish, ridicule or public humiliation to the petitioner or their common child, among others,” the senator said.
Marcos said it is imperative that Executive Order No. 209, or the “Family Code of the Philippines” is amended to ensure that petition for legal separation can be filed on the grounds of an actual or threatened physical violence or grossly abusive conduct directed against the petitioner, a common child or the child of the petitioner.
The bill also seeks to ensure that the obligation of the offending spouse to his/her children will continue even after their separation is finalized.
“The unrealistic obligation to observe mutual love and support between spouses shall also be severed once separation is finalized,” she said.
“However, the obligation to the common children is explicitly stated, to be charged against the offending spouse,” Marcos said.
The measure also seeks to include spouses who deprive or threaten to deprive their partners or their common children with financial support legally due him/her, or are deliberately providing the petitioner’s children insufficient financial support.
It also seeks to cover those spouses who deprive his/her children of a legal right.
Furthermore, the bill seeks to amend EO 209 to ensure that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are seeking legal separation be given preference by the courts.
“For the welfare of the common children, justice for the aggrieved spouse, and future prospects of all family members, this bill’s passage is earnestly sought,” Marcos said.