The measures seeking the legalization of divorce or dissolution of marriage in the Philippines have begun to move forward in the House of Representatives in the current 19th Congress.
This, after the House Committee on Population and Family Relations chaired by Isabela 3rd district Rep. Ian Paul Dy approved "in principle" eight such bills during a public hearing Thursday, Feb. 23.
The eight measures are House Bill (HB) Nos. 78, 1021, 1593, 2593, 3843, 3885, 4957, and 4998.
Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman, author of HB No.78, specifically motioned for the approval of the bill in principle "subject to the submission of a substitute bill encompassing the various bills to be crafted by a technical working group (TWG)".
As part of his motion, he said the TWG, which he was subsequently designated to chair, will place "special concern on the civil recognition of marriages dissolved by the Catholic church and other recognized religious denomination as a possible separate measure but a companion bill to the absolute divorce bill".
Dy carried the motion after hearing no objections.
"The Philippines will soon join the rest of the world in the legalization of absolute divorce after the House Committee on Population and Family Relations approved in principle several bills on divorce and dissolution of marriage," Lagman said.
Divorce is a contentious topic in the Philippines, being a predominantly Catholic nation. But pro-divorce measures have prospered in the House before, particularly during the 17th Congress when the lower chamber approved it on third and final reading.
However, senators didn't show much enthusiasm for the controversial measure.
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Other authors, particularly Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, justified the proposal to institutionalize the nullification of marriage.
“If a marriage can be legitimately contracted under the laws of the Church, then it follows that under the same laws, such marriage can also be nullified or annulled,” they said in HB No.1593, citing Pope Francis’ issuance of “Mitis Iudex Dominus lesus” that streamlined the process of the declaration of nullity of marriage.
HB No.1593 also proposes that, without prejudice to the conditions set forth by the church or religious sect, either of the former spouses may marry again after complying with the requirements of the bill’s Section 5 and Article 52 of the Family Code, otherwise the subsequent marriage shall be null and void.
In securing a marriage license, the spouse involved must present a true certified copy of the decree of annulment or declaration of nullity issued by the church or religious sect and registered with the appropriate civil registry, the bill said.