(Unsplash)

Even after the recent passage of the absolute divorce bill on second reading, members of the House of Representatives are still passionately arguing both for and against the historic measure.

On Wednesday night, May 15, the lower chamber approved House Bill (HB) No. 9349, which sought to reinstitute absolute divorce as an alternative mode for the dissolution of marriage.

As a predominantly Catholic nation, the legalization of divorce remains a contentious subject in Philippine society, especially on the legislative floor.

Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, a strong advocate for divorce, says she is hopeful that this bill will see approval on third reading next week before Congress adjourns sine die.

“Matagal na natin itong hinihintay, kaunti na lang, tuluyan na natin itong maipapasa (We have been waiting for this for a long time, just a little bit, we will finally pass it),” said Brosas in a press briefing.

With co-authors of the bill numbering almost 80 congressmen, she anticipates that it will ultimately attain its long-sought approval.

The lawmaker says divorce will be very beneficial to women who are victims of domestic violence since this will give them the opportunity to “start over” and give their children a safe and loving environment to grow up in.

The Philippines is among the last two countries that have yet to legalize divorce. The other one is the ecclesiastical city-state of the Vatican.

Fellow Makabayan bloc member ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro stresses that divorce is not intended to ruin the sanctity of marriage.

Castro says divorce will only be an option next to legal separation and annulment.

“Kaya hindi dapat sana pagbanggain din yoong religious belief dito sa divorce law (That's why religious belief should not collide with the divorce law),” she added.

Meanwhile, Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr., opposes divorce. He explains that the notion of religious belief is incorporated into the Constitution itself.

“The fact that the preamble even states that we are asking the help of Almighty God on this. So, how can you separate that from any kind of religious tone, kung doon mismo sa constitution natin nakalagay yung Almighty God (if the Almighty God is right there in our constitution), see?” Abante stressed in a separate press conference.

The pastor-lawmaker insists that divorce seeks to promote the separation of couples, which he says would lead to the promotion of the destruction of families.

“Look, the family is not only composed of husband and wife, but also composed of children. So, anong gagawin natin sa mga batang yan? I mean, ano bang mas mahalaga (what are we going to do with those children? I mean, what's more important?), to preserve the children in their own lives being one family or to just separate marriages? Ano bang pinaka mahalaga dito? (What is most important here?),” he said.

Instead of pursuing the absolute divorce bill, Abante said ongoing efforts should instead be shifted into repealing the Annulment Law or incorporating all the bill’s provisions into the said law.

“Karamihan ng congressman natin gusto ng divorce (Most of our congressmen want divorce), then let us have a divorce without the annulment of marriage law. Ayaw natin na magkaroon tayo ng maraming batas na siyang sumisira sa pamilya, actually,” the Manila solon continued.

(We don't want to have many laws that destroy families, actually.)

For his part, Muslim lawmaker Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said that some provisions of HB No. 9349 can be patterned after the divorce under the Sharia Law.

He explained that under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1083 or the Muslim Personal Law, a couple seeking a divorce cannot simply file for a divorce and be granted such just like what happens in the United States (US).

“Ours is meron po siyang tinatawag naming 40 days na (we have what we call 40 days) where mediation happens. Both families of the wife and the families of the husband discuss things, sort out, papasok po iyong support system doon (the support system will be there), before they can finally be asked again, ano magdi-divorce na ba kayo? And pinakamasakit na tanong is tatanungin iyong mga bata saan niyo gustong tumira? (Are you going to divorce? And the most painful question is to ask those children where do you want to live?),” Adiong noted.

“So, it's not as easy as filing for a divorce, although we allow that, pero (but) there are legal criteria and requirements that one has to follow, before the court can really grant you the divorce, hindi po agad-agad yun (it’s not right there and then),” he continued.