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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pro-divorce bills among initial slew of measures in 20th Congress

Pro-divorce bills among initial slew of measures in 20th Congress

Published Jul 2, 2025 03:10 pm

At A Glance

  • House of Representatives members in the 20th Congress didn't waste time in filing measures that seek to make divorce a legal remedy for unhappy couples who have no hope of reconciliation.
(Unsplash)
(Unsplash)


Another Congress, another attempt to institutionalize divorce.
House of Representatives members in the 20th Congress didn't waste time in filing measures that seek to make divorce a legal remedy for unhappy couples who have no hope of reconciliation.
Two such measures were House Bill (HB) No.108, also known as An Act reinstituting absolute divorce as an alternative mode for the dissolution of marriage, filed by 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos; and HB No.210, also known as An Act reintroducing divorce in the Philippines, filed by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co.
Divorce is a touchy matter in the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic country. It is among the last few nations in the world that does not recognize divorce. 
But during the previous 19th Congress, on May 22, 2024, the House managed to eke out a pro-divorce measure's passage on third and final reading. The initial nominal voting result was 126-109-20 (yes-no-abstain).
The measure didn't prosper in the Senate. Monday, June 30, was the first day of filing of bills intended for the 20th Congress.
''Absolute divorce shall be judicially decreed after the fact of an irremediably broken marriage,'' read HB No.108.
''The bill aims to provide spouses in ireparably broken marriages a legal avenue for dissolution, hereby safeguarding children fromn marital strife and empowering vulnerable spouses, particularly in abusive relationships, to rebuild their lives. This bill also further delineates the specific grounds upon which divorce may be granted,'' it added.
Pro-women bill
The Abalos bill describes itself as a pro-women legislation. ''In most cases, it is the wife who is entitled to a divorce as a liberation from an abusive relationship and to help her regain dignity and self-esteem.''
Citing a study, it says approximately 17.5 percent of Filipino women aged between 15 and 49 years have reported experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from intimate partners.
''Further, one in four flipino women report experiencing gender-based violence, with at least 41 percent of these individuals choosing not to seek assistance. In some of these cases, the current legal opltions available do not adequately address or provide suitable recourse for all such marital dysfunctions and abuses,'' HB No.108 stated.
''Concerned spouses shall have the option to file for absolute divorce under this Act or seek legel separation, annulment of marriage or nullification of marriage under the pertinent provisions of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines,'' it added.
Meanwhile, HB No.210 seeks to restore divorce as a rights-based option for the majority of Filipinos, an option based on the recognition that the right to enter into a marriage contract has the corresponding spousal right to end such contract when it has reached the point of irreparability.
Authors Tinio and Co say the bill is anchored on a strong sense of confidence that it will be used responsibly by Filipino couples. ''This confidence stems from the experiences of Filipino families that show that separation is usually the last resort of many Filipino couples whose marriage has failed. Cases of batered women also support this,'' they said.
Unfounded criticism on divorce
The two Makabayan solons also claimed that the fear that divorce will erode personal values on marriage appeared to be unfounded.
''The experiences of Italy, where the Vatican is located, and Spain, two predominantly Catholic countries which practice divorce, support this. Historically, those countries have a low rate of divorce. Italy has a divorce rate of 181 per 1000 married population, while the divorce rate in Spain has experienced a decline since 2007,'' read HB No.210.
The bill maintains respect and sensitivity to the differing religious beliefs in the Philippines by recognizing that the plurality of religious beliefs and cultural sensibilities in the country demand different remedies for failed mariages.
For this reason, the bill retains the existing remedies of legal separation, annulment, and declaration of nullity of the marriage, and only adds divorce as one more remedy.
''This bill, originally filed in 2005 during the 13th Congress, was crafted in consultation with women lawyers and informed by studies and contributions from various women's groups, pro-divorce advocales,'' HB No.210 futher read.
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