The House Committee on Population and Family Relations on Thursday, Feb 23, has approved in principle House Bills 78, 1021, 1593, 2593, 3843, 3885, 4957, and 4998 seeking to reinstitute divorce as a solution for dissolving marriages and establish church annulment.
"May I move to approve in principle House Bill Nos. 78, 1021, 1593, 2593, 3843, 3885, 4957, and 4998 subject to the submission of a substitute bill encompassing the various bills to be crafted by a technical working group soonest with 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?" Rep. Edcel Lagman, appointed to head the technical working group for the divorce bills, said during the discussion.
He was one of the authors of HB No. 78, or the Absolute Divorce Act, which sought to give the opportunity to spouses in irremediably failed marriages to secure absolute divorce decree as an alternative mode for the dissolution of marriage.
One of the divorce advocates, Former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, underlined that passing these bills will allow married couples to dissolute "wrong" marriage.
"Marriage is beautiful. But only for those who get it right. And for those who do get it right, congratulations! (The) reality, however, shows us a different picture for most people. Many get marriage wrong," he said.
"For this situation, a toxic marriage, like an exploding star pulled back and collapsing unto itself, becomes a blackhole where nothing, not even the light, hope, and love, can survive or escape," he added.
Among the approved bill was HB No. 1593, authored by TINGOG Party-list Rep Jude Acidre, which recognizes the civil effects of church annulment, church declaration of nullity, and church dissolution of marriage.
Acidre then expressed gratitude for the consideration given to the proposed bill.
"On behalf of the Tingog Party List, I’d like to thank the committee for its favorable action on House Bill (HB) 1593. This is a significant development that provides hope for an efficient and more affordable procedure to remedy the situation of couples trapped in an irreparable relationship," he said.
However, churches have remained opposed to legalizing divorce as they firmly believe in the holiness of marriage.
