The absence of a law allowing the dissolution of marriage in the Philippines is a “moral failing” according to Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Hontiveros on Tuesday said this as she encouraged her colleagues at the Senate to act to protect the individuals who are in dysfunctional marriages, which she said “remains unaddressed in our legal system.”
“The absence of a law allowing the dissolution of marriage is not merely a legal oversight, it is a moral failing. It is a failure to protect our citizens, particularly women and children, who are often the most vulnerable in dysfunctional marriages. It is a failure to provide an avenue for healing, for the restoration of dignity, and for the pursuit of true happiness,” the senator said in a privilege speech.
“This is not a call to abandon our values, it is a call to uphold them in a way that is just, humane, and compassionate…Mayroon po tayong pagkakataon ngayon na baguhin ang ating batas (We have an opportunity to change the law.). Let us not be the lawmakers who turned a blind eye to the suffering of our fellow Filipinos,” she added.
Hontiveros told her colleagues that senators should be the ones who have the courage to bring about meaningful change, warning that their inaction might affect the next generation.
“By providing a legal means to dissolve a marriage that has become harmful, we offer these children the chance to grow up in environments where peace, rather than conflict, is the norm,” she said.
As she pushed for the bill on dissolution of marriage, Hontiveros told her colleagues that she is open for any amendments that will be introduced to the measure.
“Ako po’y bukas sa mga amyenda at panukala mula sa plenaryo (I am open to amendments and proposals from the plenary). I am willing to engage in dialogues and negotiation to come up with a bill that is acceptable across the table,” she said.
“What I ask is only that we take one step forward. Let us crack the door open. Let us do what is right, not just for the individuals trapped in harmful marriages, but for the future of our nation. Let us pass this law, and in doing so, reaffirm our commitment to justice, to human dignity, and to the well-being of every Filipino,” she added.
The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality chaired by Hontiveros has already drafted a report on the bill expanding the grounds for dissolution of marriage in September 2023.
However, it has yet to be sponsored in the Senate plenary for debates.
Earlier, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, whose first marriage with Christine Flores was annulled, is not advocating for the passage of the Divorce bill.
Instead, Escudero, who married actress-model Heart Evangelista in 2015, says he prefers making annulment more accessible and affordable under the Family Code.
The Senate President, however, conceded that there is a need to explicitly define “psychological incapacity” under the Family Code.
Although he vowed not to influence the vote of his fellow senators on divorce, Escudero made a statement that the Senate, under his leadership, won’t waste time discussing measures which have less chances of approval.
He did not specifically pertain to Divorce bill, but Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada already interpreted Escudero’s stand as a sign that the upper chamber would not prioritize it.
Estrada earlier divulged the initial positions of his colleagues on the divorce bill.
According to him, those who oppose divorce are himself, Escudero, Senators Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva, and Ronald dela Rosa.
Those who are supportive of divorce are Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, Senators Robin Padilla, Raffy Tulfo, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos and Pia Cayetano.—RF, GMA Integrated News
