Divorce bill refiled

[Mike J]

I wonder if the rest of the world knows that the Philippines is the only country left, other than the Vatican City, where there is no divorce. 

https://ph.yahoo.com/news/rep-edcel-lagman-refiles-divorce-bill-094405956.html

If passed into law, the Absolute Divorce Bill or House Bill (HB) No.78 will seek “to reinstate absolute divorce as an alternative mode for the dissolution of marriage.”

The proposed bill will institute a “cooling-off” period of about six months after filing of the petition for divorce, and shall provide for the care and custody of children, termination of conjugal partnership of gains, and alimony.

The bill also said that the State shall have the mandate to strengthen marriage and family life “through state-funded pre-nuptial and post-matrimonial programs and activities,” even if divorce has already been legalized.

In a statement, Lagman said that “beleaguered and tormented wives can soon be liberated from irretrievably dysfunctional marriages or inordinately abusive marital relations.”

“Notwithstanding the adoption of the 1987 Constitution of the precepts that marriage is a social institution, the foundation of the family is inviolable, the Commissioners of the 1986 Constitutional Commission were unanimous that Congress is not prohibited or precluded from instituting absolute divorce and dissolution of marriage under the current Charter,” Lagman added.

Many lawmakers have for the past tried to codify this right into law. During the 18th Congress, Lagman filed HB 100, but it was stuck in the Committee on Appropriations, and was last deliberated by the House Technical Working Group in March 2020.

In the 17th Congress, HB 7303 was also filed and transmitted to the Senate, but it was not acted upon by the upper chamber due to time constraints.

Lagman said that the Absolute Divorce Bill would be an “apt sequel” to the highly controversial Reproductive Health Law, of which he is also one of the principal sponsors.

Currently, the Philippines and Vatican City are the two remaining countries in the world that has no divorce law.

[Jollygoodfellow]

Will go on for many more years yet.

[hk blues]

5 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

Will go on for many more years yet.

Yep, will probably come too late to save most of us guys! 

[KrisT]

There is a more recent version of this effort - would post here, but file exceeds allowable size. In the senate, as of July 8, 2023, S. No. 288. I'm here with someone married, but separated, and saving for the annulment process. Had some hopes divorce would arrive first, but unlikely.

[Mike J]

6 hours ago, KrisT said:

There is a more recent version of this effort - would post here, but file exceeds allowable size. In the senate, as of July 8, 2023, S. No. 288. I'm here with someone married, but separated, and saving for the annulment process. Had some hopes divorce would arrive first, but unlikely.

The bill referenced is an older bill.  The new bill congress is working on is Senate Bill 2443.

URL to the bill https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=19&q=SBN-2443

And recent news about the bill

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/25/2298815/divorce-bill-uphill-battle-tulfo

MANILA, Philippines — While a Senate panel has approved a consolidated measure that provides for absolute divorce based on various grounds, Sen. Raffy Tulfo has expressed belief that the proposal is facing an “uphill battle” in the upper chamber.

Tulfo, one of the senators who signed the committee report recommending the passage of the divorce bill, said religion is a big factor why other members of the Senate would not support the legal dissolution of marriage.

“I think religion is one big factor. We are all religious. Because of religion, we don’t have divorce as their pastors would lobby not to support it. They cannot go against the church,” he told “The Chiefs” on OneNewsPh last Saturday night.

He added that he could not say who among the remaining 23 senators would support the divorce bill. Committee Report No. 124, which recommended the passage of the measure, was signed by Tulfo, its author Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, Senate President Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda and Senators Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla and Grace Poe.

Although they signed the committee report, Poe and Cayetano indicated their intentions to interpellate and introduce amendments to the proposed measure.

Tulfo, who has a television show, said he is in favor of the proposed divorce bill after he received and continues to receive complaints about husbands maltreating and abusing their wives.

“I’m in favor of divorce due to the number of complaints of husbands beating their wives. The wives wanted to file annulment, but it’s an expensive and long process. It’s difficult for a woman to move on. She can’t live with another man as she might be sued,” he added.

For the senator, a marriage can be dissolved only with strong reasons like the wife being abused by the husband who is a drunkard, womanizer, addict and the like.

Last week, the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality approved a consolidated measure that provides for absolute divorce based on various grounds, including five years of separation, whether continuous or broken, and the commission of the crime of rape before or after marriage.

 

 

[craftbeerlover]

6 hours ago, KrisT said:

I'm here with someone married, but separated

be careful/smart, if the husband can prove you are together, and decided to file charges, you would be arrested.  (of course he probably has a significant other as well)

[Kingpin]

7 hours ago, Mike J said:

Tulfo, who has a television show, said he is in favor of the proposed divorce bill after he received and continues to receive complaints about husbands maltreating and abusing their wives.

That guy's a shill, blames men because the wives are his audience.

Everyone knows if there's actual abuse then one can file a case.

Everyone also knows there's no divorce here, so choose wisely or else.

[KrisT]

12 hours ago, craftbeerlover said:

be careful/smart, if the husband can prove you are together, and decided to file charges, you would be arrested.  (of course he probably has a significant other as well)

Thanks. Absolutely on our radar. We are taking precautions, as able. Nothing is simple here.

[Kingpin]

On 10/16/2023 at 6:50 AM, craftbeerlover said:

be careful/smart, if the husband can prove you are together, and decided to file charges, you would be arrested.

She would be arrested, he wouldn't unless they can prove he knew she was married.

[hk blues]

17 hours ago, KrisT said:

Thanks. Absolutely on our radar. We are taking precautions, as able. Nothing is simple here.

Hopefully in more ways than one!