Sen. Raffy T. Tulfo said he strongly supports the proposed divorce bill re-filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, saying that the bill is an “act of social justice that would give people a fresh start from a miserable marriage.”
During Tuesday’s public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, Tulfo said that based on his experience as a public servant, he had witnessed countless persons stuck in toxic or unproductive marriages.
“The quality of family life for spouses who are already in an unhealthy marital relationship is not what was envisioned by the State as something that needs protecting,” Tulfo said.
Tulfo further said that while Executive Order No. 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines provides various remedies for the termination of a marital union, those processes have proven to be excessively adversarial, tedious, and unjustly expensive, especially for the poor.
Hontiveros, meanwhile, said the Senate panel will form a Technical Working Committee to study the proposed divorce bill.
In the same hearing, Hontiveros questioned why a woman should be locked in a hurting relationship where there is no love and respect.
She renewed her call to pass Senate Bill 147 or the Dissolution of Marriage Act and noted that Filipino women cannot leave their marriages because of the prohibitive costs of filing for an annulment.
“When a marriage becomes irreparable, it is incumbent upon the State to not only provide relief to spouses, but also protect children from the pain, anxiety, and trauma of witnessing regular marital clashes. Let us give Filipino families the chance to let go of toxic relationships,” Hontiveros said.
Social Welfare Assistant Sec. Irene Dumlao meanwhile they have been consistent in their position to support measures that will legally end dysfunctional and toxic marriages and regain an individual’s dignity and self-worth.
The Philippine Commission on Women told the Senate panel that divorce has been a part of their priority legislative agenda since the 17th Congress.
The Commission on Human Rights said that divorce will protect the rights of a man and woman in a chaotic married life.
Atty. Ambayanan Manding, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos- Legal Assistance Division chief said they firmly support the successful passage of all bills for it will have a monumental impact on Filipino families.
In 2017, the Social Weather Station ran a survey, revealing that 53% agreed to legalize divorce. Another survey, run by the Catholic Radio Veritas in 2018, showed that 52% “strongly agree” or “somewhat agree” with the measure.
