An evangelist turned legislator and a group of Christian organizations on Monday opposed House Bills (HBs) that nullify the preference given to fathers and husbands on certain family issues.
CIBAC Rep. Eddie Villanueva in a statement backed the opposition of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), Philippines for Jesus Movement (PJM), and the Coalition of Concerned Families against House Bills 1335, 5281, and 8907 which nullify the preference given to roles and decisions of fathers and husbands on certain family issues.
The House Committee on Women and Gender Equality earlier tackled the bills.
The said measures amend Article 14 of the Family Code which gives preference to a father’s decision in giving consent to the marriage of a son or daughter. The bills also amend Articles 96, 124, 211 and 225 of the same code that give weight to the father’s decision in the administration and enjoyment of family properties, as well as in the exercise of parental authority of children and legal guardianship over children’s properties.
HBs 1335, 5281 and 8907 amend the Family Code provisions by giving each spouse the option to immediately go to courts for settlement.
Villanueva said the proposed bills are clearly against the interest of preserving the solidarity and harmony of the family.
“The family is the basic unit of our society just like what is a cell to body. If the cells are incohesive and weak, you cannot expect a healthy and strong body. In the same vein, we cannot expect to have a vibrant society if its basic units—the families—are vulnerable to collapse and are disjointed due to struggles and bitterness brought by legal problems catalyzed by a proposed legislation that has a destabilizing lure and effect to the family,” said the CIBAC legislator.
“Let us not rock the boat. Resorting to courts to immediately settle disputes can consume valuable judicial resources. This immediate judicial route is expensive, long-drawn, unwise, and will violate family autonomy and the sanctity of family life enshrined in the Constitution. There are many protections in place already in case of abuse by the husband of his tie- breaking power – notable, for example, is Republic Act No. (RA) 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Act, RA 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women,” said PCEC lawyer Atty. Aldwin Salumbides.
Meanwhile, the Philippines for Jesus Movement (PJM) – a coalition of more than 7,000 Christian churches nationwide says that there is nothing wrong with Family Code provisions because it was drafted with the intention of keeping Filipino customs, values and ideals in mind.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There should be a head in the family to keep the balance of roles. These bills are more of a guise for equality because it will lead to strife and hostility between couples and ultimately to breakdown of marital and family relations” says PJM lawyer Mary Traje.
The Coalition of Concerned Families of the Philippines, represented by lawyer Aristogerson Gesmundo, asserted there is no need for said amendments because there are already sufficient safeguards in the Family Code, Civil Code and even jurisprudences.