MANILA – The controversial proposed measure for absolute divorce has hurdled second reading before the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The approval of the bill was done through viva voce voting or via ayes and nays among the lawmakers.
Albay 1st District’s Cong. Edcel Lagman who sponsored the bill explained that absolute divorce is not only exclusive for spouses in unhappy marriages.
“Not only unhappy marital situations but distressful situations, toxic relationships where there are valid grounds to petition for divorce. Because if there are no valid grounds, no divorce will be decreed,” Lagman said.
In most cases, he added, “it is the wife who is the victim of a failed and toxic marriage, like for example marital abuse, marital infidelity, and marital abandonment.”
Lagman, however, admitted that in some cases it is the husband who is the offended party and can also use the proposed bill.
“Yes, that also happens,” Lagman said. “But the indelible data would show that wives are the aggrieved victims or parties in most cases of marital conflict.”
The purpose of this bill, he said, is to “liberate the offended spouse, who is the woman in most cases, to be free from such failed marriages.”
Lagman also stated that the measure is “a pro-poor woman” measure, while saying “divorce is only an option” and that it would be a cheaper and faster remedy than existing options such as annulment.
“This is actually cost-free in many cases. Expeditious? Yes, because under the bill, a judge is mandated to decide the petition for divorce within one year after expiration of the 60-day cooling off period,” he explained, referring to the provision in the bill of a 60-day cooling off period after spouses file the divorce petition,” said Lagman.
Among the grounds for divorce cited in the bill are physical violence or grossly abusive conduct directed against the petitioner, a common child or the child of the petitioner; physical violence or moral pressure to compel the petitioner to change religious or political affiliation; drug addiction or habitual alcoholism or chronic gambling; and homosexuality./PN
