Philippines’ Lower House Passes Divorce Bill

May 28, 2024

The Philippines is taking steps to make divorce legal, which is a big change in policy. Representative Edcel Lagman pushed for this bill to become law in the House of Representatives, which it recently passed. The Bill’s goal is to give people who are stuck in violent or dysfunctional marriages legal freedom. It will now go to the Senate for further approval.

Historical and Cultural Background

The Philippines is mostly a Roman Catholic country because it was once a Spanish colony. Its national policies are strongly influenced by religion. In the past, divorce was legal before colonization and for a short time during the American and Japanese invasions. However, the Catholic Church strongly opposes divorce because they believe that marriage is a holy commitment. As a result, divorce is not allowed in most countries today, except in Muslim countries where Sharia law applies.

Current Rights of Separation

Filipinos can only choose between legal split or annulment right now because they can’t get a divorce. Legal separation lets two people live apart without stopping their marriage, which means that neither person can get married again. An annulment, on the other hand, says that a marriage doesn’t exist and that it never did. There are strict and often expensive requirements that must be met for this to happen.

Details of the Proposed Divorce Bill

The suggested law lists specific reasons for “absolute divorce,” such as mental incapacity, irreconcilable differences, and different types of abuse. The process includes a mandatory “cooling-off” time of 60 days meant to give both sides a chance to work things out. This is followed by a legal proceeding that must be over within a year. If the decree is approved, it would be possible for divorced people to get married again.

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