Yesterday, the Divorce Bill was passed in its second reading. It’s now another step closer to getting implemented into law which is a good thing. We know there are those who are against divorce and how it destroys the sanctity of marriage, et cetera, et cetera. It’s understandable, but people need to realize that this law will benefit couples who are in unhappy marriages.
Our columnist B. Wiser said that people “get married with the best intentions, wishing it to endure as a happy, fruitful, and mutually beneficial union for as long as it reasonably can.” However, when it goes awry, Filipinos have the option to separate from their spouses or to get an annulment.
The latter is costly and time-consuming as both parties need to prove that the marriage is null. Just imagine those who can’t afford an annulment and have to settle with separation. They are apart, yes, but they are still legally married even when they have children with other people.
If the divorce law is passed, couples can file for an absolute divorce. It will be under the grounds of “legal separation and annulment under the Family Code of the Philippines, separation in fact for at least five years, legal separation by judicial decree, for at least two years, psychological incapacity, gender reassignment surgery, irreconcilable differences, and joint petition of spouses.” It will also protect children from the stress of their parents’ marital problems.
Additionally, a divorce will allow abused spouses, mostly women, to leave the marriage completely. An Inquirer column pointed out, “How can it be antimarriage? Is the Church still blind on the reality that there are marriages nowadays that are not meant to be? Is it not aware of arranged marriages? Should it still bind people who are married just because of the vow—till death do us part—even if they are now trying to kill each other?”
Those are just some of the pros that divorce can bring to Filipinos once the law is implemented. And we do hope this will help several people with getting out of their bad marriages.
Art by Yayie Motos
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