Isinusulong na ‘Absolute Divorce Bill’ sa ating bansa, talakayin | Dapat Alam Mo
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00:00The absolute divorce bill in the Philippines has been high in the chamber for a long time, but just last week, the House Bill 9349 or the Proposed Absolute Divorce Bill in the third and the last reading in the House of Representatives was approved.
00:15But before this passed in the Senate, the exchange of opinions of both sides became hot again, the favors and rules on divorce in the Philippines.
00:24To discuss this bill, we are joined by one of the members of the Proposed Absolute Divorce Bill and Assistant Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Marisa Magsino.
00:37Ma'am, Congresswoman, welcome to Dapat Alamo.
00:40Hello, Kim. How are you? Susan, hello.
00:44We are also joined by Father Arvin Ray Jimenez, parochial biker of Salisidro Labrador Parish, Malhacan.
00:55Welcome to Dapat Alamo, Father Arvin.
00:58Good evening to all of you.
01:05Thank you very much Father. Let's start with Rep. Magsino.
01:10Briefly, Ma'am Congresswoman, what is the highlight of this Absolute Divorce Bill?
01:15You know Kim, this Absolute Divorce Bill, here in Section 4, House Bill 9349, this is the reinstituting absolute divorce.
01:25This is what we call alternative mode for dissolution of marriage.
01:31The divorce bill has a judicial process that we are doing and there are provisions that are very important,
01:42like what we are saying that there is a proper process, there are judicial processes.
01:47This is not something that can be obtained easily.
01:49And we also have provisions that are necessary, like in Las Vegas, there is no need for quickie, e-mails,
01:57and things like that, it is not allowed. There are a lot of provisions in this.
02:02What is absolute? Is there a partial divorce? Is there an absolute divorce? What is the difference?
02:07Okay, the difference of absolute divorce is that you can dissolve a marriage,
02:13you can re-marry your other spouse, you will be single once you have an absolute divorce.
02:21Here in the Philippines, we have annulment or relative divorce, what is the difference of this absolute divorce?
02:29Okay, when we say, Susan, that this is annulment, the marriage is valid from the start.
02:35But because of the prerequisites that there is no cause that can be void here,
02:41like for example, you got married but you are 18 years old below 21 years old,
02:47that is not allowed. Once you discover that you are 18 years old below 21, that is not allowed.
02:53Number two, what we are saying that there is fraud, there is force, there is intimidation or undue influence,
03:02that is also not allowed, our marriage will have a void. Psychological incapacitated,
03:08we are saying that this is also not allowed, this also needs to be the ground for annulment.
03:13And what we are also saying is that here in annulment, there are a lot of,
03:19and this one, you can transmit to your partner a sexually transmitted disease.
03:25Those are our grounds for annulment.
03:27Yes, Brother Kiwi, if you want, let's ask Father Arvin.
03:31Father, how will the divorce bill affect the sacrament of marriage?
03:38Primarily because for us, marriage is a sacrament and part of it,
03:44the promise of marriage is a long life together.
03:48So it will be a violation of the nature of marriage itself if the divorce is against us.
03:54And secondly, let's also see that once the divorce bill or whatever the law is,
04:03the situation of the children, how the children will be left if we consider that their parents are single again.
04:11Plus the fact that marriage is a commitment and a promise of responsibility,
04:16we cannot just turn our backs on these responsibilities
04:21that are tied to the sacrament of marriage that is enshrined in every marriage.
04:26Father, according to Father Jerome Ceciliano, CBCP,
04:30absolute divorce is not the answer to abusive marriages.
04:33Please explain that, Father.
04:36We acknowledge the fact that there are things that are not good for some couples.
04:43But if we look at it, absolute divorce may not be the answer.
04:48For example, the congressman said earlier that we are offering an alternative to the absolute divorce bill
04:55because we already have existing laws in our family code regarding the union of spouses.
05:02Maybe we can amend or intensify our request or view of these laws
05:12so that it will be the basis of what we can do to the spouses,
05:16such as legal separation and declaration of nullity of marriage.
05:22Yes, we can do that.
05:24Congresswoman, what needs to be done to pass this divorce bill before the law is passed?
05:30Okay. For now, this has already passed the third reading in the Congress.
05:35131 is affirmative, 109 is negative, and 20 is absent.
05:42Now, this has already passed the committee hearing in the Senate,
05:47but it is still waiting for the second reading.
05:50So it will take some time because we are recessed in the House and in the Senate.
05:55So this is a check that will be prepared because in the Senate,
06:00the principal authors are Senator Riza, Senator Aimee Marcos, and Senator Robin Padilla.
06:07Who else?
06:09Anyway, there are five authors in the Senate for this bill.
06:15Father, let me go back.
06:17If it is not an absolute divorce, what advice can the Church give to the spouses who are planning to separate,
06:23who really want to end their relationship?
06:26What is the Church's position on this?
06:28Let's first look at the situation of every spouse,
06:31that divorce or separation cannot be the solution to the problems they are facing.
06:37In the Church, we have marriage encounters, marriage counseling,
06:43and we are looking at the possibilities on how to save the marriage.
06:48We should also see that the government, instead of offering a divorce bill,
06:56why don't we intensify the assistance that we can provide to strengthen the marriage bond of the spouses,
07:03to intensify the partnership and the formation of every Filipino family.
07:09Congressman Magsino, how can this bill help the spouses who are already in a dilemma?
07:15It seems like there is no hope.
07:17There is no hope.
07:18First of all, we are saying that this divorce bill is the answer to the families or spouses who are already irreparable,
07:26who are no longer compatible and it is impossible for them to be together again.
07:32This divorce bill is the answer to the women who are in a dilemma,
07:37who are in an abusive relationship, and their personality is also broken.
07:43Because this is what we are saying,
07:45why do spouses or families need to experience and expose their children
07:53to such a destructive harmony inside the house.
07:57This includes legal separation, annulment,
08:01it is included in the divorce bill,
08:03it is just expanded to make it more expeditious, more reasonable, and inexpensive.
08:10It is faster and cheaper.
08:12Congressman, thank you very much for coming here.
08:15You are still beautiful until now.
08:17Thank you so much.
08:18Thank you.
08:19And of course, to Father RBM Jimenez, for that crazy discussion about divorce.
08:25Basta Balitang Mahalaga at Napa Panahon.
08:28At Makabuluhan at Nakatutuwang Kwento.
08:30May say kami dyan mga suki!