Comprehensive talks needed on divorce, strengthening marriages — solon

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano believes it is important for the country to have comprehensive and simultaneous discussions about divorce and other modes of dissolving marriages, as well as how marriages can be strengthened.

Cayetano in a statement on Friday said that discussing these two opposing topics side by side would allow for a balanced approach on tackling the divorce bill passed by the House of Representatives last May.

Last May 22, House Bill (HB) No. 9349, or the proposed Absolute Divorce Act was approved with 131 lawmakers voting in the affirmative, 109 in the negative, and 20 abstentions.

READ: House approves divorce bill on final reading

“We have to talk about strengthening marriages, together with the talks about divorce and annulment. Dapat sabay-sabay na pagusapan ‘yan kasi nga ang pamilya pa rin ang pinaka-fundamental na unit ng ating bansa,” he said.

(We have to talk about strengthening marriages, together with the talks about divorce and annulment.  These should be discussed together because the family is still the most fundamental unit of the country.)

HB No. 9349 is the most contentious bill in the 19th Congress, and it is expected to be discussed thoroughly in the Senate.  Last June 4, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said the proposed divorce law in the Senate would pass through the eye of a needle, noting that a survey he conducted in the Senate showed that the bill would have a neck-and-neck battle.

According to Cayetano, there are instances that marriages can no longer be repaired like in the case of spouses being abusive.  However, he also thinks that these topics, along with the talks of strengthening marriages, must be discussed collectively.

READ: Divorce bill finally reaches Senate

“There are impossible marriages, [tulad nu’ng] mga naaabuso ‘yong isang spouse. But kung paguusapan natin na hiwa-hiwalay ang divorce, annulment, at strengthening the family, hindi tayo magkakaintindihan,” he said.

(There are impossible marriages, like the ones where spouses are being abused.  But if we talk about divorce, annulment, and strengthening the family separately, then we cannot understand each other.)

“How do you deal with those who are being abused? Do you do it by annulment or do you do it by divorce? If we talk about it nang sabay-sabay, tingin ko magkakaroon tayo ng consensus,” he said.  “Lahat ng problemang iyan ay mayroong solusyon.”

(If we talk about it all at once, I think we will have a consensus.  All these problems have a solution.)