Human frailties destroy marriage beyond repair, not gov’t – Lagman

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman (File photo by EDWIN BACASMAS)

MANILA, Philippines —  It is not the government that “weakens” the marriage but “human frailties like marital abuse, infidelity and abandonment” that break the holy matrimony beyond repair, a lawmaker pointed out on Sunday.

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman issued this reaction after the group Couples for Christ (CFC) encouraged the government to strengthen families, instead of pushing for the proposed divorce law.

READ: Couples for Christ to gov’t: Don’t weaken marriage through divorce law

“Let us stop the religious hypocrisy being spread by the Couples for Christ that because of human weakness, the Philippines must not enact a divorce law but instead mend broken marriages,” Lagman said.

“It is precisely because of human frailties like marital abuse, infidelity, and abandonment, among other mortal weaknesses, that marriages are totally destroyed beyond repair,” he specified.

Lagman likewise reiterated that absolute divorce “rescues” those who are embattled “because of their human weaknesses and their suffering children from a house on fire.”

“Divorce affords offended spouses, mostly the battered and tormented wives, to regain their freedom, self-esteem, agency and happiness even as there is a judicial decree on the care, custody and support of the children,” he said.

“The sanctity of marriage does not constitute an iron-clad union which fetters and imperils the humanity of spouses,” he added.

READ: House-approved divorce bill transmitted to Senate – Lagman

In a manifesto, the CFC suggested that working rigorously on implementing the Philippine Family Code is a “more viable option” that can elevate Filipinos into law-abiding and emotionally stable citizens.

The group claimed that children of divorced parents are more inclined to commit crimes and are more prone to mental health problems, suicidal tendencies, and poor performance in school.

Last May 22, the House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 9349, or the Absolute Divorce Act, on its third and final reading.

The absolute divorce bill was transmitted to the Senate earlier in June, according to the lawmaker.

Lagman, the principal author of the measure, said the transmittal was in compliance with his request.

“This means that the transmittal to the Senate will not wait for the plenary action of the House when the sessions start on July 22, 2024, as previously announced by (House Secretary General Reginald) Velasco,” the lawmaker noted.