Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — “Let us crack the door open. Let us do what is right, not just for the individuals trapped in harmful marriages, but for the future of our nation.”
These were the words used by Opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros when she aired her sentiments about the dissolution of marriage in the Philippines.
In a privilege speech delivered during the chamber’s Tuesday plenary session, Hontiveros said there is a need to pass a law expanding the grounds for dissolution of marriage in the country, noting that it is an issue that strikes at the very heart of the society.
“Our country, renowned for its deep-seated values of family, love, and compassion, paradoxically stands as one of the last nations on earth that denies its citizens the legal recourse to dissolve a marriage that has become a source of anguish and despair. While we pride ourselves on being a bastion of faith and tradition, we must also recognize that our laws must evolve to reflect the realities faced by our people,” said Hontiveros.
The senator said she is among those Filipinos who believe that marriage is sacred, but she noted that her personal experience and belief does not render her blind to the reality that not all marriages are happy.
“The absence of a law allowing the dissolution of marriage is not merely a legal oversight; it is a moral failing. It is a failure to protect our citizens, particularly women and children, who are often the most vulnerable in dysfunctional marriages. It is a failure to provide an avenue for healing, for the restoration of dignity, and for the pursuit of true happiness,” Hontiveros emphasized.
In her speech, Hontiveros addressed the critics of the bill on dissolution of marriage as well as those who are claiming that such a law would only weaken the institution of marriage.
“Ngunit ang tanong ko po sa inyo, Mr. President, ano ba ang mas malaking sugat sa lipunan, isang sistemang bulag sa mga pasakit na sinasapit ng ating mga kababayan sa ilalim ng isang toxic at abusadong pagsasama, o isang sistema na nagbibigay ng paraan at remedyo para makalaya, maghilom, at magsimula muli?” said Hontiveros.
The opposition senator said this inaction might also affect the next generation.
“Children who grow up in homes marked by conflict and abuse are more likely to carry the scars of these experiences into their own adult lives. By providing a legal means to dissolve a marriage that has become harmful, we offer these children the chance to grow up in environments where peace, rather than conflict, is the norm,” she said.
Ending her speech, Hontiveros urged her fellow lawmakers to not turn a blind eye to the ills that affect Filipinos. She said she is open to discussing such in the chamber’s plenary.
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“Instead, let us be the ones who had the courage to bring about meaningful change—who recognized that true compassion lies in giving our people the freedom to choose a life of dignity, peace, and happiness,” she said.
“What I ask is only that we take one step forward. Let us crack the door open. Let us do what is right, not just for the individuals trapped in harmful marriages, but for the future of our nation. Let us pass this law, and in doing so, reaffirm our commitment to justice, to human dignity, and to the well-being of every Filipino,” she concluded.