Atty. Lorna Kapunan. YUJI GONZALES/INQUIRER.net
Senate hopeful lawyer Lorna Kapunan wants to open public debates on the definition of marriage, noting that the Philippines still does not have divorce.
Kapunan, who is running under the senatorial ticket of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero, brought up the issue when asked during a consultation with students of STI College in Calamba, Laguna, Tuesday what she could do, if elected senator, to further the rights of women in the country.
While there is already a Magna Carta for women, the lawyer said it seemed that its implementing rules and regulations were not enough and should be reviewed by Congress.
“Pero more than the Magna Carta for Women dapat nating tingnan ang basic law na tinatawag nating Family Code. Kasi yung Family Code sa Philippines yun ay para sa pamilya, hindi lang sa mga kabataan para sa mga husband and wife,” Kapunan said.
(But more than the Magna Carta for Women, we should look into the basic law which we called Family Code. Because the Family Code in the Philippines is for the family, not only for the youth but also for husbands and wives)
“Unang-una, tingnan natin yung definition of marriage. Marriage daw is a permanent union between a man and woman. Ibig sabihin nun, walang divorce sa Pilipinas.”
(First of all, we should look into the definition of marriage. Marriage is a permanent union between a man and woman. It means that there’s no divorce in the Philippines)
“We are the only country in the whole world that does not have divorce . Ibig sabihin, kung ayaw nyo na sa mga asawa nyo e ang solution, lasunin na lang yung kape. Tama ba yun ? So dapat at least buksan natin sa pubic debate yung definition ng marriage,” she further said.
(We are the only country in the whole world that does not have divorce .It means that if you don’t love your spouses anymore, the solution is just put poison in their coffee. Is that right? So we should at least open a public debate on the definition of marriage)
The Philippines is actually one of only two countries with no divorce. The other is the Vatican, the center of Roman Catholicism.
Aside from the definition of marriage, the senatorial bet also wants to revisit the definitions of youth and youth offender.
“Alam nyo po ang kasalanan ng mga lehislatura natin e kung minsan dagdag tayo ng dagdag ng batas, hindi naman natin nire-review…so ang nagyayari, madami tayong legislation na hindi naman natutupad,” said Kapunan.
(You know, the problem with our legislators is that we keep on making laws that we do not review so we have many legislations that were not implemented)
Kapunan vowed to push for the rights of women, children, and even men if she is elected senator in 2016.