As the proposed bill on divorce is getting more support from lawmakers in both chambers, it’s just a matter of time before it will metamorphose into a law. Once President Rodrigo Duterte signs the measure, the divorce bill will become another landmark legislative decision that goes against the Catholic Church’s teachings.
We expect church leaders to fight it out against the bill. They are expected to wage a fierce battle against the measure, a fight that would be reminiscent of their aggressive campaign against the Reproductive Health Law.
We cannot blame the church and several organizations for exhausting all their resources in the drive against the divorce bill. For them, the measure is just another legislative piece that runs counter to Filipino values and religious principles.
However, since the measure is well on its way to dust off opposition in both chambers, its approval and signing into law signal the end of struggle for many whose broken marriage is beyond repair. We cannot deny the fact that legally getting out of an irreparable relationship has become the right of a husband or wife seeking to wake up from a nightmare.
Yes, Filipino couples with failed relationships have the option to end their marriage granting they pass certain criteria. However, the long period and the huge legal cost the annulment process entails make it impossible for many, especially those poor couples, to take such an opportunity.
The passage of the divorce bill is not an opportunity for a couple to just take separate ways once their relationship turns sour. It is in fact a safeguard that serves as reminder for husband and wife to be truthful and loyal to each other because once a marital faith is shattered, there are those legal avenues to resort to should one want to start life anew.
The Philippines is just one of two states that don’t have a divorce law. It is high time for it to grant couples with irreparable relationships the freedom to choose the path to end their unity so each could have the opportunity to move on.