Divorce unnecessary in Philippines; legal remedies exist —CBCP exec

by Dona Magsino/LBG, GMA News, 6 Feb 2020

Married couples in the Philippines do not need divorce law as legal remedies for separation is already available, according to an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Thursday.

“Maraming legal na pamamaraan para mapaghiwalay mo ‘yung mga mag-asawa na hindi na talaga magkasundo,” Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Permanent Committee on Public Affairs said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

“Mayroon tayong legal separation, mayroon tayong declaration of the nullity of marriage, mayroon tayong annulment… kulang pa ba? Bakit ka pa magdadagdag?” he added.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday began its deliberations on the measures seeking to introduce absolute divorce and dissolution of marriage in the Philippines.

Secillano pointed out that the Catholic church also helps couples to legally separate if all efforts to reconcile their differences fail.

He said that low-income spouses who want to separate may avail of free declaration of the nullity of marriage through the “pauper’s litigation” which may be inquired of at their local churches.

“Ang Simbahan mismo nagkaroon ng reporma dito. Ang Santo Papa natin ngayon si Pope Francis gumawa siya ng isang dokumento… Anong instruction niya dito? Na huwag nang patatagalin ang proseso ng tinatawag nating annulment,” Secillano said.

“Hindi dahil gusto nating maghiwalay ‘yung mga mag-asawa kundi dahil tinutulungan natin silang hindi matagalan ‘yung proseso para mabigyan din sila ng hustisya dahil baka isipin nila na hindi sila nakakakuha ng hustisya sa simbahan,” he added.

Further, the priest said that the country should not be pressured to have divorce law just because the measure is already available in all other countries except Vatican City.

He said that the House Committee on Population and Family Relations should instead introduce legislation that would help build up the union and interaction of married couples.

Secillano also believes there are enough laws in the country to protect women from abusive partners.