Lawmaker threatens to question divorce bill before SC

Although the House of Representatives has only started discussions on the bill seeking to introduce divorce in the Philippines, a lawmaker has already threatened to question the measure before the Supreme Court if ever it is enacted into law. Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, at the start of the deliberation of the House committee on revision of laws on House Bill 1799, said that the 1987 Constitution “categorically" states that marriage is “inviolable." “Ako na lang ho, sakaling pumasa ito, icha-challenge ko ito sa Supreme Court dahil ako po ay naniniwala sa sinumpaan ko na hanggang mamatay ako, hindi ako hihiwalay," he said during the hearing. Fariñas cited Article XV, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that, “Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State." He added that the introduction of divorce in the country will require a constitutional amendment. “Kung kailangan natin ng divorce, papalitan niyo muna ‘yung Constitution dahil kailangan ng constitutional amendment ‘yan. Dahil ang Constituion pinagbabawal nga niya na malabag at malapastangan [ang kasal]. If it ain’t [broken], don’t fix it," he said. The lawmaker likewise said that HB 1799, if enacted into law, will also violate marriage vows of Roman Catholics. “Parang lotto, hindi ka lang tumama riyan, tataya ka na lang ng ibang number... Ang kasal naman ay for better or for worse. Hindi naman pwedeng puro happy-happy lang," he said. Protect human rights too Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Emerenciana De Jesus, one of the authors of the divorce bill, said the government’s policy to protect and strengthen marriages should be balanced with its duty to guarantee respect for human rights and dignity of persons. “Nababahala ako dahil baka ma-trivialize itong legitimate issue. From the grounds alam natin na may mga nagaganap [na pang-aabuso]," she said during the hearing, referring to the cases of battered wives in the country. She said the divorce bill is needed since the government continues to fail in its role to provide good conditions for marriages, especially to the poor. “Kahit na sinasabi sa Konstitusyon na ang isang marriage ay dapat protected ng State, ang estado nga hindi makaprotekta ng maayos na marriage dahil sa kanyang kakulangan na rin. Ano ba ang dahilan ngayon ng failed marriages? Marami riyan economic ‘yung basis," she said. De Jesus said her proposed legislation only aims to “empower" poor Filipinos, especially women. “Yung salitang diborsiyo, parang may allergy talaga ang general public. Kaya nandito kami upang ipaalam kung ano talaga ang mga sangkap nito at kung ano ang hinahangad namin," she said. The panel began initial deliberations on the Philippine divorce bill days after European country Malta approved the introduction of divorce in the staunchly Catholic state via a referendum. — KBK, GMA News