House to tackle consolidated divorce bill

A substitute bill calling for the institutionalization of “absolute divorce” in the Philippines will be submitted for approval today before the House Committee on Population and Family Relations.

This was announced in a press conference Tuesday by Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman, who headed the technical working group (TWG) that gave its nod to the currently unnumbered substitute bill.

“Before noon today, the technical working group approved the consolidated substitute divorce bill and this will be presented for consideration of the mother committee, the House Committee on Population and Family Relations, tomorrow in the afternoon,” Lagman said.

Committee Chairperson Laguna 3rd District Rep. Sol Aragones created the TWG earlier this year specifically to facilitate the harmonization of House Bill (HB) Nos. 116, 1062, 2380, and 6027.

Lagman, a member of the opposition and an experienced legislator, vowed that the proposed statute would be the heaven-sent solution for individuals who want out of their unhappy or abusive marriage but don't want to go through the costly and arduous annulment route.

“We are proposing an inexpensive and affordable divorce process which would also observe a decent process in which case, litigants or petitioners will be given the opportunity to file their petitions without paying the penalties and cause of litigations,” Lagman said, noting that such provision will apply to indigents.

It was learned during the panel hearings that annulment fees could reach as much as R250,000, Lagman said. Non-indigents will have to pay much less than that as per the substitute bill.

The Bicolano proudly described the measure as a “pro-woman legislation.”

“Because in most cases it is the wife who is entitled to an absolute divorce in order to be liberated from an abusive situation and also for her to redeem her dignity and self-respect,” he noted.