A Senate committee in the Philippines has approved a bill that would legalize divorce in the country.
The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality has taken the initiative to safeguard the dignity of every individual while still recognizing the sanctity of the family unit.
The divorce bill mandates couples to file a joint petition to initiate the divorce process.
Integral to this petition is the inclusion of a detailed plan for parenthood which outlines the custody, support, and living arrangements for their children.
“The court shall approve the joint plan for parenthood together with the grant of a divorce decree if it is deemed sufficient to protect the rights and interests of the common children,” stated the panel.
The bill has stipulated various grounds upon which a divorce can be granted, including:
A continuous or broken period of five years of separation without a judicial decree.
Commission of rape by the respondent-spouse against the petitioner-spouse, either before or after marriage.
Grounds already applicable for legal separation under the Family Code, excluding repeated physical violence or grossly abusive conduct, lesbianism, and homosexuality, except in cases of marital infidelity.
Recognition of a final decree of absolute divorce obtained by a Filipino citizen in a foreign jurisdiction.
Irreconcilable marital differences or the irreparable breakdown of the marriage despite attempts at reconciliation.
A valid annulment or dissolution granted by a church or religious entity, or termination in line with the customs of an ICC or IP to which the spouses belong.
The panel emphasized that the State is obliged to uphold the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution, suggesting a divorce policy aligned with this duty.
