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LEGALIZATION OF DIVORCE

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Roque, Jullianne Chloe S.
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13 views

LEGALIZATION OF DIVORCE

Uploaded by

Roque, Jullianne Chloe S.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Roque, Jullianne Chloe S.

3rd Year - AB Political Science

Divorce Saves Lives

The controversial intricacies of divorce have always been the substance of the matter
in the Philippines. As we were heavily influenced especially in religious manner during the
Spanish colonization, until present, catholicism takes a toll on the progression of our
jurisdiction. Regardless of the declaration of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines (Article
II, Section 6), the separation of Church and State shall be inviolable, religious organizations
are the main hindrance of legalizing divorce that could save thousands of lives. As per the
majority of religious groups, Filipinos are ruled as conservative that uphold and preserve old
customs and traditions. Considering making divorce legal is a sacrilege and a huge
opposition to a strong, politically influential conservative Catholic lobby.

This bigotry should end. Limiting the Filipinos to only access costly and difficult
annulment processes is not a symbol of successfully implying that the Philippines is a
family-centered country. We are the only country, other than the Vatican, where a married
couple cannot legally end their marriage, even in cases of infidelity or domestic abuse.
According to the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) conducted by the
Philippine Statistics Authority, 17.5% of Filipino women aged 15-49 have experienced any
form of physical, sexual, and emotional violence from their intimate partners. One in four
(26%) ever-married women aged 15-49 has ever experienced physical, sexual or emotional
violence by their husband or partner. One in five (20%) women has ever experienced
emotional violence, 14 percent has ever experienced physical violence, and 5 percent has
ever experienced sexual violence by their current or most recent husband or partner. Other
than that, citing the data from the Child Protection Network Foundation, Inc., there are 646
reported cases of violence against children and 216 cases of violence against women in the
Philippines for January 1 and February 4, 2024 alone.

Given the statistics presented above, toxic Filipino culture would still advise the victims to
“fix” and “discuss” family matters privately, despite the abuse and trauma that inhumane acts
had done to them. It is unjustifiable and a violation of human rights, yet our justice system is
neglecting such a crucial dilemma. On the contrary of the argument of religious bodies in the
Philippines, Rome - the center for religion, particularly the Catholic strain of Christianity, had
already legalized divorce since 1974; as well as Spain, who introduced catholicism to the
Filipinos, has passed the law that modifies the entire subject of marriage, its annulment, the
judicial separation of spouses and the dissolution of marriage. These just prove that divorce
is a progress that wouldn’t hurt your faith nor beliefs, but a protection for the victims of
abusive and dysfunctional families.

When you think about it, there are people out there with more chaotic situations.
Ones that are actually physically dangerous. And what keeps them shackled are pieces
of paper and a doctrine. Sure there will be people out there who could abuse the
legalization of divorce, but don’t let that be the defining argument to keep the option from
people who need it. Millions of Filipinos abuse legal medication, but we don’t use that as
an excuse to take that away from the people who actually need it. If we remove religious
baggage and open our minds, we will see that sometimes, in a lot of cases, divorce can save
families, gives them a chance to start over. Divorce saves lives, families, and sanities.
Divorce does not destroy the sanctity of marriage. Abuse does. Cheating does. The
decisions of people do.

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