DIVORCE IN THE PHILIPPINES

by Philip M. Lustre Jr.

The 17th Congress will have to settle many legislative matters, when it opens its regular session by next month. One of them is the issue of divorce for married couples, who could not find a common ground to continue and consummate their marriage. 

There were proposed pieces of legislation on divorce in previous Congress, but these bills were quiet, when it comes to details, particularly after a couple gets a divorce.

Personally, I favor LIMITED DIVORCE.

Under this concept, a married person can only have one divorce and a single remarriage in his entire life.

Estranged couples, who have been living separately for the last five years could file for an automatic limited divorce.

This is under the presumption that a married person who is having a rocky marriage, is entitled to have a second life.

Let him start anew.

But, in contrast to more open societies like the United States, divorce should not be unlimited.

Divorcees should not be allowed to remarry at their pleasure.

Responsibility should be instilled among married people.

The concept of LIMITED DIVORCE could be a promising compromise point between the ultra-conservatives, who keep on rejecting divorce and the liberals, who keep on insisting to institute divorce in a country, which is notorious for being a soft state with a hard Church.

Let our lawmakers acknowledged the potential of this concept. 

Let them file bills espousing this concept.

Let us subject this concept of LIMITED DIVORCE in the marketplace of ideas ...