Escudero Advocates for Affordable, Accessible Annulment Over Divorce
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero expressed his preference for strengthening the existing annulment laws in the Philippines rather than passing a bill for absolute divorce. In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Escudero emphasized the potential …
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero expressed his preference for strengthening the existing annulment laws in the Philippines rather than passing a bill for absolute divorce. In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Escudero emphasized the potential conflict between the church and the state that discussions on divorce could provoke.
"Personally, I would prefer the existing laws on annulment to be made affordable and accessible," Escudero stated.
Current Cost and Context of Annulment
The cost of annulment in the Philippines ranges from P180,000 to P600,000, depending on location and individual cases. Escudero argues that instead of adopting divorce, as the rest of the world has done, the Philippines should focus on making annulment more accessible. The Philippines and Vatican City remain the only countries without legal provisions for divorce.
Recent Legislative Developments
The House of Representatives recently approved the proposed measure on absolute divorce, with 131 lawmakers voting in favor, 109 against, and 20 abstaining. The bill's author, Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman, announced plans to campaign in the Senate for the counterpart measure.
Escudero promised a balanced discussion in the Senate. "It's good to weigh the matter because the votes are almost divided equally in the House. Maybe half of the senators will also say that we should not hear this, so we will balance that out," he said.
Escudero's Personal Experience and Proposal
Escudero, whose marriage to Christine Elizabeth Flores was annulled in 2012, is currently married to actress-model Heart Evangelista. He noted that the church now recognizes annulment through the Family Code of the Philippines, introduced by former President Corazon Aquino.
Escudero suggested expanding and making annulment more accessible for Filipinos. He proposed that the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) should start accepting annulment petitions to reduce costs for couples.
Provisions of the Absolute Divorce Act
The "Absolute Divorce Act," if signed into law, would allow couples to file for divorce on various grounds, including legal separation, annulment of marriage, and psychological incapacity. Additional grounds include physical violence, grossly abusive conduct, and homosexuality. The bill also acknowledges the dissolution of marriage by the proper matrimonial tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church or any other recognized religious sectors.
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