CONG. CHATTO
Cong. Edgar Chatto offered an explanation on voting against the passage of the Divorce Bill in Congress, even as the House of Representatives approved House Bill 9349 on second reading.
The first district solon said he stands by the sanctity of marriage and the primordial role it plays as the cornerstone of families and communities in the country.
“To weaken this foundation is to give a foothold for the erosion and welcome the demise of the basic unit of our society,” he stated, citing that issue and discussion on marriage and family is not an easy one.
Chatto acknowledged that the heart of the bill is giving an option to victims of domestic violence and recognizing that not all marriages end in happily ever after.
He also agreed that children must not suffer from the wrong decisions or the inevitable situation that parents sometimes find themselves in.
Chatto, however, pointed out that these concerns can be addressed through the review of existing laws on the matter and improving them through availability, accessibility and affordability.
If the problem is on the substantive dealing with the grounds for dissolution of marriage, then a review on the grounds available under the New Civil Code and the Family Code can be done to include additional valid grounds.
If the problem is on procedure such as the length of time, the litigious nature and the costs of suit then ways to expedite, make amiable and bring down the costs without sacrificing the essence of the proceedings can be introduced.
“We are not indifferent to the silent misery of many couples who suffer from dysfunctional relationships and toxic family lives. And necessarily, the children and the rest of the family suffers as well,” Chatto clarified.
He agreed that the present remedies to the parties, both religious through the church and legal through the civil courts, are inadequate and restrictive and that these, both on substantive and procedural aspects, are well placed.
But he also cautioned that the proposal, which incorporates irreconcilable differences as one of the grounds, is subject to abuse and encourages arbitrariness.
“In the many debates in Congress, we have seen that divorce is not the answer. Questions such as success of subsequent marriage, mental health of spouses and children, effect on children, parental control and custody remain unanswered,” he added.
In a survey conducted from September 30 to October 4 with 1,200 respondents, OCTA Research found that 40% favored passing a law that would legalize divorce, while just over half or 51% of Filipinos were against it. Around 9% were undecided.
The same survey showed that the highest support for divorce was in Mindanao, at 48%, closely followed by Metro Manila, at 46%. Respondents in the Visayas had the lowest support (for divorce) at 33%. Conversely, the Visayas had the strongest opposition against divorce at 59%. The lowest opposition was in Metro Manila, at 39%.
“We emphasize that marriage is not a simple legal contract. It is contract imbued with social and moral interest and protected by the Constitution itself. It is an extraordinary contract between a man and a woman made before God, embraced by faith and embedded with a very special obligation of raising up the next generation till death do us part,” Chatto concluded, saying that if the country is the only one left without the option of divorce, then it would be a feat of strength rather than a liability.
The bill was approved on second reading last Wednesday, May 15. In all congresses, this is the most advanced stage that the bill was able to reach.