Philippines Senate Considers Divorce Bill

In a significant legislative development, the Philippines' House of Representatives passed the Absolute Divorce Bill on May 22, marking a potential shift in the country's long-standing prohibition of divorce. The Philippines, alongside the Vatican, is one of the few places globally where divorce remains illegal, a reflection of its predominantly Catholic population, which stands at 80 percent. The bill now awaits further deliberation in the Senate, where its passage could lead to a historic change in family law. Historically, the Philippines has had a complex relationship with divorce. The Spanish Civil Code, which governed the nation during colonial rule, prohibited divorce, aligning with Catholic doctrine on marriage. After gaining independence in 1898, the country briefly adopted American legal principles that included divorce provisions. However, the influence of the Catholic Church reasserted itself, leading to a ban on divorce in 1950. While a presidential decree in 1977 allowed divorce for Muslims, other religious groups remained without such legal recourse. Currently, the annulment process in the Philippines is fraught with challenges, requiring proof of specific grounds such as psychological incapacity or fraud, but notably excluding physical abuse or infidelity. This complexity has fueled public support for the legalization of divorce, as many seek a more straightforward and equitable solution to marital dissolution. As the bill progresses, legal experts anticipate potential challenges regarding its constitutionality if it passes the Senate, indicating that the debate over divorce in the Philippines is far from over.