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The pastor said that since divorce is illegal, many couples put aside their differences and stay together. He said the bill will only encourage gold diggers to marry again and again in search of alimony and property.
But MP Lagman said the proposed law has put in place several safeguards to prevent those who would seek to abuse the legalisation of divorce.
These include very strict grounds on which couples can file for divorce Such as physical abuse, infidelity, or abandonment Also, there is no set deadline for how long newly divorced couples will have to wait before they can remarry.
“This is not a no-fault divorce. We do not endorse Las Vegas-style divorces. We do not endorse notarized divorces, where spouses just show up before a notary and say they want a divorce and it’s over. We have very strict rules in place to prevent abuse of the law,” he said.
“I just want to be free”
As the bill looks likely to become law, anti-divorce activists have stepped up their campaign.
The walls of some churches in the Philippines are covered with banners reading “No Divorce” and “What God has joined together, no one can separate,” and sermons are often given during worship services warning churchgoers that legalizing divorce threatens the sanctity of marriage and will incur God’s wrath.
Supporters of the bill have also felt the pressure, with some activists telling CNA they have received threats, criticism and condemnation on their social media pages.
Ms. Estoya, who handles the social media for the Philippine Divorce Alliance, said: “Whenever I post about divorce, there are many comments saying that divorce is a big sin and we will go to hell if we die, and we divorce just so we can get married again and again.”
“Sometimes we get into heated arguments. We ask them, ‘What about those who are abandoned and neglected? What about those who are abused? Do you want us to suffer in silence and die?'”
Pressure on these pro-divorce people to stop divorcing may also come from their own family and close friends.
“Even my Mother, A member of a Catholic organization would tell me “Stop being in divorce groups. (Legalizing divorce) is never going to happen. Leave them,” said Ms. Mary Bravo, a 54-year-old mother of three. Informal separation She told CNA that she and her husband divorced in 2009 due to irreconcilable differences.
“It’s frustrating. But I’m not going to stop. I have three daughters, and hopefully they won’t be in the situation I’m in. (By legalizing the divorce) they won’t be stuck. They’ll have a way out. That’s what I want. It’s for future generations. Not for myself.”
The Senate still needs to consider the bill before it can be passed into law, and several senators have said they will try to block it. Mr. Lagman said he will continue to lobby members of the Senate to get the Absolute Divorce Bill approved.
He also expects that once the bill passes the Senate and becomes law, some organizations will file a lawsuit with the Supreme Court to challenge its constitutionality.
“That is why we are in talks with the Supreme Court to interpret what the bill says,” the congressman said.
Lagman said if the bill is passed into law, the country’s judicial system would need a brief period of adjustment before it could begin hearing divorce cases.
“But it won’t take long because (divorce cases) are just like any other civil case,” he said.
Ms Jessica said she couldn’t wait until the day she could divorce her abusive husband.
“I shouldn’t have to be stuck in a marriage like this for the rest of my life. I just want justice for what happened to me,” she said. “I just want to be free.”
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