By Nehmia Elyxa Relano 

PHOTO: Shutterstock/The Manila Times

Senator Robin Padilla has proposed a divorce bill that he claims is intended to protect families rather than destroy them as some couples cannot be reconciled.

Padilla said on a Facebook live on Sunday, "Di ito isang bagay na kami ay kontra na magkaroon ng forever. Ito pong panukala na ito nagbibigay ng proteksyon, unang-una sa mag-asawa, sa babae, lalaki at sa kanilang mga magiging anak."

The lawmaker said that his bill gives protection to people in broken marriages and gives them a second chance as some couples were driven to continue their relationships even if it is no longer working for the both of them.

"Sabi nga po nila, baka daw itong panukala na ito ang sisira doon sa kasal. Hindi po. Itong panukalang ito ang nagbibigay proteksyon doon sa kasal na masakit man pong sabihin ay sira na," he continued.

"Minsan may mga bagay po talaga na talagang nakasulat na hindi kayo para sa isa’t isa... Papaano naman ‘pagka dumating na talaga iyong para sa iyo at ikaw ay nakatali na? Edi ang lungkot, ‘di ba? Kaya dapat, sabi nga nila, everybody deserves a second chance," Padilla added. 

He also pointed out that the Philippines and Vatican City are the only two states that do not recognize divorce. 

Furthermore, the senator cited data from a 2017 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that 53% of Filipinos support divorce for couples with irreconcilable differences. 

Padilla’s bill also calls for the right to divorce if the marriage has been separated for two years and when the couple is already legally separated.

Aside from Padilla, Senator Risa Hontiveros also filed her version of the divorce bill. 

“Divorce is becoming no less than a human rights and a women's rights issue. Napakadami sa ating mga kababayan ang hindi makaalis sa mapangabusong at mapanakit na mga relasyon. Dumarami rin ang humihingi ng second chances sa ating lipunan. Everybody deserves that second chance," Hontiveros said. 


Edited by Audrei Jeremy Mendador