Cong. Joet speaks on divorce forum

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Bataan’s 2nd Congressional District Representative, Jose Enrique Garcia lll spoke on the status of House Bill 7303 or Absolute Divorce Act of 2018 during the forum, “Save the Family, No to Divorce” recently held at the St. Joseph Cathedral of Balanga City organized by the Diocesan members.
Cong. Garcia informed the participants that the Absolute Divorce Act of 2018 was approved by the House on third reading last March 19, 2018 and has been transmitted to the Senate last March 20, 2018 but no counterpart bill has been filed yet.
Garcia explained that in the Absolute Divorce Act of 2018 the legal grounds for Legal Separation under Article 55 of the Family Code of the Philippines are amended as follows: Physical violence or grossly abusive conduct directed against the petitioner or common child or child of the petitioner; Physical violence or moral pressure to compel the petitioner to change religion or political affiliation; Attempt of the respondent to corrupt or induce the petitioner, a common child or child of the petitioner to engage in prostitution, connivance in such corruption or inducement, final judgement sentencing respondent to imprisonment to more than 6 years, even if pardoned, drug addiction, homosexuality and others.
The solon assured the diocesan members,worried on the passage of the bill, that the Senators will not just act on it, and since it’s still at the committee level, they can lobby to each senator to submit a position paper expressing opposing views on the said act.
Cong. Garcia added that then Cong. Tet Garcia never allowed the passage of the bill, for he believed, foremost in the Constitution is the strengthening of the family.
Meanwhile on the part of the church, Monsignor Hernan Guanzon, in lieu of Bishop Ruperto Santos, suggested possible solutions that could somehow prevent divorce or separations such raising the age requirement of marriage, long preparation in marriage, family apostolate, training of experts in line with family problems, relationship and finances and inculcate the value of sacrifices and sufferings.