The House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 22, once again approves on third and final reading the measure that allows couples to terminate their marriage through absolute divorce.
Full story: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/house-approves-divorce-bill-may-2024/
Full story: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/house-approves-divorce-bill-may-2024/
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00:00 The House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 22, once again approves on third and final
00:06 reading the measure that allows couples to terminate their marriage through absolute
00:10 divorce.
00:11 Voting on House Bill 9349 is sharply divided with 131 affirmative votes, 109 against, and
00:18 20 abstain.
00:20 The Philippines remains the only country, along with the Vatican, that has yet to legalize
00:25 divorce.
00:26 Explaining his negative vote, later Rep. Richard Gomez says that laws must abide by the religious
00:31 customs of the majority.
00:33 Albay Rep. Edsel Lagman says, "While a majority of Filipinos are Roman Catholics, there is
00:38 no official religion recognized in the country's constitution."
00:42 In 2018, the House also approved an absolute divorce bill, the bill's Senate counterpart
00:47 languished at the committee level.
00:49 Lagman says he is optimistic their colleagues at the Senate will consider the divorce bill,
00:54 especially after the change in leadership.
00:56 (upbeat music)