Alvarez says he can marry GF because he's a Manobo tribesman

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday expressed his intention to marry his girlfriend even though his marriage with his second wife has not yet been annulled.

Alvarez made the pronouncement as he clarified that he will not benefit personally from the measure he filed legalizing dissolution of marriages, given the "culture" of the tribe he belongs in.

In an ANC interview, Alvarez pointed out that he is allowed, as a member of the Manobo tribe in Mindanao, to have multiple marriages.

Alvarez, who is separated from his second wife Emelita, had earlier admitted that he is in a relationship with another woman.

Asked if he has intentions of marrying his girlfriend even if he is not yet annulled with Emelita, Alvarez said: "Pupwede kong gawin yun. And I'm willing to do it."

The rules of his tribe, Alvarez maintained, will allow him to marry his girlfriend even without the benefit of the bill he has filed.

"Hindi ko kailangan iyan because I belong to a tribe in Mindanao na walang problema kung mayroong multiple marriages, wala kaming problema doon," he said.

"Governed kami ng batas namin sa kultura. Pupuwede sa amin yun, allowed ng ating batas yun, IPRA law kasi iyan," he added.

Alvarez pointed out that the measure to allow dissolution of marriage has huge support coming from Filipinos, particularly those from abroad.

"Nagkaroon na ng committee hearings sa Hong Kong, sa Japan, sa Dubai, yung mga congressman natin. At ang daming umiiyak doon na gustong maaprubahan na itong panukalang batas na ito. Hindi ko pa binibilang yung nandito sa Pilipinas na nagtitiis, at naghihintay na maaprubahan ito," he said.

"In fact, doon sa aming website sa Congress, may mga inilalabas kaming mga accomplishment ng House, palagi, kailan ba ang dissolution of marriage? Please aprubahan niyo na, may demand doon sa ating mga kababayan," he added.

Aside from this bill, Alvarez has also filed a measure legalizing civil partnerships. —JST, GMA News