Against divorce, Pacquiao, Robredo explain how they’ll help those in bad marriages

Presidential candidates Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Manny Pacquiao remain opposed to the passage of a divorce law and offered other ways to help those in abusive marriages.

During the CNN Philippines' The Filipino Votes Presidential Debate, Robredo argued that women should be provided opportunities to earn so they are empowered to seek legal recourse when they fall victim to bad marriages.

Robredo said legal options in ending abusive marriages are inaccessible to poor people because Article 36 of the Family Code requires psychological examination to avail of annulment of marriage and declaration of the nullity of marriage, a legal hurdle that has been addressed by the recent Supreme Court ruling.

"Noong ako po ay nag abogado sa Saligan, marami po akong naging kliyente na biktima ng domestic abuse, harassment. Meron tayong mga batas na annulment of marriage, declaring nullity of marriage, at agree ako na while andiyan ito, hindi accessible sa mahihirap. Pero may bago pong Supreme Court decision na mababago na po ito para maging accessible [ang annulment at declaration of nullity of marriage]," Robredo, a lawyer, said.

She was referring to the Tan-Andal v. Andal, G.R. No. 196359 which states that "psychological incapacity is not a medical but a legal concept" and that such psychological incapacity  "need not be a mental or personality disorder or a permanent and incurable condition."

Further, the ruling states that  "the testimony of psychologist or psychiatrist is not mandatory in all cases." Instead, the High Court ruled that "the totality of the evidence must show clear and convincing evidence to cause the declaration of nullity of marriage."

"I was also a member of Bantay Pamilya na tumutulong sa mga naabuso. Bago pa naipasa ang Republic Act 9262 or Violence against Women and Children Act, nila-lobby ko na po na matulungan ang kababaihan sa pamamagitan ng economic empowerment, para hindi sila naaabuso," Robredo added.

Pacquiao, for his part, underscored that marriage is a commitment made before God and as such, individuals should be thoroughly educated about married life before tying the knot.

"Kailangan nating pahalagahan. Hindi basta-basta na nagkakilala lang, nag-asawa na... alamin nang mabuti at kailangan ding ituro ang pag-aasawa, i-educate sila bago sila mag-asawa. Dahil hindi biro na mag-aasawa ka tapos magwi-withdraw ka lang. Alam niyo ang pag-aasawa, sumumpa ka sa Panginoon. Para bang 'Lord, umalis ka muna sa buhay ko, maghiwalay na tayo," he said.

"Kasi naroon ka sa harap ng Panginoon, susumpa ka, through thin and thick, hirap at ginhawa, magkasama kayo, anumang mangyari, kaisa-isa kayo. Ang pag-aasawa kasi it's a symbol of God's love. Bago tayo pumasok sa pag-aasawa, pag-isipan nating mabuti para hindi magresulta sa hiwalayan o divorce. Kaya against po ako sa divorce talaga," he added. 

Other presidential candidates present at the debate, namely, Ernesto Abella, Leody de Guzman, Norberto Gonzales, Panfilo Lacson, Faisal Mangondato, Isko Moreno, and Jose Montemayor Jr., voted in favor of introducing divorce. — RSJ/VBL, GMA News