Divorce won’t be easy under proposed bill, says Raffy Tulfo

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday assured critics that divorce under his proposed measure won't be as easy as the procedures in Las Vegas as it will require documents and evidence to show that a spouse had been physically, mentally and emotionally abused.

"Kung iniisip ng iba, aha, magiging katulad ng Vegas--magpa-file ako ng divorce bukas, sa makalawa approved na. Hindi. Sorry mali ang pagkakaintindi ninyo. Ang sa akin dadaan pa rin kayo sa butas ng karayom," Tulfo said in an interview shared with reporters.

(If they think it would be like in Vegas where once you file for divorce, you'll get it days later, it's not. Sorry, you are wrong. You will still pass through the eye of the needle.)

"Dito sa divorce bill, I will make it hard. In fact, very hard na para sa isang tao na kung akala niya e napakadali 'to, then nagkakamali siya. I will make it hard. I will not make it easy for anybody to get a divorce pag naipasa itong bill na ito," he added.

(In my divorce bill, I will make it hard. In fact, it will be hard that if one thinks it would easy, it is not. I will make it hard. I will not make it easy for anybody to get a divorce it this bill gets passed.) 

Under his bill, Tulfo said physical abuse is considered a ground for divorce but petitioners must provide pieces of evidence such as blotter reports and medical records to show that there are violations of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act and RA 7610 or the Special Protection Against Child Abuse and Exploitation, Abandonment.

Also included in the grounds for divorce are cases of alcoholism, drug addiction, and addiction to gambling.

Under the current laws in the country, Tulfo said annulment can only be granted if it is proven that one of the spouses is mentally or psychologically incapacitated at the time of their marriage.

But he asserted that psychological incapacity and abuse could happen even after the two individuals are married to each other.

Apart from this, Tulfo stressed that annulment would require financial resources as there will be attorney's fees and other charges throughout the process.

Being a devout Catholic and growing up in a very religious family, Tulfo said he was against divorce at first but he later on realized the need for such law when he received numerous complaints about abusive spouses to the extent that it "exposes" children to abusive marriages.

On Sunday, Tulfo issued a statement saying he is willing to have a dialogue with the Catholic Church to get their backing for this proposed measure.

Although he hasn't reached out yet to other lawmakers, Tulfo said he will work with his fellow pro-divorce senators to convince their colleagues to pass this legislation in the 19th Congress.

"Lahat ng pro-divorce na senador, magsama-sama kami, magsanib pwersa kami at kausapin ang mga kapwa namin senador na this is what's at stake. Ito 'yung talagang problema na dapat maaksyunan na. It's about time tapos in my case magpapakita ako ng ebidensya, maghahakot ako," he said.

(I will ask other pro-divorce senators to come together and convince our colleagues about what is at stake here. This is the problem that needs immediate action. In my case, I will show pieces of evidence. I will bring some victims of broken marriages.)

The neophyte senator is hoping that his fellow senators would be convinced to support the bill after he presents the complaints that he had gathered about abusive relationships.

Tulfo has yet to provide a copy of his divorce bill to the media.

Apart from Tulfo, Padilla and Hontiveros have also filed bills seeking to legalize divorce in the country. — RSJ, GMA News