CABANATUAN CITY – Nueva Ecija 3rd District Rep. Ria Vergara has expressed apprehension that “irreconcilable differences” as one of the grounds for divorce in House Bill No. 9349 (Absolute Divorce Bill) may be abused.
“I totally understand the plight of women who are in broken marriages but the bill as it is now will open the floodgates for others who only want a divorce for the flimsiest of reasons: hindi na ako in love, hindi na ako masaya, gusto ko na ng ibang asawa na mas mahal ko,” said Vergara, one of the 109 legislators who voted against the bill.
House secretary general Reginald Velasco reported that 131 voted in the affirmative while 20 abstained.
“Batid ko po ang pangangailangan sa pagbabago ng ating batas sa annulment at legal separation upang matulungan ang mga nakakaranas ng pang-aabuso sa kanilang asawa at mga relasyon na hindi na maisasaayos pa,” the lady solon, wife of Cabanatuan City Vice Mayor Jay Vergara, explained in her social media post.
“Ngunit isa po sa aking agam-agam ay ang IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES na isang grounds para sa panukalang divorce bill. ITO AY MAAARING MAABUSO,” she highlighted in her post.
Absolute divorce, she said, may destroy the sanctity of marriage that can be annulled without mutual consent.
“Mahalaga po na ating isaalang-alang ang mga maaaring pang-aabuso na magaganap at matiyak na ang mga batayan para sa divorce ay ginagamit nang makatarungan at naaangkop,” Vergara said.
