DIVORCE BILL | Filipinos are divided on divorce law

DIVORCE BILL | Filipinos are divided on divorce law – pollster

December 5, 2023 , 06:02 PM

By Clarist Zablan

(December 5, 2023) – Filipinos were divided on Congress proposals to legalize divorce, with about half of Filipino adults saying they were not in favor of allowing couples to dissolve their marriage in the country, according to an opinion poll.

An OCTA Research survey published on Monday showed that 51% of Filipino adults were against passing a law to legalize divorce in the Philippines, as opposed to 41% who were in favor. Some 9% were undecided on the proposal.

The divorce measure had the highest support from Filipinos belonging to Class D, where 42% were in favor of its legislation.

In contrast, the highest opposition to divorce came from Class ABC, where as many as 70% were not in favor.

Ambivalence was highest among Filipinos from Class E, where 19% were undecided on the legislative proposal.

Among age groups, younger adult Filipinos were more likely to support the legalization of divorce, with 54% of Filipinos aged 18 to 24 being in favor of its passage.

For older Filipinos, only 8% of Filipinos aged 75 and above supported instituting divorce.

The survey was conducted nationwide from September 30 to October 4, with 1200 respondents aged 18 above interviewed for the study.

Proposals to institute absolute divorce in the Philippines have been pending in both chambers of Congress.

The Philippines does not recognize divorce for most Filipinos, except for the dissolution of marriage between Muslim couples and of marriages between a Filipino and a foreign national who have already divorced abroad.

It is one of the only two countries in the world – apart from the Vatican City – where divorce is not legalized.

The Philippines only allows church annulment and nullity of marriage, which advocacy groups have said are prohibitively costly and lengthy for poorer Filipino families.

Proponents of the divorce bill have stressed the need to allow more Filipino families to free themselves from failing or abusive marriages.

But the measure has met opposition from religious groups in the Christian-majority country.

(MM)

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