AS expected, the House of Representatives, led by the pro-divorce Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and backstopped by leftist lawmakers, passed a bill allowing divorce in the Philippines on third and final reading on Monday. Duterte had been quiet, and rightfully so, on the divorce bill, so as not to unduly influence the vote in the House, of which he was once a member. Also, a wife will not be able to file charges against her husband once they go through divorce,” Roque told reporters. Gabriela and Lagman’s divorce bill will weaken and even destroy this cherished institution, as well as open it to abuse. Duterte clearly understands this, and so should Alvarez, despite his marital woes, and the rest of the House.

Source: Manila Times March 20, 2018 17:15 UTC