That's because heavily Catholic Philippines and the Vatican are the last two places on Earth where divorce is outlawed. Since 1999 lawmakers have regularly filed a bill to legalise divorce, only to see it languish in committee limbo -- until now. "Divorce is a woman's issue, especially for poor women who are being abused because it could provide them an out legally," Elizabeth Angsioco, national chairwoman of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, told AFP. I couldn't breathe," Alan, secretary-general of the Divorce Advocates of the Philippines, told AFP. "I will file for divorce to get freedom (to say) that this is who I am now," she said.

Source: Sunday Times March 15, 2018 05:37 UTC