House Bill No. 7303: Divorce Bill refiled by Senator Hontiveros

The hope for the legality of divorce is resurrected by Senator Risa Hontiveros. The senator had refilled the bill that will legalize absolute divorce in the Philippines or the House Bill No. 7303. This action will once again result in a strong disagreement by the Catholic Church.

According to Senator Hontiveros, aside from Vatican City, the Philippines are the only country in the world where divorce is not legalized.





Based on Senator Hontiveros’ statement, the great number of separated Filipinos had been increasing every year and that this only proves the need of the country to provide a legal solution to such actions.

Hontiveros also said that according to records, due to the illegality of divorce in the Philippines, women become more vulnerable to abuse.

In the bill of Hontiveros, physical violence and grossly abusive acts are just some of the grounds for divorce.





In her bill, divorce may be filed when the married couple had legally separated by judicial decision for a minimum of 2 years or when they have been separated “in fact” for a minimum of 5 years and the chance of them getting back together is nil.

In the 17th Congress, Senator Hontiveros’ bill had failed at the committee level because of the stand of the country to the sacredness of a family.

Despite the rejections expressed upon the bill, Senator Hontiveros believes that the state has a duty to its citizen to make them feel protected. And this protection should extend to the people who are facing problems like wanting to break free from a broken marriage and wanting to begin another journey with someone in creating a happy and healthy family.





In March of 2018, the House of Representatives, as lead by Pantaleon Alvarez, had approved on the third and final reading of the bill.

President Rodrigo Duterte said that he will not support the bill because of the strong disagreement of his daughter, Sara Duterte, to the bill.