“That is contrary to what the law states and intends. Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman...ergo a man and a woman should enter marriage with the understanding that it is for life.” [Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales]

A militant party-list solon yesterday warned of more social problems if the proposal of a party-list group mandating a 10-year marriage validity is enacted into law.

Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan said more children will suffer as a consequence of the separation proposed by Margie Tajon, president of the women’s party-list group 1-Ako Babaeng Astig Aasenso.

“It is not a well-thought of proposal. It reduces a sacred institution into an ordinary business contract. There is no more commitment to make the relationship work because after 10 years, one can get out of one’s responsibilities. What happens to the children? It will become easy for rich, irresponsible parents to have serial marriages.  It is not even a pragmatic solution. It will create more social problems,” said Ilagan.

Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, a lawyer and chairman of the House committee on revision of laws, said the proposal is “unconstitutional” as it would weaken the foundation of the  Filipino family.

“That would be putting marriage in a strictly contractual level not contemplated by the organic law. More than a contract, marriage is also a social institution. Putting an expiry date on marriage will definitely weaken it and the foundation of the family,” said Aggabao.

Citizens Battle Against Corruption Rep.  Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales  agreed with Aggabao.

“That is contrary to what the law states and intends.. Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman...ergo a man and a woman should enter marriage with the understanding that it is for life.”

“If and when something went wrong along the way and there is sufficient ground to severe the marriage bond according to the grounds provided in the law, only then can the marriage be dissolved,” she said.

Tajon said marriage licenses should be treated like passports that could be renewed. She said failure to renew the license would automatically render the marriage null and void.

Tajon,  however, admitted that her group’s proposal would face vehement opposition from various groups, especially the Catholic Church, but they will still fight for the passage of the law in Congress for the benefit of abandoned and separated women who are forced to raise their family alone because they have no right and freedom to look for new partners.    

She said the expiration of the marriage license will allow couples to assess their relationship instead of filing a civil case for the nullification of the marriage. 


SOURCE:   People's Tonight by Ryan Ponce Pacpaco, January 10, 2010