Divorce is still long shot in the Philippines

MOTHER-OF-THREE Stella Sibonga is desperate to end a marriage she never wanted. But divorce in the Catholic-majority country is illegal, and a court annulment takes years.

The Philippines is the only place outside the Vatican where divorce is outlawed, with the Catholic Church— which holds great influence on Philippine society—opposing the practice as against its teachings.

Those in favor of legalizing divorce say the ban makes it difficult to escape violent or otherwise abusive spouses, or even for couples to amicably cut ties.

People wanting to end their marriage can ask a court for an annulment or a declaration that the nuptials were invalid from the start, but the government can appeal against those decisions.

The legal process is slow and expensive—cases can cost as much as $10,000 (roughly P564,000 at current exchange rate) or more in a country plagued by poverty—with no guarantee of success, and some people seeking a faster result fall for online scams.

“I don’t understand why it has to be this difficult,” said Sibonga, who has spent 11 years trying to get out of a marriage that her parents forced her into after she became pregnant.

Sibonga’s legal battle began in 2012, when she applied to a court to cancel her marriage on the basis of her husband’s alleged “psychological incapacity,” one of the grounds for terminating a matrimony.

After five years and more than P170,000 in legal fees, a judge finally agreed. The former domestic worker’s relief was, however, short-lived.

The Office of the Solicitor General, which as the government’s legal representative is tasked with protecting the institution of marriage, successfully appealed the decision in 2019.

Sibonga said she requested the Court of Appeals to reverse its ruling, but is still waiting for an answer.

“Why are we, the ones who experienced suffering, abandonment and abuse, being punished by the law?” said Sibonga, 45, who lives near Manila.

“All we want is to be free.”

The most powerful opponent to divorce in the Philippines is the Catholic Church, which is also against abortion and contraceptives.

Around 78 percent of the country’s 110 million people are Catholic, according to official census data, and many politicians are wary of contradicting the Church on sensitive social issues.

But Congress has scored significant wins in recent years.

A controversial birth control law was passed in 2012, despite strong opposition from the Church. AFP

EXPRESSWAY MISHAP. Three people are reported killed in this four-vehicle smashup at the Mabalacat, Pampanga portion of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). The collisions developed after the driver of a southbound truck apparently lost control of the steering wheel and veered sharply to the opposite lanes, hitting another truck, a car, and a passenger bus. Screengrab from GMA-7 video

CA okays appointments of 86 soldiers, 7 diplomats

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE powerful Commission on Appointment (CA) on Wednesday gave its nod to the promotions of 86 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The congressional body confirmed the promotions of the nine generals and 77 colonels after the CA national defense committee recommended their ad interim appointments for plenary approval.

Among those promoted was former Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, now a CA-confirmed Reserve Philippine Air Force colonel.

While his hands were full in his past positions, Sen. Christopher Go said Tugade was committed to serve as an Air Force reservist.

JOB CHASE.

With schooling over, graduating students look ahead to gainful employment as they browse through help wanted lists at the Mega Job Fair at the Universidad de Manila, spearheaded by the Manila city government. Norman Cruz

“He trained and did his thesis. I salute you, sir. Thank you for your wholehearted service,” Go said.

Tugade served as Transportation Secretary under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Go, vice chairman of the CA national defense committee stressed that Tugade was the main proponent of the “Build, Build, Build” program, a cornerstone project of the Duterte administration.

The CA also confirmed the nominations and ad interim appointments of seven career officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chair of the CA foreign affairs committee, identified the diplomats as Henry Sicad Bensurto Jr. , chief of mission, Class I, as Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye, with concur-