Philippine House Passes Absolute Divorce Bill, Advances Medical Cannabis Legislation

Manila – The House of Representatives of the Philippines approved the Absolute Divorce Bill on its third and final reading on Wednesday. The bill, known as House Bill 9349, received 131 affirmative votes against 109 negative, with 20 abstentions.

According to Philippines News Agency, the bill’s author, this marks a significant shift in societal views towards marriage, acknowledging the realities of those in “unhappy and irreparable marriages” and paving the way for legal divorce in the only country besides the Vatican where it remains illegal.

The proposed Absolute Divorce Act outlines specific grounds for divorce, including psychological incapacity, irreconcilable differences, and instances of domestic abuse, among others. It aims to provide a stringent yet fair process, requiring judicial scrutiny to prevent misuse. The bill also maintains a mandatory 60-day cooling-off period to facilitate reconciliation, except in cases involving violence.

In addition to the divorce legislation, the House also progressed on health-related legal reform by passing on second reading House Bill 10439, which seeks to legalize medical cannabis. Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers emphasized that the bill strictly regulates the use of cannabis for medical purposes under professional supervision and is not intended to pave the way for recreational use.

Both pieces of legislation reflect significant shifts in policy and societal norms, aiming to address complex personal and medical issues faced by many Filipinos today.