I am documenting the steps of finishing the annulment process up to annotation of the Court decree of nullity in the marriage contract records at the Civil Registry and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Now I can say from experience that the process of declaration of nullity of marriages that are void from the start works, and works fast. As to valid marriages where husbands batter their wives and children, we have enough laws protecting women and their children from abusive husbands. Article XV of the Constitution provides that Marriage, an inviolable social institution is the foundation of the family which the State must protect. Does divorce law protect marriage? In passing and approving the divorce law, is the State complying with its Constitutional duty to protect marriage and the family? Let us not destroy the last defence of the family by introducing divorce in our country. While there is freedom of choice, and parties can choose whether to avail of divorce or not, such freedom ends where the rights of children begin. The right of children to be raised in a family is a Constitutional right. Between the right of couples to dissolve their marriage and the right of children to be raised in a family, I defend the right of children. After all they are the innocent party, not the couple who rush to marriage goaded by instincts and emotions devoid of reflection, meditation and preparation. The State should instead focus on helping parties prepare for marriage and on instituting safety nets so that only those who are prepared will enter into such union.
21 сен 2024
