Bill Makes Physical, Sexual Violence Ground for Annulment in Philippines

From INTERAKSYON:

Pasig Representative Roman Romulo has filed a bill seeking to include physical and sexual violence among the grounds for annulling a marriage.

"Despite legislation aimed at eliminating violence against women and children, incidents of battery and sexual abuse seem to be increasing, many of these reportedly found inside the family home," said the explanatory note to House Bill 6297, which Romulo filed Tuesday.

He noted that the Family Code currently recognizes physical violence as a ground for legal separation, “nothing more than bed-and-board separation of the spouses entitling the spouses to live separately from one another."

Romulo, who is running for senator, noted that even Pope Francis has acknowledged that annulment may be "morally necessary" to protect “the weaker spouse or young children from the more serious wounds caused by intimidation and violence, humiliation and exploitation."

He added that victims of abusive marriages “should be given another opportunity to remarry in order to recover and actually experience for themselves the sanctity and inviolability of marriage and family life as contemplated not only by the State, but also our faith.”

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