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The Philippine state does not provide for divorce. Human rights activists want to change this.
Haidee de la Guerra wears a white T-shirt. It says in English “Divorce is a human right”. Sometimes she would like to wear the T-shirt to church, she says and laughs. But the priest certainly wouldn’t be happy about that.
Then the 40-year-old mother of four gets serious. De la Guerra has been married for eleven years. «Our marriage was not very happy. At the beginning, yes. But the problems increased from year to year.” Today she lives separately from her husband. She says he cheated on her again and again. «My husband had many wives. He took drugs and gambled for money. He didn’t have a steady job and was dependent on my family’s money.”
But Haidee cannot divorce her husband. Because there is no divorce in the Philippines. And she can’t enter into a new relationship, says Haidee. «This is a great sin. I am Catholic and respect the Ten Commandments. It clearly states that you are not allowed to have a relationship while you are still married.”
Coalition campaigns for the right to divorce
The Divorce Pilipinas Coalition (CPC) is fighting for the introduction of divorce law. So far, several attempts have failed, explains its Secretary General, Paul Roxas. Talking publicly about a failed marriage is taboo for most people; and criticism of the church as well.
Legend:
Paul Roxas of the Divorce Pilipinas Coalition lobbies for divorce law.
Martin Aldrovandi
Paul Roxas has to explain his activism even to friends and family members: “The usual reaction is: Why do you want them to institute divorce? Do you want to separate from your wife?”
And yet Rojas is cautiously optimistic. He and his coalition hope that a new draft law introducing divorce law will be passed by both chambers of parliament. In surveys, just over half of the population now supports the right to divorce.
Legend:
According to surveys, more than half of the population supports the right to divorce.
imago images/George Buid
Alma Momongan sees it completely differently. The 50-year-old is involved in the so-called charismatic movement within the Roman Catholic Church. She is proud that the Philippines is the only country other than the Vatican that does not allow divorce. Now is a good time for their country to be world-renowned, to stand strong in the defense of God’s wisdom.
Even prisoners who have been in prison for ten or more than 20 years will one day be released.
Alma Momongan has been leading prayer groups and advising couples in marital crises for over 20 years. «I witnessed how God was able to repair relationships through the power of prayer. When we don’t follow God’s will, tragedies happen. You know, the devil is lurking everywhere.”
The only way out costs money – and is not guaranteed
There is, at least theoretically, a way out of marriage. But the hurdles are high, the process is complicated and, above all, expensive. Haidee de la Guerra wanted her marriage annulled as if it had never happened. The procedure took four years and the legal fees amounted to several thousand francs. In the end, the court refused to annul the marriage.
Legend:
Haidee dela Guerra wants to get a divorce, but is not allowed.
Martin Aldrovandi
«I hoped that the marriage would be annulled. This was my last chance.” Her husband did not appear in court. The judge accused her of being biased. Haidee thinks this is unfair and compares it to prisoners. “Even prisoners who have been in prison for ten or more than 20 years will one day be released into freedom.” Married people like her, says Haidee de la Guerra, were not given a second chance. The sentence for her is life imprisonment.