While most Filipinos want to (finally) legalize divorce, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he does not support the Congressional bill that would make it a reality, partly because his daughter isn’t cool with it.
During a speech at the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Change of Command ceremony yesterday, Duterte told House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, a co-author of the marriage dissolution bill, that he cannot back the bill because his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is “not happy” with it.
Most leaders try to hide how much their family can influence their decision, but as we know, Duterte isn’t like most leaders.
“House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the exponent or the proponent of the divorce law. I am sorry but I cannot follow your… My daughter is not happy with that. Really. She… you and Sara should talk it over,” the president said in English and Filipino.
Beef between Duterte-Carpio and Alvarez, a staunch supporter of the president, was made public in February when the first daughter cursed at the house speaker on social media because he allegedly called her a part of the opposition for forming a separate regional political party.
However, Duterte has opposed legalizing divorce ever since his campaign for the presidency, so his decision to not back the bill is not solely based on his daughter’s opinion
Last month, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte was against the bill for the sake of the children.
“He said the children will suffer, the spouse will lose his or her right to file a case after the divorce,” Roque said in Filipino.
This, even though Duterte himself had his first marriage annulled — an expensive and time-consuming process few Filipinos can afford — and is now living with a common-law wife.
The Philippines, a deeply Catholic nation, is the only country apart from the Vatican (yes, technically a country) where divorce is illegal.
Last month, congress passed the dissolution of marriage bill on third and final reading; no other divorce bill has gone that far. The Senate still needs to approve a similar bill before it can be passed on to Duterte for enactment.
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