The House of Representatives will act swiftly in passing two controversial social reform measures that could invite strong objections from the Catholic Church leadership.
House Deputy Speakers Gwendolyn Garcia (PDP-Laban, Cebu) and Sharon Garin (AAMBIS-OWA partylist) said House Bills 6027 providing for additional grounds for the dissolution of marriage and HB 6595 allowing civil partnership of persons in opposite- or same-sex relationship will be sent for plenary action soon.
“This is a Congress that is not afraid to take the bull by the horns,” Garcia said yesterday, apparently referring to the Catholic Church’s strong opposition to divorce and same-sex marriage.
Both authored by House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, HB 6027 is seen by critics as a “disguised divorce” while HB 6595 a variation of same-sex marriage.
Garcia, one of the authors of HB 6027, said Alvarez wanted the bill to pass by December before Congress goes on a Yuletide break.
Garcia said HB 6595 is expected to be tackled in the plenary by December while HB 6027 will be taken up immediately by the House Committee on Revision of Laws.
“It is about time to discuss this whether to pass or not. It is about time to discuss this concept because it is a humane thing to do,” said Garin.
She pointed out that the measures are “revolutionary ideas” that must pass acknowledged moral standards.
In pushing for the passage of HB 6027, authors said the bill “intends to ease the access of legal process to terminate a marriage.” (Ben R. Rosario)