Lawmakers push bill to modernize marriage nullity laws

Three lawmakers in the House of Representatives have urged their colleagues to pass a measure aimed at modernizing and humanizing marriage nullity and legal separation laws.

Reps. Jude Acidre, Yedda Marie Romualdez, and Rufus Rodriguez filed House Bill (HB) 10970, known as the 'Declarations of Nullity of Marriage Reform Act,' which seeks to expand grounds for nullity and legal separation.

The bill aims to simplify court procedures and recognize church declarations of nullity with corresponding civil effects, addressing marriages entered into due to public policy violations or deceit.

Acidre highlighted that the proposed legislation bridges gaps in the Family Code by introducing additional causes like psychological incapacity and lack of due discretion for nullity.

On Thursday, Acidre urged the House of Representatives to start discussing the bill, emphasizing its aim to expand grounds for marriage separation without advocating for divorce.

The measure seeks to ensure that legal justifications reflect the realities faced by Filipino couples, addressing unions built on fraud, coercion, or deceit.

Mr. Acidre said the initiative aims to simplify annulment procedures and reduce time and cost involved with the process.