Public could push for divorce in Congress if there is huge support for it

The Cabinet has not tackled divorce in its discussions but the people could push legislation on the issue if there is a clamor for it, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.

"Ang mga mamamayan ay may kapangyarihang ipaabot sa kanilang mga kinatawan sa Kongreso ang kanilang mga saloobin hinggil sa usapin ng divorce. Hindi pa tinatalakay sa Gabinete ang isyung ito," Secretary Coloma said on Monday.

Secretary Coloma was responding to a question regarding the results of a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which revealed that three out of five Filipinos, or 60 percent, want divorce to be legalized for “irreconcilably separated” couples.

The survey showed that 60 percent of 1,800 respondents agree that “married couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so that they can get legally married again”, while 29 percent disagreed and 11 percent were undecided on the issue.

The survey was conducted from November 27 to December 1 last year.

Some 16 percent of the respondents have live-in partners, 63 percent are married, and 21 percent are single.

The SWS survey also showed that more men and women favor the proposition, with 62 percent of male respondents (from 52 percent in March 2011) and 57 percent of female respondents (from 49 percent in March 2011) agreeing with it.

The number of those who agree with the legalization of divorce also rose in all areas, with 67 percent of adult respondents from Metro Manila, 62 percent from Luzon, 55 percent from Visayas, and 55 percent from Mindanao all throwing their support for divorce. (PCOO News Release)