Richard Gomez Says Divorce Should Not Be Legalized In The Philippines
RICHARD GOMEZ – Leyte Representative Richard Gomez revealed why he strongly disagree with the divorce bill.
Leyte Representative and actor Richard Gomez stated, “ “I voted no for the Divorce Bill because I believe in the sanctity of marriage,” during the second regular session of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 22, after the Absolute Divorce bill was approved on its final reading.
A total of 131 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill No. 9349, while 109 opposed it and 20 abstained, according to an update from House Secretary General Reginal Velasco on Thursday, May 23.
In his statement, Richard Gomez highlighted that the Philippines is predominantly a Catholic country and emphasized his belief that the laws should reflect the values of the majority of Filipinos.
The actor said, “Conversely, I believe that our laws must also provide for laws that abide by the religious customs of the majority of the Filipino people. Our civil code, in its present form, simply provides for those whose religious customs sanctify marriage.”
Richard Gomez mentioned that while existing laws allow for the annulment of marriage in cases of psychological incapacity, the actor-turned-politician acknowledged that they do not offer solutions for couples whose marriages are fundamentally flawed.
Moreover, Richard expressed concern that legalizing divorce might increase instances of infidelity as individuals may believe they can easily exit marriages for better prospects elsewhere. He argued that endorsing divorce would weaken the seriousness of marital commitment, potentially leading to impulsive decisions such as, “‘Anyways, there’s always a way out if this doesn’t work?'”
Referencing studies by the Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines Inc (ALFI), the Leyte Representative highlighted the detrimental effects of divorce, particularly the emotional and psychological toll on both parents and children.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of considering the future implications, noting that children of divorced parents may repeat similar patterns in their own families. For these reasons, he voted against the bill.
“Remember that the children of divorce will become the parents of tomorrow. They may also fail to prioritize the strength of their families and for that, I voted no,” Richard ended his statement.
Watch the video below: