Position Paper on SB Nos. 67, 288 & 356 & 504

Details: Category: Teachings & Articles; Published: Thursday, 26 September 2019 02:27; Hits: 2426

Position Paper on SB Nos. 67, 288 & 356 & 504

Augusto A. Kho, Resource Person; Intercessors for the Philippines

Senate Hearing on Divorce; September 17, 2019

M A N I F E S T O

We say “No” to the following bills:

Senate Bill No. 67 - Recognizing the Foreign Decree of Termination of Marriage
Senate Bill Nos. 288 and 356 - Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines
Senate Bill No. 504 - Recognizing the Civil Effects of Church Annulment Decree

Due to the following reasons:

A violation to the Filipino Family. Art. XV, Sec. 1 “The State recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation.” The State should not attack the Family by the virtue of legislation but rather as the Constitution mandated “shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development. “
It is a direct assault to Marriage. Executive Order 209, S. 1986 Art. 1, which states that “Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman.” On the contrary, the bills are a blatant violation Philippine Constitution Art. XV, Sec. 2. That says, “Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family.” Marriage is not a chemical reaction as S.B. No. 356 puts it as “Dissolution of Marriage” but rather it is an ”inviolable institution” The Constitution mandated that it “shall be protected by the State.”
It is a violation of the State’s mandate to protect the Filipino Family and Marriage and the Rule of Law. Law is not optional but rather mandatory. Personal, sad or traumatic experiences of married couples should not violate the Rule of Law aided by so called “bills.” Even legislation is subject to the Rule of Law. “No one is above the law. The law is harsh but it is the law.” The bills violate the Preamble to promote the”common good” or “ikakabuti ng lahat”.
It is a form of “historical revisionism.” Marriage and Family are Biblical terminologies before Philippine Government or any form of Human Government begun. Marriage and Family is not being instituted by the State but it is ordained by God. With this argument, the bills are encroaching invasion to the sanctity of family and marriage as God ordained and it is an indirect assault against God and His Holy Scriptures that can destroy a nation.
It is a direct violation to the separation of the state and the church. Art. II, Sec. 6, “The Separation of Church and State is inviolable.” Marriage and Family are not being legislated by the State but rather it is being legislated by God. “Whatever God has put together, no man (nor bill) should put asunder.” Otherwise, the Government is not true in adhering the law. Preamble of 1986 Philippine Constitution says, “We the sovereign Filipino people imploring the aid of Almighty God.” And where Is God there in these Senate Bills?

We believe that once these bills are approved as laws will not only destroy the family but it will tear down the entire nation as well.

Signed: Date: ______________

Name Address Signature Age

__________________________ _________________________ ________________ _______

/file/augustokho/manifesto/no-to-divorce-bill/ifp/pangasinan/24September2019