It's already 2024, yet divorce remains controversial in the Philippines. In fact, it's the only country that prohibits divorce aside from Vatican City.
The discussion of divorce in the Philippines follows an excruciating trail of interpolations and disagreements among Filipino lawmakers. Thankfully though, divorce might be seeing an opening in the country. This is after House Bill (HB) 9439 also called Absolute Divorce Act has been approved for final reading.
As the country falls into polarizing stances about divorce, several celebrities have already expressed their support for the divorce to be legalized in the Philippines. One of those celebrities is actress Claudine Barretto.
Why Claudine Barretto Is Pro-Divorce
In an Instagram post, Claudine conveyed her thoughts about annulment—which is the only legal way to declare separation from a partner in the Philippines. Annulment only guarantees that the marriage between two individuals never occurred. While divorce completely and legally separates two once-married individuals and changes back their civil status to "Single."
Claudine's take on the issue read, "Annulment is a very long, painful and very expensive *broken heart emoji*. Divorce gives you a second chance to right your wrongs. JUST MY OPINION." Her post came with some art cards about divorce too.
RELATED: What's The Difference Between Divorce, Annulment, Legal Separation, And Nullity Of Marriage?
Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago's annulment process
Claudine's statement might have come from her own experience as she is undergoing a tedious annulment process with her estranged husband Raymart Santiago. The two celebrities tied the knot in March 2006. Almost seven years after their marriage, they decided to call it quits.
Since 2013, Claudine and Raymart have been trying to end their marriage through annulment. A decade has passed and the legal battle is still ongoing in 2024.
While the annulment is still in the works, it was revealed that their case had an existing Gag Order issued, aka a type of court injunction to keep information private. This followed after Claudine divulged some details about their case in an interview with Luis Manzano, which has now been deleted.
In an official statement that Raymart sent to ABS-CBN News, he noted that parts of Claudine's interview violated the Gag Order issued over their pending annulment case.
The statement read, "We will not address, dignify, or respond to any statements made by Ms. Barretto regarding our client, for doing so is a breach of the Gag Order issued by the Honorable Court where the parties’ case for nullity of marriage is undergoing trial."
Moreover, it posed a strict reminder for Claudine of what should and shouldn't be said in public. "In light of the foregoing, we remind Ms. Barretto and all other media outlets that making, airing, and publishing defamatory statements about our client are violations of a court order," Raymart expressed in the sent statement.
