HOUSE BILL 1558 - AN ACT AMENDING ARTICLES 36 AND 45 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED, TO EXPAND THE GROUNDS AND DEFINITIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY AND ANNULMENT, AND TO INSTITUTIONALIZE MECHANISMS FOR EXPEDITED PROCEEDINGS

Sa bawat tahanan ay may kuwento ng pagsasama-ng pagmamahalan, ng sakripisyo, ngunit sa kasamaang-palad, minsan ay kuwento rin ng pagdurusa. Marami sa ating mga kababayan ang natatali sa isang kasal na matagal nang walang saysay, puno ng pananakit, panloloko, at kawalan ng pag-asa. Ngunit sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang batas, ang kanilang tanging pag-asa-ang annulment o legal separation-ay tila isang mabagal, magastos, at masalimuot na laban na pahirap sa halip na ginhawa. Panahon na upang itama ito. The current legal framework governing marital relations in the Philippines, embodied in the Family Code of 1987, no longer adequately responds to the social, psychological, and legal complexities of the Filipino family in the 21st century. While crafted with noble intent, the law-over three decades later-has become a rigid and outdated mechanism, often causing more harm than healing to those trapped in broken marriages. One of the most glaring issues is the overly narrow and inaccessible grounds for nullity and annulment of marriage. Psychological incapacity, while recognized under Article 36, remains misunderstood and inconsistently applied. It has become a legal labyrinth that prolongs the agony of spouses and children alike. Supreme Court jurisprudence-particularly in Republic v. Molina, Ngo Te v. Yu-Te, and Tan-Andal v. Andal-has clarified that psychological incapacity is a legal construct, not a medical diagnosis, and may be proven through the totality of evidence. This bill codifies these interpretations and provides concrete examples to demystify the standard and prevent unjust denials of relief. Equally urgent is the need to expand the grounds for annulment. This bill introduces provisions to address evolving issues such as fraudulent marriages, gender transition, changes in sexual orientation that fundamentally alter the marital relationship, and patterns of psychological or economic abuse. These additions acknowledge lived realities that the current Code unjustly excludes. In this light, the continued existence of legal separation as a remedy has also become redundant and counterproductive. Its grounds overlap with those for annulment, yet it offers no definitive legal closure for the parties involved. It merely prolongs conflict and uncertainty, particularly with respect to property, custody, and support. By repealing Title II of the Family Code, this bill abolishes legal separation as a judicial remedy and paves the way for more decisive legal relief. ... *continue reading on the link provided here https://www.congress.gov.ph/house-members/view/?member=L031

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