Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
Hotrsfi`B~I£L`ri6.     753 8
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative
JC M. ABALOS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Legal separation is governed by the Family Code of the Philippines, which allows the
parties to formalize their separation and resolve issues.  While the current provisions of the
Family Code have been effective in addressing many matters related to legal separation, there
is a need to amend the law to better protect victims of domestic violence and abuse.
According to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the current grounds for
legal separation have failed to recognize the current realities of the victims, most of whom are
subjectedtootherformsofviolencenotyetcoveredintheFamilyCodebutdefinedinRepublic
Act No.  9262, also known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of
2004.
Inthe2020reportofthePhilippineNationalPolice(PNP),violencewithintheconfines
of marriage  and inside the homes is evident.  There were  54,824 cases of violence against
womenandchildren(VAWC)fromJanuarytoNovember2020,86%werefemalevictims,and
51%ofthevictimsweremarried.Further,PCWreportedthatfromJanunytoSeptember2021,
there were 27,696 cases of VAWC. Of these cases,13,723 involved violence against women,
and 8,010 were committed against children. While there was a decrease in reported cases due
to the pandemic, the severity had increased, with more cases involving physical violence.
These  numbers  highlight the  importance  of ensuring that  legal  protections  for the
victims  of domestic  violence  and  abuse  are  comprehensive  and effective.  Therefore,  it is
appropriate to include all forms of violence as grounds for legal separation. It would also help


to ensure that pexpetrators of violence are held accountable for their actions and that victims
have legal recourse to seek redress and protection.
These amendments to the Article 55 of the Family Code of the Philippines are essential
to  promoting  the  safety,  security,  and  well-being  of all  Filipinos,  and  to  upholding  the
principles of justice and equality in our society, especially those of Filipino women.
Representative
4Ps Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSH 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City
NII`maTEHNTH coNGREss
First Regular Session
HodsL`:['iifra.    7538
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative
JC M. ABALOS
AN ACT TO INCLUDE ALL FORMs OF VIOLENCE DEFINlm IN REpuBLlc
ACT No. 9262 As GRouNDS FOR LEGAL SnpARATloN, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE ARTICLE 55 0F THE FAMILY CODE 0F THE PHILIPPINHS
Be  it  e_n_acted by  the  Senate  and  House  Of Represeutatives  Of the  Philippines  in Congress
assembled:
1       SHCTI0N  I.  Article  55  (1)  of the  Family  Code  of the  Philippines  is hereby  amended as
2       follows :
3                 "Art. 55. A petition for legal separation may be filed on any of the following grounds:
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9      SEC. 2. Repea/I.#g c/¢ase. -All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions thereof, which
10      are inconsistent with the provision of this Act, are hereby repealed,  amended, or modified
11        accordingly.
12       SEC. 3. EJorecr7.w.fy cJause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
13      the official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,