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'Manobo' Alvarez not off the hook under Family Code?

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Patrick Quintos, ABS-CBN News

<div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href=" https://www.facebook.com/ANCalerts/videos/10155207413718791/" data-width="auto"> </div><p>Can Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez have multiple marriages because he is allegedly a member of the Manobo tribe? </p><p>According to Atty. Soledad Mawis, dean of the Lyceum College of Law, Alvarez cannot invoke his tribal past if he was married under the Family Code. </p><p>&quot;If the Speaker was married under the Family Code and now he is a member of the Manobo tribe, with all due respect, it doesn&#x27;t give him the license to live a polygamous life,&quot; she said in an ANC interview. </p><p>&quot;It is because the first marriage contracted under the Family Code, must first be dissolved or terminated before he can marry someone else.&quot; </p><p>In an ANC interview, Speaker Alvarez admitted that he married Emelita Apostol before a judge but that his roots as a member of the Manobo tribe allowed him to engage in multiple marriages. </p><p>&quot;Nabinyagan ako as a Manobo. Nandiyan na ako bago pa lahat nang ito, years back,&quot; he said. </p><p>He also said he chose to marry Apostol before a judge &quot;because that was his option.&quot; </p><p>He also said he is willing to get married under tribal law. </p><p>Asked if tribal practice is higher than civil law, he said: &quot;It is between civil law and yung batas nang kultura. Yung kultura [ang higher].&quot; </p><p>Alvarez earlier confirmed that he is dating another woman despite the threat of disbarment. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/30/17/unfazed-by-threats-of-disbarment-alvarez-admits-having-gf">Unfazed by threats of disbarment, Alvarez admits having gf</a></li></ul><p>Emelita has said when she married Pantaleon, the lawmaker was still a Catholic and that she is unaware of the lawmaker’s conversion to the Manobo tribe.</p><p>“Actually when we got married, I know he’s a Catholic but when he converted to IP (Indigenous People) or Manobo, I don&#x27;t know. I respect him for that. It’s his faith. Hindi ako nakikialam pagdating sa religion,” she said, noting that she had a civil wedding ceremony with her husband.</p><p>She also said Alvarez &quot;abandoned&quot; her after he assumed the speakership.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/28/17/speakers-wife-breaks-silence-i-was-abandoned-after-2016-sona">Speaker’s wife breaks silence: I was &#x27;abandoned&#x27; after 2016 SONA</a></li></ul><div><strong>DIVORCE LAW </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Atty. Mawis said it is time to pass a divorce law in the Philippines as some people need to get out of a marriage because of abuses or differences.</p><p>&quot;There are certain people who should get out of a marriage,&quot; Mawis told ANC on Wednesday, adding that the dissolution of marriage bill could be a divorce law in disguise.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/ANCalerts/videos/10155207337408791/" data-width="auto"> </div><p>Alvarez&#x27;s House Bill 6027 is seeking to legalize the dissolution of marriages. Among the grounds mentioned in the law are &quot;severe and chronic unhappiness&quot; and &quot;irreconcilable differences.&quot;</p><p>Atty. Mawis said the only concern she has with the law is the lack of definition of &quot;severe and chronic unhappiness,&quot; which could be subjective when applied. </p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/ANCalerts/videos/10155207573323791/" data-width="auto"> </div><p>&quot;&#x27;Severe and chronic unhappiness,&#x27; do you need a witness to say that? It has to be based on expert opinion,&quot; she said.<br/> </p>

<p>Can Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez have multiple marriages because he is allegedly a member of the Manobo tribe? A law dean thinks otherwise. </p>

Can Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez have multiple marriages because he is allegedly a member of the Manobo tribe? A law dean thinks otherwise.

'Manobo' Alvarez not off the hook under Family Code?

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'Manobo' Alvarez not off the hook under Family Code?

Patrick Quintos,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 16, 2017 01:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Pantaleon Alvarez

House Bill 6027

dissolution of marriage

Divorce

Family

ANC

Soldead Mawis

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