Connect with us

International

Filipinos Seeks Freedom, Demand Right To Divorce

Published

on

The Philippines is the only place outside the Vatican where divorce is outlawed, as a Philippine mother-of-three, Stella Sibonga is desperate to end a marriage she never wanted. But divorce in the Catholic-majority country is illegal, and a court annulment takes years.

Pro-divorce advocates argue the ban makes it harder for couples to cut ties and remarry, and escape violent spouses.

People wanting to end their marriage can ask a court for an annulment or a declaration that the nuptials were invalid from the start, but the government can appeal against those decisions.

The legal process is slow and expensive — cases can cost as much as $10,000 or more in a country plagued by poverty — with no guarantee of success, and some people seeking a faster result fall for online scams.

“I don’t understand why it has to be this difficult,” said Sibonga, who has spent 11 years trying to get out of a marriage that her parents forced her into after she became pregnant.

Sibonga’s legal battle began in 2012, when she applied to a court to cancel her marriage on the basis of her husband’s alleged “psychological incapacity”, one of the grounds for terminating a matrimony.

After five years and $3,500 in legal fees , a judge finally agreed. The former domestic worker’s relief was, however, short-lived.

The Office of the Solicitor General, which as the government’s legal representative is tasked with protecting the institution of marriage, successfully appealed the decision in 2019.

Sibonga said she requested the Court of Appeals to reverse its ruling, but is still waiting for an answer.

“Why are we, the ones who experienced suffering, abandonment and abuse, being punished by the law?” said Sibonga, 45, who lives near Manila.

“All we want is to be free.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

International

World Leaders Cheers President Donald Trump

Russian President, congratulated Trump in a televised statement, expressing readiness to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict.

Published

on

By

▪︎ President Donald Trump, and his Vice President, JD Vance / Ohibaba.com UGC

World leaders in various countries have congratulated Donald Trump following his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States of America.

Trump who took the oath of office at a historic ceremony at the Capitol on Monday, have been receiving heart-warming cheers.

Ukrainian president

To celebrate the U.S. president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account, describing Trump’s swearing-in as “a day of hope for the resolution of many problems, including global challenges.”

The Ukrainian president expressed confidence that Trump’s policies would boost America’s leadership. “President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through the strength of policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister in a post on his website, also sent his congratulatory messages to America’s president as he resumed office for a non-consecutive second time.

The prime minister said he was happy for yet another opportunity to work with President Trump, adding that both countries are the largest trade partners, “with a relationship that creates millions of jobs, attracts billions in investment into the continent, and keeps our people safe.”

He noted that Canada is strengthening the mutually beneficial relationship it has with the US, bolstering cross-border trade through investment.

“We are strongest when we work together, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his administration, members of the United States Congress, and officials at the state and local levels to deliver prosperity for our people – while protecting and defending the interests of Canadians,” he said. “Canada and the US have the world’s most successful economic partnership. We have the chance to work together again – to create more jobs and prosperity for both our nations.”

India’s Prime Minister

On his part, Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, congratulated Trump in a statement on X. He said, “Congratulations, my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump, on your historic inauguration as the 47th President of the United States! I look forward to working closely together once again to benefit both our countries and to shape a better future for the world. Best wishes for a successful term ahead!”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel’s Prime Minister, in a video, mentioned some of President Trump’s achievements during his his term, saying that “the best days of our alliance are yet to come.”

“You withdrew from the dangerous Iran nuclear deal, you recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, you moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, and you recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Netanyahu added.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Italy’s Prime Minister shared a statement on X in Italian, which in English, reads as follows: “Best wishes to the President @realDonaldTrump for the beginning of his new mandate at the helm of the United States of America.”

“I am certain that the friendship between our nations and the values that unite us will continue to strengthen the collaboration between Italy and the USA, facing global challenges together and building a future of prosperity and security for our peoples.” Meloni reaffirmed that Italy will always be committed to consolidating the dialogue between the United States and Europe as an essential pillar for the stability and growth of both countries.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin

Russian President, congratulated Trump in a televised statement, expressing readiness to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict.

“As for the settlement of the situation itself, I want to emphasize that its goal should not be a brief truce but a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people,” he said.

UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer

UK’s prime minister, shared a video statement congratulating Trump on X.

He also wrote, “On behalf of the United Kingdom, I send my warmest congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his inauguration as the forty-seventh President of the United States.

The special relationship between the UK and the US will continue to flourish for years to come.”

Pakistan’s Prime Minister

Also, Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s Prime Minister wrote on X, “My warmest congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his assumption of office as the forty-seventh President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen the enduring Pakistan-U.S. partnership.”

“Over the years, our two great countries have worked together closely to pursue peace and prosperity in the region and beyond for our peoples & we shall continue to do so in the future. My best wishes to President Trump for a successful second term in office.”

Continue Reading

International

Trump Pardons 1,500 Political Prisoners

Trump said at a White House signing ceremony that he had granted “full pardons” to more than 1,500 defendants. “We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” he said

Published

on

By

US President Donald Trump granted pardons on Monday to more than 1,500 of his supporterswho stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

A total of 1,583 people were charged in connection with the assault on Congress by Trump supporters seeking to disrupt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory.

Trump, just hours after he took office, also ordered that all pending criminal cases against Capitol riot defendants be dropped.

Among those receiving a pardon was Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for directing a military-style assault on the Capitol.

Stewart Rhodes, the leader of another far-right group, the Oath Keepers, had his 18-year prison sentence commuted to time served.

Both Tarrio and Rhodes had been convicted of seditious conspiracy. Describing the rioters as “hostages,”

Trump said at a White House signing ceremony that he had granted “full pardons” to more than 1,500 defendants. “We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” he said.

Continue Reading

International

Trump to order US recognition of two genders

Published

on

An incoming White House official announced that the incoming US president, Donald Trump, would order the US government to recognise only two biological sexes.

This ccomes ahead of the presidential inauguration on Monday.

According to the official, it is the policy of the United States to recognise two sexes: male and female.

“What we’re doing today is defining that it is the policy of the United States to recognise two sexes: male and female,” the official stated.

Similarly, Trump said he would eliminate federal government diversity programmes as he takes office.

“The Department of the Treasury — this was a little while ago now — included diversity training that said all white people, regardless of how ‘woke’ they are, contribute to racism.

So, this type of funding, we’re going to end. These diversity programmes, we’re going to end them,” the official said.

Continue Reading

Trending