Polygamy | The Adobo Chronicles

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles ) – Tough-talking, renegade Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, is slowly but surely defining his platform as he officially launched his campaign to become the next president of the Philippines.

Duterte is known for his iron-fist and extra-judicial style of management as mayor of one of the largest cities in the country. In the past, he has said he will abolish congress if elected. Oftentimes, he would threaten to execute criminals himself. Once, he forced a man who violated the no-smoking ban to swallow his cigarette butt.

Today, Duterte promised that if he becomes president, he will legalize polygamy, a practice that is not allowed under Philippine laws as well as the laws of the Roman Catholic Church.

Duterte announced this latest platform after admitting he not only has two wives, but two girlfriends as well. The men in the audience cheered him on, but Catholic netizens and women’s rights advocates took to social media to condemn the mayor’s statements.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – If it weren’t for the statute of limitations and American comedian Bill Cosby would be charged for alleged multiple rapes he committed, his only way out would be in the Philippines. By marrying his accusers.

Republic Act 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997), absolves the rapist from criminal liability on the condition that the offender marries the victim.

A provision in the law states:

“The subsequent valid marriage between the offended party shall extinguish the criminal action or the penalty imposed. In case it is the legal husband who is the offender, the subsequent forgiveness by the wife as the offended party shall extinguish the criminal action or the penalty: Provided, that the crime shall not be extinguished or the penalty shall not be abated if the marriage is void ab initio.”

So, Cosby would be free of rape charges by moving to the Philippines.

But not so fast.

Cosby cannot marry all his accusers. Polygamy is not legal in the Philippines. In fact, it is one of the grounds for the exclusion of foreigners in the coutry’s immigration law.

Another big hurdle? Divorce is not legal in the Philippines either. The country is the only one remaining in the world, besides The Vatican, where divorce is not allowed.

So, if charged, Cosby will have to find another way out. .