JANICE de Belen briefly spoke up about the possibility of legalizing divorce in the Philippines — which continues to be the topic of heated debate — while expressing her call to “criminalize infidelity.”
On her X (formerly Twitter) page on Sunday, June 23, de Belen seemingly addressed those who aren’t in favor of divorce in a brief post without directly sharing her stand on the matter.
“Kung ayaw nila ng divorce (if they don’t want a divorce to happen), let’s criminalize infidelity,” she wrote while adding thinking emojis.
Netizens clarified to de Belen that infidelity is illegal in the Philippines while quoting her post, but many pointed out that it should be revised. Others also stressed that “adultery and concubinage are [more] favorable to men than women.”
Under Article 333, a married woman can be convicted of adultery after committing sexual intercourse with a man who is not her husband.
Meanwhile, Article 334 declares that a man can be penalized with concubinage if he is found guilty of cohabitating with a woman who’s not his wife, having a “conjugal” setup with a mistress, and committing sexual intercourse with a mistress in a “scandalous setting.”
De Belen wed John Estrada in 1992 which ended in annulment after 12 years. They have four children together, including actress Kaila Estrada, Inah, Moira, and Yuan. Estrada has been married to former beauty queen Priscilla Meirelles since 2011.
The actress also has one son with Aga Muhlach.
In a February 2024 interview, de Belen said she is not open to falling in love again and would rather focus on her career and family. (Hannah Mallorca © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
