Divorce bill faces uncertainty in Senate

By Brian Jules Campued

The Senate is still divided on the absolute divorce bill, with six senators expressing their support on the bill’s passage so far, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.

In a phone interview, Estrada said he conducted a survey among his colleagues to know their respective stances regarding the divorce bill, which was already approved by the House of Representatives.

At least 11 senators expressed their respective positions regarding the divorce bill, according to Estrada.

Those who are in favor are Senators Risa Hontiveros, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, Robinhood Padilla, and Raffy Tulfo.

Meanwhile, Estrada, along with Senate President Francis Escudero, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, and Senators Joel Villanueva and Ronald Dela Rosa, are against the bill.

“I thought it’s a good idea to conduct a survey because the House passed it already on third reading, so I would just like to get their thoughts on it,” Estrada said, as quoted by Rise and Shine Pilipinas.

The divorce bill is not among the Senate’s priority bills, the senator added.

Escudero said if grounds for divorce are expanded, the Public Attorney’s Office must also be able to take on cases for indigents.

“Halimbawa, pinalawak ang grounds pero hindi naman bingyang-daan na hawakan ang pawang mga kasong tulad nito… so ang makikinabang na naman dito kung saka sakali ay yung mga mayayaman na kayang magbayad ng abogado,” the Senate President added.

Escudero previously said in a press briefing that he would not speak for or against the bill as it is a “personal vote” based on everyone’s beliefs and/or religion.

Hontiveros, who presided over the hearings on the bill in the Senate plenary, pointed out that the goal of divorce is to give people a chance to start from failed marriages.

“Pero syempre dapat i-sentro ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan lalo na ang mga kababaihan na gustong lumaya sa toxic at mapang-abusong relasyon,” she added.

On the other hand, Senators Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, and Bong Revilla personally confirmed to the People’s Television Network that they are still undecided.

Ejercito said that divorce is a “difficult issue” and he is still “in the process of discernment”.

“As a representative of the people and a Catholic, I am currently in the process of discernment. I intend to listen and participate actively in the deliberation in the Senate,” he added.

Other senators not included in Estrada’s survey who said that they are against the divorce bill are Sen. Cynthia Villar and former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

“Alam naman ng lahat na I have a very happy family life, so I’m not in favor of divorce,” Villar said in an interview aired over PTV News Tonight on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Zubiri said, for his part, that he “frown on any deals that would separate families”.

“Ayaw po nating maging katulad ng Las Vegas weddings na bigla na lang… ‘di ba? Mag-asawa tayo ngayon tapos kung ayaw na natin, maghihiwalay tayo sa susunod na buwan. Hindi dapat tama ‘yon,” he added.

Estrada’s survey also did not include the positions of Senators Koko Pimentel, Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, and Mark Villar. (with report from Daniel Manalastas/PTV)