Saying that many of his colleagues are reluctant to support the measure because of the term “divorce,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday made a guarantee that the bill would pass muster if it instead is called a “dissolution of marriage.”
He said it would be much easier if the senators will be talking about dissolution of marriage, which is an upgraded annulment law.
Unlike divorce, Sotto said dissolution of marriage would simply relax the existing annulment process by making it more efficient and affordable.
“They are open as long as the word divorce will not be used,” he said.
He said there’s more probability or possibility of support if it is not called divorce or "if we’re not talking of divorce but we’re talking of dissolution of marriage.”
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri backed Sotto, saying that an efficient annulment would be “more acceptable” to their colleagues.
“Ayoko lang mangyari na parang American-style divorce. Parang Las Vegas…” Zubiri said, noting how married couples could easily get divorce in the United States.
“Ayoko ng medyo dysfunctional ang dating ng concept of marriage,”
Since the 18th Congress opened on July 22, at least two divorce bills have already been filed by Senators Risa Hotiveros and Pia Cayetano.
Senator Grace Poe, who previously opposed the measure, has also expressed an inclination to support the proposal now.
Senator Joel Villanueva, however, vowed to strongly oppose the divorce bill, which is now being revived in the Senate.
Villanueva is the son of charismatic group Jesus Is Lord founder and leader Brother Eddie Villanueva.
“Divorce? over my dead body,” said Villanueva as he reiterated his hardline stance against the bill.
Villanueva said he will definitely object to it as he said that the Philippines is a Christian nation where marriage is considered sacred.
He also cited the preamble of the Constitution to justify his stand against divorce.
“Our preamble of the Constitution states that we, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of the Almighty God… And when you talk about imploring the aid of the Almighty God, let’s find out who are we talking about, whose God are we talking about? The God who says when we are joined together, let no man put asunder,” said Villanueva.
“But we’re also saying that God should not be placed in a box. That if our relationship is not working at magiging bayolente lang ang isa’t isa, maapektuhan at masisira lang ang pamilya, then dapat ‘yung annulment ay pumasok into the picture,” he explained.
The senator though acknowledged the problems of annulment process in the country as it is only accessible to rich people.
He proposed that annulment should be made more accessible by making it more affordable and by making government lawyers available also for those who need it.