Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros made a heartfelt plea to her colleagues on Wednesday, urging them to give the divorce bill a “fair fight.” As a primary advocate for the dissolution of marriage legislation in the Senate, Hontiveros responded to Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada’s remark that the bill is not a priority for the new Senate leadership.
“Many bills in the Senate pass even if they are not a priority or included in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). It is enough for me that Senate President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero said it will be a conscience vote,” Hontiveros stated during the Kapihan sa Senado forum.
Estrada recently indicated that the vote on the divorce bill would be closely contested between supporters and opponents. However, Hontiveros pointed out that Estrada’s head count of senators’ positions is still incomplete.
“All the divorce advocates are asking for is a fair fight, as it offers a second chance at love, marriage, and a whole family life again,” Hontiveros said. “And who are we to deny that?”
The Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality released a report on the proposed dissolution of marriage measure in September 2023.
A recent Social Weather Stations survey showed that half of Filipino adults nationwide support the legalization of divorce for irreconcilably separated couples.
In addition to the Divorce Bill, Hontiveros urged the new Senate leadership to advance the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) bill, which is pending second reading. Escudero noted that the Anti-Discrimination Bill might pass more easily if the current SOGIESC Bill remains unamended.
“If amendments are all that’s needed, let’s get to the period of amendments,” Hontiveros said, expressing her readiness to work with colleagues.
She also called on Majority Leader Francis Tolentino to bring the SOGIESC Bill to the plenary for further progress, highlighting that three-fourths of the Senate members have already signed the bill, demonstrating substantial unity.
On May 8, the Senate committee on social justice, welfare, and rural development, chaired by Senator Imee Marcos, held a hearing on comprehensive anti-discrimination bills proposed as alternatives to the SOGIESC Bill. The Hontiveros-led committee’s SOGIESC Bill had been referred to the Committee on Rules for further study following opposition from various religious groups and sectors.