Resistance

The controversial divorce bill, tabled for decades, finally passed the House of Representatives. It will likely meet resistance from Catholic groups as deliberation on the measure continues in the Senate.

The House vote itself could be the subject of contestation. The plenary session was adjourned shortly after the vote was taken. The tally stood at 126 voting yes, 109 voting no and 20 legislators abstaining. After adjournment, however, the House secretariat altered the voting numbers, adding five more votes to the yes column.

How the five additional votes were found after adjournment needs serious explanation. In parliamentary procedure, no further voting could happen after the session closes. This is just one other item added to the controversial nature of this measure.

The Vatican and the Philippines are the only two remaining jurisdictions without a legal mechanism for divorce. Catholic groups will likely mount a strong campaign to block a divorce law. Several clergymen and lay groups such as the Couples for Christ have denounced the divorce bill, indicating this will be a factor shaping future elections.

It is likely the Senate will defer action on this measure until after the midterm elections. Since senators are elected nationally, they tend to avoid divisive issues.

Last week, former deputy speaker and three-term Buhay party-list congressman Lito Atienza lent his voice to the Catholic opposition to the measure. As legislator, he provided a strong conservative voice opposing divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage.

Consistent with his legislative record, Atienza warned the senators not to “join the stampede created by the divorce bill because that is artificial, it is not what Filipinos see as the solution to their marital problems.”

Passing the divorce bill, Atienza adds, “would violate the basic law of the land.” He specifically cites Article II, Section 12 where the state is commanded to safeguard the sanctity of family life and protect and strengthen the family.

In addition, he quotes Article XV Sections 1 and 2 that recognize the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation and that enshrines marriage as an inviolable social institution.

Atienza