QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Several senators have expressed their opposition to the absolute divorce bill that has already been approved in a House of Representatives panel.
According to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, several lawmakers do not believe that divorce should be allowed in the Philippines. He said that the sanctity of marriage should be recognized.
“In any case I don’t believe in drive-through divorce kasi sa America, marriage is like drive through.,” Gatchalian said.
“What we need is a clear process and reasonable process for our constituents to follow dahil ang proseso ngayon napakamahal para sa isang kababayan natin na magkahiwalay dapat dumaan pa sa butas ng karayom. I do believe na isa sa ground ng separation ay kung may pag-aabuso na ginagawa o violence na nangyayari,” he added.
Aside from Gatchalian, Senators Francis Escudero, Joel Villanueva, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson said that they opposed the measure and said that instead of expanding the grounds, the existing process of annulment should be simplified and be made more accessible to Filipinos.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives committee on population and family relations approved the proposed bill allowing married couples to divorce.