(POLITIKO) Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada is bent on letting the divorce bill languish in the chamber despite a strong lobby for its passage.
The Senate’s second highest official said he’s staunchly opposed to legalizing divorce in the country, insisting it is not a priority at this time.
“Matagal nang naka-pending yan. Pwede namang tulugan. Uunahin namin ang priority bills. Hindi naman yan makakatulong sa kumakalam na tiyan. That is not the priority bill of the Senate,” Estrada said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Tuesday (June 4).
Estrada said he is confident the bill would face rough sailing in the Senate because of opposition from the more conservative senators like him.
“Talagang dadaan sa butas ng karayom yan. Simple lang – I am a devout Catholic. I adhere to the teachings of the Catholic Church,” Estrada said.
The senator said he would rather make the process of annulment easier for unhappy couples.
“Pwede namang mag-annulment. Kaya lang, mahal. Gawa na lang ng batas para mapadali ang annulment at mas mura at ma-expedite,” Estrada said.
The Senate version of divorce bill hurdled last year the Senate women and family relations committee that is chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros.
The senators who have opposed divorce are Estrada, Senate President Francis Escudero Juan Miguel Zubiri, majority leader Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva, Ronald Dela Rosa, and Cynthia Villar.
Meanwhile, the following senators signed the divorce bill committee report and are thus supportive or open to the proposal – Hontiveros, minority leader Koko Pimentel, Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Raffy Tulfo, Robin Padilla, and JV Ejercito.