House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The anti-divorce members of the House of Representatives were outraged and disappointed with the passage of the controversial measure during plenary session Wednesday, May 22.
 

House Bill (HB) No. 9349, or “an Act reinstituting absolute divorce as an alternative mode for the dissolution of marriage," was approved on third and final reading after receiving 126 affirmative votes.

A significant number of the House members--109--voted in the negative, while another 20 abstained.

One of them, Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., says that the bill’s passage makes it appear that the government is turning into a “liberal and secular institution like the Western countries today”.

“Much as I understand the plight of some of our women who are victims of irresponsible and cruel men, I cannot in conscience and according to my faith support for the divorce bill,” the pastor-lawmaker said in an impassioned speech.

“Malaki po itong kalokohan ‘pag ‘yung mga tinatawag nating iresponsableng mga kalalakihan o kababaihan ay gagawing kasangkapan itong divorce bill na ito upang paghiwalayin ang mga mag-asawa,” said Abante.

(It's a big joke when those we call irresponsible men or women will use this divorce bill as a tool to separate married couples.)

“One day, we will all regret what this Congress has approved right now,” he added. “One day, we shall regret what this plenary and 19th Congress has approved right now.”

Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre says the bill reduces marriage as an institution, suggesting that it will “no longer be lifelong, permanent, or stable”.

“Denying marriage the dignity that it is due and dismantling the institution which is regarded as a foundation of this nation is simply too much for a price to pay,” said Acidre.

Leyte 4th district Rep. Richard Gomez, a deputy majority leader, said that as a predominantly Catholic nation, the Philippines must have laws that serve the faith of the majority.

“I believe that our laws must also provide for laws that abide by the religious customs of the majority of the Filipino people,” the actor-turned-congressman noted.

House Minority Leader and 4PS Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan emphasized that the absolute divorce bill will “destroy” the notion of a family itself.

“When arguments turn into fights, when there is hatred and no more respect between man and wife, the law has more reason to keep the marriage bonds together,” Libanan said.