House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi--Simply put, it was a "conscience vote". 

That's how House Speaker Martin Romualdez described on Thursday, May 23 the plenary voting on the absolute divorce bill, which had resulted in the third reading passage of the contentious measure the previous day. 

"It was close but itwas a conscience vote," Romualdez, smiling, told reporters here during a chance interview. 

During Wednesday's plenary session, it was announced that 126 House members voted "yes" to passing House Bill (HB) No.9349 on third and final reading. 

This number was only 17 more that those who entered "no" vote. On top of this, there were 20 abstentions. 

Curiously, the principal author of HB No.9349, Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman, gave a special shout-out to the Speaker shortly after the bill's approval was announced. 

"Let me first thank the leadeeship of the House umder the atewardshp of  Speaker Martin Romualdez for allowing the members to cast a comscience vote," he said. 

"The collective conscience of the House through a majority vote has spoken loud and clear: enact the absolute divorce law now," added Lagman, an independent minority solon. 

READ THIS: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/23/di-marunong-magbilang-lagman-defends-divorce-bill-passage-from-sotto-s-comments

Romualdez is the president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, which has at least 100 members in the House. 

It was also learned Thursday that the proposed Act reinstituting absolute divorce garnered more affirmative votes than initially thought. 

According to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, the actual tally for yes votes was 131. He said there were still 109 no votes and 20 abstentions. 

The original tally of 126-109-20 remains official for now, since the House can only move to correct its records during plenary. Congress adjourned sine die after Wednesday's session.