ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (PPAB)
 

A personal, internal struggle caused House Deputy Majority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo to abstain in the nominal vote for the House Bill (HB) No.9349 or the proposed Absolute Divorce Law. 

This was shared by Tulfo himself during a chance interview Tuesday, June 18, even as the measure remained a contentious topic in and out of Congress. 

"If you're a devout Catholic, you will say you're really against it. Kung ako tatanungin mo (If you ask me), when I was asked nung magbotohan, nag-abstain ako eh (I abstained when I was asked during voting). Kasi (It's because) I'm divided eh. I'm a Catholic, it's against me. It's my religion," he said. 

Asked if he believes that divorce is unconstitutional, the journalist-solon answered, "It depends." 

"Pero at the same time, because of public service, marami nagre-reklamo sa amin na mga asawa na ginugulpi, sinasaktan. Eh ano pang purpose? Bakit ka pa tatagal sa lalaking yun?" Tulfo said. 

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(But at the same time, because of public service, a lot of wives run to us to complain about their husbands who hurt them. So what's the purpose? Why stay with with that man?) 

"Nakatali ka, sinasaktan ka lang naman (You're tied to him, but then he hurts you). Pero (But) at the same time, I'm a Catholic so nag-abstain na lang ako (that's why I just abstain). I did not vote for yes," he said. 

Last May 22, HB No.9349 was declared approved on third and final reading following a nominal voting result of 126-109-20 (yes-no-abstain).  

But the next day, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco announced that the "yes" votes tally was actually 131, while the negative votes and abstentions--129 in total--remained the same.  

There are those in the House who argue that the initial 126 affirmative votes didn't constitute a majority, therefore the bill's "passage" doesn't hold water.