Sen. Risa Hontiveros is satisfied so long as the proposed divorce law in the Senate gets a "fair fight", something that advocates are pining for.
During the Kapihan sa Senado on Wednesday, June 5, she emphasized how this fair fight can lead to a second chance at love and new beginnings.
"At sino ba naman tayo para ipagkait yun? (Who are we to deny this to them?)" she said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said that there's a close fight for and against the proposal in the Senate and will have to "go through the eye of a needle".
While this proposed law is not a priority, Hontiveros remained optimistic, stating that there have been bills that were part of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) but were passed nonetheless.
She also stated that the survey commissioned by Estrada which showed that senators are divided on the issue was still incomplete.
"At yung survey na iyon ay hindi pa naman kompleto. Hindi pa na mamap lahat naming dalawang dosenang senador (That survey is still incomplete. The two dozen senators have not mapped it yet)," she said.
"Kaya, sapat na sa akin yung sinabi naman ni SP Chiz na magiging conscience vote ito. So, para sa akin, yun lang naman ang hinihingi, lalung-lalo na, ng mga divorce advocates, organizations; fair fight lang (What SP Chiz said that this will be conscience vote is enough for me. In my opinion, that's what's being asked, especially by divorce advocates, organizations; just a fair fight)," she added.
Before the adjournment of Congress’ second regular session, the House of Representatives approved the divorce bill with 126 of its members voting in favor of the measure.
At least 109 House lawmakers voted against the measure while 20 of them abstained during the voting.
Later on, the House leadership clarified that 131 of its members actually voted in favor of the divorce bill, and only 126 did not vote on the measure.