Sen. Escudero ready to support proposed divorce bill

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis “Chiz “ Escudero, after his reported separation with wife, Christine, talked about marriage, for the first time, and his readiness to support the proposed divorce bill in the country.

While he has yet to wait for the bill to reach the Senate, Escudero said he was prepared to support it if the objective was to make divorce more accessible and affordable for everyone.

“It’s difficult and I refuse to make a position but if it (divorce) will be made more accessible and affordable, I cannot see any objection to that. But making it accessible and affordable is different from making the process easier,” he said in Filipino during a weekly forum in the Senate on Thursday.

Escudero explained that while changing the grounds for divorce would make the process easier, concentration should be given on how to make the process accessible and affordable.

“I would like to give focus on making the process more affordable and accessible because today, annulment and psychological incapacity seem to be available only to the rich who have money, and not to our poor countrymen,” he said.

“If the bill’s objective is to make it more accessible and affordable, I’m prepared to support. But if the bill’s objective is to make it easier, it’s a different matter and I am not yet ready to do it,” he further said.

Asked if he was an interested party in the divorce bill, Escudero said, “Premature and hypothetical at the very least to say.”

Escudero, who remained silent about his marriage life, tried but failed to avoid questions about other women, like popular TV host Kris Aquino, youngest sister of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who were romantically being linked with him.

He repeatedly answered “no” when asked about Kris.

“Isn’t there any other bigger issues that we can discuss and clarify…” Escudero said in jest.