Villanueva on divorce bill: ‘Over my dead body’

MANILA, Philippines — “Divorce? Over my dead body,” Senator Joel Villanueva said on Monday.

Villanueva, son of Christian evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva, reiterated his strong opposition to the divorce bill, which has been revived in the Senate.

“I will definitely oppose it,” he said in a press briefing.

In opposing the measure, the senator noted that the Philippines is a Christian nation where marriage is considered sacred.

He also cited the preamble of the Constitution to justify his stand against divorce.

“Our preamble of the Constitution states that we, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of the Almighty God… And when you talk about imploring the aid of the Almighty God, let’s find out who are we talking about, whose God are we talking about? The God who says when we are joined together, let no man put asunder,” Villanueva said.

“But we’re also saying that God should not be placed in a box. That if our relationship is not working at magiging bayolente lang ang isa’t isa, maapektuhan at masisira lang ang pamilya, then dapat ‘yung annulment ay pumasok into the picture,” he said.

The senator though acknowledged the problems of annulment process in the country as it is only accessible to rich people. 

Villanueva then proposed that annulment should be made more accessible by making it more affordable and by making government lawyers available also for those who need it.

At least two divorce bills have been filed in the Senate since the 18th Congress opened last July 22. The measures in the upper chamber were initiated by Senators Pia Cayetano and Risa Hontiveros.

Despite this, Villanueva remains confident the measure would not get the support of the majority of senators.

Villanueva believes that like him, many of his colleagues are also against divorce like Senators Cynthia Villar and Manny Pacquiao. /je

READ: Cynthia Villar: It’s not yet time to pass divorce bill