Bato Dela Rosa: It’s fair to give divorce bill a second look
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday said that it was “fair” to give the divorce bill a “second look,” even as he admitted he is still “50-50” on the measure.
As a devout Catholic, Dela Rosa said he is torn on the issue of divorce since the Church is against it.
However, in his stint as former chief of police, the senator said he had witnessed many cases of domestic abuse.
“Ako sa ngayon, 50-50 pa ako niyan, ‘no. Hindi ko masabi na pabor ako or hindi ako pabor. Nasa gitna ako, dahil nga ako, being a devout Catholic, ayaw ko talaga sana na magkakaroon ng divorce,” Dela Rosa told ANC’s “Headstart” when asked whether or not he was in favor of divorce.
(For now, I’m 50-50 on that issue. I cannot yet say if I am in favor or not. I am in the middle. As a devout Catholic, I don’t want a divorce.)
READ: Lacson, Dela Rosa: No to ‘unli’ divorce for PH couples
“But, then again, sa aking pagiging pulis, marami nang dumaang kaso [at] complaints about ‘yong [sa] mga pang-aabuso. Meron din ako na-encounter na kaso na battered husband. So, siguro, it’s fair for us to give a second look ‘yong [sa] divorce [bill] na ‘yan,” he added.
(But in my stint as a former police officer, I have seen cases and complaints against domestic abuse. I’ve also encountered a case of a battered husband. So, maybe, it’s fair for us to give the divorce bill a second look.)
For now, Dela Rosa said he would listen to deliberations and debates on the divorce issue.
READ: Lacson, Dela Rosa likely to support ‘once in a lifetime’ divorce
One of the drawbacks for him, Dela Rosa said, is the “act of separation” on the couples who were “sacredly” married before the Church, saying ultimately it is the children who will suffer.
He, however, acknowledged that children also suffer if their parents stay together but cannot get along.
“Sa akin, the act itself na paghiwalayin ‘yong sagradong kasal, kinasal kayo sa simbahan then maghihiwalay. Kinasal kayo sa simbahan [and] then maghihiwalay [kayo]. Alam mo, nakikita ko ‘yong mga bata nagsa-suffer ‘pag gano’n,” Dela Rosa said.
(For me, it is the act of separating a sacred marriage. You were married in the Church, and then you will be divorced. You know, I see children suffering if it’s like that.)
“Pero, ‘yon nga, the more na magsa-suffer ‘yong mga bata, ang argumento nila [ay] kung away nang away ‘yong parents, ‘di ba? So, kailangan maghiwalay na, parang gano’n. [Pero] na sa gitna ako [and] hindi ako makapag-decide talaga,” he added.
(But according to their arguments, the children will suffer more if their parents continue to fight, right? So, they need to separate, it seems to be like that. But, I’m still in the middle, and I really can’t decide.)
Recently, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Robin Padilla, and Raffy Tulfo proposed their own provisions of divorce bill in the 19th Congress. — Iliana Padigos, INQUIRER.net trainee
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