Ex-Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza warns vs approving divorce bill

Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — Former House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza warned senators against “joining the stampede created by the divorce bill,” saying that approving such measure would “violate the Philippine Constitution.”

In a statement, Atienza said lawmakers should follow the Constitution and not violate it.

“There are already laws which address some of the reasons the proponents use as basis for the divorce law such as violence against women and children. Abusive husbands and fathers can be jailed for violating existing laws,” Atienza said.

READ: Estrada’s survey shows tight tally on divorce bill at Senate

He then reprimanded Congressmen who approved the bill not to celebrate prematurely. Atienza claimed they are “only violating God’s law, but our Constitution as well.”

“If they insist on passing this law, we will take it all the way to the Supreme Court. We will also question the legality of the manner in which the bill was approved,” said Atienza.

“In our nine years as a lawmaker, this is the first time we have seen a measure approved on the floor, with the number of votes being changed after the session had been adjourned—all just to satisfy the required number of majority votes.  If this had happened during my time as a Congressman, I would have questioned it right there and then,” he added.

House of Representatives, before adjourning its second regular session on May 22, approved the contentious divorce bill.

Initially, the lower chamber’s records indicated that 126 lawmakers voted for it.

But a day after the measure was greenlighted, the House made clear that the number of members who voted for it is 131 and not 126.

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore conducted a survey which shower a tight fight for and against the controversial divorce bill in the upper chamber.