Hontiveros to critic: ‘I filed a Shark Conservation Bill. So now I’m a shark?’

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros had a snappy comeback for a netizen who criticized her for advocating a divorce law.

“Nag-file lang ng divorce bill, for ‘personal need’ na agad? Nag-file din ako ng Shark Conservation Bill; shark na ba ako?” Hontiveros said in a Twitter post.

[I filed a divorce bill. So automatically, it’s fro my ‘personal need’? I also filed a Shark Conservation Bill. So now I’m a shark?]

“We can fight for things that do not directly affect us. It’s called empathy,” she added.

She made the remark when a netizen tagged her Twitter account, saying: “Your [sic] just doing it for your personal need Ms @risahontiveros. Not all other experiences like yours. marriage will have less meaning now.”

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Women, led by Hontiveros, deliberated on the proposed divorce law.

Some resource persons became emotional as they recounted their painful experiences with their abusive partners.

After just one hearing, Hontiveros said the committee could now come up with a report on “dissolution of marriage.”

The senator believes that calling the bill a “dissolution of marriage,” instead of divorce, has a chance of passing the Senate.

READ: Senate panel ready to craft report on ‘dissolution of marriage’

/atm