From The Manila Times -
FORMER deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza urged the Senate to carefully deliberate on the absolute divorce bill.
"Do not join the stampede created by the divorce bill because that is artificial; it is not what Filipinos see as the solution to their marital problems. Approving it would violate the basic law of the land — The Constitution," Atienza, a former Manila mayor, said in a statement.
"We, as lawmakers, should follow the Constitution and not violate it. There are already laws that 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," he added.
Atienza said senators who want to pass the bill should consult the Constitution, adding he would question the legality of the measure before the Supreme Court.
"We will also question the legality of the manner in which the bill was approved. 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 said.
Atienza said there was no perfect marriage, but couples could work out their differences to preserve their bond and protect the welfare of their children.
House Bill 9349, or the absolute divorce bill, was approved on third and final reading on May 23, with 131 affirmative votes, 109 negative votes and 20 abstentions.
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