By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Just like the crucial “last two minutes” in basketball, the controversial divorce bill was passed on third and final reading by the House of Representatives on Wednesday (22 May 2024), its last day of session, before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die (indefinitely).
House Bill No. 9349, or the Absolute Divorce Act, was approved during the plenary with 126 lawmakers voting in the affirmative, 109 in the negative, and 20 abstentions.
“Slim or not, it’s still a victory,” a grinning Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman replied when asked to comment that the negative votes were able to muster 109 as against 126 who voted in favor of the divorce bill.
Lagman and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin expressed hope that the Senate under the new leadership of Senate President Chiz Escudero will also approve the divorce bill.
Escudero’s first marriage was annulled and has remarried with actress-model Heart Evangelista.
“The ball is now on the Senate,” Lagman quipped.
The current Senate version of the divorce bill, Senate Bill No. 2443 was filed by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Raffy Tulfo, Robin Padilla, Pia Cayetano, and Imee Marcos.
(el Amigo/MNM)
