House to survey members’view on divorce, controversial bills

TCharter change? There are a lot of controversial bills out there),” Cayetano said in a media interview.

“We have to act depending on our consci ence, pero babalansehin din natin ‘yun sa priorities ng administrasyon (but we also have to balance it with the priorities of the admi ni st r at i on) .

Kung ‘yung konsensya natin at gusto ng administrasyon ay pareho, wala tayong problema (If our conscience and the priorities of the administration are similar, there is no problem),” he said. Cayetano said bills that enjoy wide support or consensus from the majority of House members will be prioritized.

“I will not stop (the process), but we will act with caution on bills that have no consensus,” he said, citing the issue of divorce, as an example.

Cayetano said he is personally against divorce, but assured the public that he would not block the free flow of intelligent debates on the issue, which ironically is being pushed by his sister, Senator Pia Cayetano who is separated from her husband.

The lady senator filed Senate Bill (SB) 288 to legalize divorce on certain conditions while at least four similar bills had been filed at the House of Repr esent ati ves.

“I can tell you my personal stand, pero hindi lang ako ang masusunod (but I am not the only one who will decide). So I can assure you of full debates and discussions on this issue,” Cayetano said.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged the need to find a solution for couples who are trapped in a failed or troubled marriage, owing to the possibility that children caught in the marital conflict might suffer trauma.

“Definitely for impossible marriages, ibig sabihin ‘yung ginugulpi ‘yung asawa (such as in the case of a battered spouse) ‘yung psychologically incapacitated, we have to find a solution. Some believe that divorce is a solution, some, like me, do not believe that divorce is a solution. Let the committees and the plenary debate this,” Cayetano said.

(PNA)