Divorce bill splits Senate 5-5 in survey

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada's survey on the controversial divorce bill revealed a close split among senators who responded, with five voting in favor and five against it.

Senators supporting the bill include Risa Hontiveros, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, and Robin Padilla, while those opposing it are Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Escudero, Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva, and Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa.

Estrada initiated the survey after the House of Representatives approved the bill on third reading with 131 votes in favor and 109 against.

The Senate version of the bill was approved by Hontiveros' committee on women and family relations last year but remains pending before the committee on rules, with nine senators signing the report.

Estrada opposes divorce due to his devout Catholic beliefs and suggests focusing on making annulment more accessible and affordable as an alternative remedy.

Under the approved House bill, grounds for absolute divorce include psychological incapacity, marital abuse, and irreconcilable differences.