Every Philippine election, a bunch of candidates running for elective positions say stuff that makes people go “WTF.”
A recent example is Agnes Escudero, an independent senatorial candidate who said during a televised debate on Sunday that people who want to divorce their abusive spouses should just go to church instead of leaving their marriages.
Escudero, who claims to be related to Senator Francis Escudero, said this during the “Fast Talk” round of Harapan 2019, the townhall debate broadcast over television network ABS-CBN News.
During the round, host Karen Davila asked the senatorial candidates about their opinions on several issues. Davila asked Escudero: “If you were being beaten up by your husband, will you push for divorce law?”
“No. I’m really not for the divorce law,” Escudero answered. “I’d rather want the women to go to church. Because the church is the one that said ‘Til death do us part.’ It was the church which also said that ‘No man must divide what God has united.'”
“Are you in favor of annulment?” was Davila’s follow-up question.
“But it’s in there (the law) already right?” asked Escudero.
“So it means if you are being beaten up you will not seek an annulment?” asked Davila. “You will put up with it?”
“I’ve never experienced it (domestic abuse), ma’am,” Escudero said.
You can watch their entire exchange below:
This is not the first time that Escudero said controversial statements against divorce.
In another televised debate broadcast on TV network GMA, she said about the prospect of having a divorce law: “Why should we make a law for bitter people? We should come up with laws that will strengthen the family. We should give an incentive to couples who have been married for 25 years, 50 years because it’s hard to find forever.”
Yup, she called people who want to leave their bad marriages “bitter.” She also added that the government should just give seminars on how people could become better spouses.
Many netizens disagreed with Escudero’s statement. Reacting to a clip of Harapan 2019, Lee Mercado wrote: “You should divorce immediately. If your spouse curses at you [you’ll get mad], what more if they hurt you. Hypocrite.”
Someone using the name Dioptase Quartz wrote: “What! If you’re beaten black and blue and he’s cheating on you big time. She hasn’t experienced it yet so she isn’t in favor of it (divorce)? You’re just thinking about yourself.”
A netizen who goes by the name Red Panther wrote: “This is too much. It’s just OK when a spouse is being used as a punching bag? You’re not being honest, lady.”
The Philippines is one of two countries with no divorce law, the other being the Vatican, the seat of the Catholic Church.
In Congress, House Bill 7303 or An Act Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines was passed during its third reading in March last year, but the Senate has not acted upon it. However, another divorce bill was filed at the Senate in January by Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Filipino couples wanting to leave their spouses can file for an annulment, a tedious process that can last from one to 10 years and cost at least PHP250,000 (US$4,800).
