Ched Rick Gatchalian

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Hontiveros vows to refile divorce bill, push SOGIESC and teenage pregnancy bills in 20th congress

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday vowed to refile the divorce bill in the 20th Congress if it does not become law in the remaining time of the 19th Congress, which expires next month.In the Kapihan sa Senado, she noted the proposed Dissolution of Marriage bill has already been debated on the floor twice.&quot;We will refile in the 20th. We will simply refile. That&#x27;s my commitment,&quot; she said.Hontiveros argued earlier that the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/20/absence-of-dissolution-of-marriage-law-a-moral-failing-hontiveros-says-1759">absence of a law permitting the dissolution of marriage is a &quot;moral failing&quot;</a>. She said the<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/20/absence-of-dissolution-of-marriage-law-a-moral-failing-hontiveros-says-1759"></a> state has failed to protect citizens — especially children and women — who are often vulnerable in dysfunctional marriages.She has long emphasized that a system which &quot;heals and give second chances&quot; is better than a system &quot;that is blind on the suffering of citizens in abusive relationships&quot;.Hontiveros also hopes the next Congress can pass into law the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Bill, as well as the Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Bill. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/19/wrap-bill-to-prevent-teen-pregnancies-births-questions-on-morality-masturbation-1454">Bill to prevent teen pregnancies births questions on morality, masturbation </a></div>&quot;Dahil nananatiling national emergency &#x27;yan [teenage pregnancy], social emergency yan. Finake news lang kasi eh, yung comprehensive sexuality education,&quot; she said.(Teenage pregnancy is still a national emergency, a social emergency. What happened was comprehensive sexuality education was subjected to &#x27;fake news&#x27;) She said the bill still needs to be passed to benefit teenagers and teenage parents.<div>SOGIESC bill</div>The SOGIESC bill was Hontiveros&#x27; top priority measure in the 19th Congress. The bill, which recognizes a person&#x27;s sexual orientation and gender identity, has been languishing in Congress for decades and faces stiff opposition from conservative groups.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/02/08/23/anyare-sa-bill-hontiveros-asks-why-sogie-bill-is-in-limbo">&#x27;Anyare sa bill?&#x27;: Hontiveros asks Villanueva why SOGIE bill remains in &#x27;limbo&#x27;</a></div>Hontiveros said she also hopes to launch a probe into reports of poor service by <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/5/9/primewater-issue-affects-16-million-consumers-palace-says-1756">Villar-owned water utility firm PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp</a>. before the 19th Congress ends. &quot;Kahit isang hearing lang muna ngayong patapos na 19th Congress,&quot; she said.(Even just one hearing before the 19th Congress ends)

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday vowed to refile the divorce bill in the 20th Congress if it does not become law in the remaining time of the 19th Congress which expires next month.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday vowed to refile the divorce bill in the 20th Congress if it does not become law in the remaining time of the 19th Congress which expires next month.

Hontiveros to refile divorce bill, push SOGIESC and teenage pregnancy bills in 20th Congress

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Hontiveros to refile divorce bill, push SOGIESC and teenage pregnancy bills in 20th Congress

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 21, 2025 04:45 PM PHT

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