ShareThisPopular actress, television host and top endorser Ruffa Gutierrez is in favor of divorce in the Philippines.
Her reason is understandable: She has separated from husband Ylmas Bektas, a Turkish businessman, with whom she has two daughters.
Other celebrities have also come out in the open supporting divorce, but others also stood their ground for the sanctity of marriage.
Among those against divorce are Candy Pangilinan, comedienne Pokwang, and KC Concepcion, whose parents had separated.
Today, the Philippines stands as the only country in the world that does not have divorce law.
But there are pending bills in Congress seeking to legalize divorce. Proponents said even Vatican and Rome recognize it, so why not the Philippines also.
Similar bills were filed in earlier Congresses, but they never were passed by the lawmakers.
Ruffa Gutierrez stressed that divorce should be implemented in the country but on the condition that it is based on strict grounds. Her stand was reported by ABS-CBN on its website.
“I’ve been through a very rough marriage so I’m definitely for the Divorce Bill. I think they should be very strict sa sanctions ng divorce kung ano ang nakalagay doon, hindi ‘yong isang away lang mag-divorce na,” she said.
She added: “But I think if a partner is continuously cheating, or there’s domestic violence involved, criminal activities, drugs, alcoholism na hindi na maayos-ayos, and hindi na kayo masaya, dapat siguro magkaroon na ng divorce para you can have a chance to be happy again.”
The former beauty queen-turned-actress/host also revealed her stand on divorce on “Showbiz News Ngayon” of ABS-CBN.
Vice Ganda supported Ruffa, citing the the country is the only one left behind.
“Opinyon ko, para sa ibang tao, iba na ang panahon ngayon eh. Kung mayroon ngang annulment na nag-a-allow naman ang pagpapawalang bisa ng kasal, bakit hindi na itodo doon sa divorce?’’ Vice said.
“Tingnan mo ang buong mundo. Tayo na lang yata ang walang ganoon. Kung sa kanila nagwo-work, bakit sa atin hindi? Sa Espanya, [kung saan] nagsimula ang relihiyon na ibinigay dito sa atin sa Pilipinas, ay may divorce. Tayo wala. Eh, in-adapt lang naman natin iyon,” Vice was quoted also by ABS-CBN as saying.
For Pokwang, making a marriage work lies in the hands of the couple. “Parang hindi yata ako in favor? Pero nasa pag-uusap naman ng mag-asawa iyan eh. Pag-usapan niyo na ang tama na dapat gawin para hindi maapektuhan ang bata. Mas maganda talaga ‘yong kayo ang nag-aayos,” she told ABS-CBN.
Although separated, Candy Pangilinan still believes in the sanctity of marriage, the network reported.
“I don’t agree to divorce. Kung ngayon na wala pang divorce, ang dami nang naghihiwalay, ang dami nang hindi nagpapahalaga sa sanctity ng kasal, what more kung okay na ang divorce?” she said.
KC Concepcion, whose parents Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta also got separated, said: “Wala naman ako sa sitwasyon na iyon so I wouldn’t know. But for me kasi, biblically, maganda iyong wino-work out.”