Malacañang said on Monday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is against divorce, following the approval of the bill on its second hearing in the Congress.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the president opted not to comment, but eventually decided to clear his stand.
“So, ‘yan po ang posisyon niya pero ang una sabi niya sa akin ‘no comment’ na lang tayo pero since nagtanong kayo at tapos na po ang botohan sa kamara ay ‘yan po ang kanyang paninindigan,” said Roque.
Roque explained that the president’s stand lies mostly on the negative effects that the legalization of divorce will bring to the children.
The president previously said that he has ‘no comment’ on the issue, only referencing to cases in the past where he expressed concerns over the effects of divorce to families.
Duterte also raised concerns over struggle to file charges against the abusive partner should divorce be legalized.
“Ang sabi niya, kawawa ang mga anak at kung magkakaroon ng divorce mawawalan ng karapatang magsampa ng kaso ang mga asawa na pinabayaan ng asawa nila matapos ang divorce,” added Roque.
On March 15, the House of Representatives approved on second reading the bill that seeks to introduce divorce and dissolution of marriage in the country.
Through viva voce or voice voting, the House approved the House Bill 7303, or the proposed “Act Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines,” which is primarily authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.
