MANILA, Philippines — Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, who is seeking a Congressional seat in the 2022 elections, on Thursday said that he opposes same-sex marriage, divorce, and abortion as these go against the community’s values.
“There is a separation of church and state but the country is predominantly Christian and we have to keep ourselves into with the realities on the ground also. So, me categorically—this country is not ready for that. Our values are not yet in sync with that,” Gatchalian told INQside Look that aired Thursday when asked if he is in favor of same-sex marriage.
“So, ako (me), I’m not in favor of it because I don’t think that it fits the values of the community. I don’t think it fits the values of the nation as a whole. Parang wala pa tayo doon sa mindset na ‘yun or sa kultura na ‘yun (It seems we’re not in that mindset or culture yet),” he added, noting that a congressman should represent his constituents values and principles.
He likewise said he is against divorce.
“Also not in favor of that… ‘Pag nakikinig ka sa mga (If you listen to your) constituents, they’re very conservative in the sense of family values,” he stressed.
“I’m not in favor of divorce because these are values that are not astute or in sync with the local constituency or the local communities’ desires and wants,” he further explained.
The mayor also said that he opposes abortion.
Gatchalian shared that when he was in Congress years ago, he stated that he is not in favor of abortion except in cases of rape.
He, however, is now completely against it, regardless of nature, as his community leaders told him that a life is a life even if it will be born out of bad acts.
Gatchalian is again seeking a spot in Congress in the 2022 elections as a representative of the first district of Valenzuela, a position he has previously held for two terms before being elected city mayor in May 2013.
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