Dutertes won’t obey Church on reproductive health issue

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—It’s the trademark tough talk from the Dutertes, but this time, they’re speaking out against the Church and other opponents of condoms and safe sex.

“I only obey God. I don’t obey my religion, especially on matters bordering on stupidity … I do not need any Church, any sect, any faith to tell me what is good for the people,” Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said.

Duterte and his daughter, Mayor Sara Duterte, are aggressively pushing for an ordinance that will make condoms readily available here.

“We are no longer living in the time of Lancelot—in the Middle Ages,” the vice mayor said.

Sara said: “Their (church officials’) role is different from ours. They have their own obligation, we have ours.”

“I am not scared, really. I know that the Catholic Church will respect our stand just as we respect their position on the issue,” she said.

She said the city needed an ordinance to accept donations and distribute condoms to those who need them. Through it, she said, a grant for free condoms would be raised.

She said the fund could be facilitated if the city council would give her legislative authority to “sign the memorandum of agreement for the grant of reproductive health materials.”

The grant will be from the United Nations Population Fund for the Millennium Development Goal and medium-term Philippine Development Plan.

Last year, the city council approved the ordinance creating the Women Health Clinic. The legislation had been opposed by the Catholic Church, which accused the local government of promoting promiscuity among young adults.

The facility will receive donations and support from private or government agencies to promote women’s and children’s rights.

It offers services to ensure maternal, infant and child health nutrition and extend services on family planning, prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications.