Zubiri opposes same-sex marriage, divorce

Senatorial aspirant Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Thursday said he is against same-sex marriage and divorce in the Philippines.

During the Pandesal forum held at the Kamuning Bakery Cafe on Thursday, the independent senatorial candidate said the predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines is not yet ready for same-sex marriage.

“Personally, I do not agree with it. Although I believe in the freedom of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community to love who they want to love, to be who they want to be, but when it comes to same-sex marriage, the Filipino culture is not prepared for that,” Zubiri said.

He said he is against divorce because it might result in dysfunctional families and children, which he said is a scenario in the United States, where divorce is legal.

“Natatakot ako sa divorce. If there’s such a mechanism as divorce na madali lang maghiwalay, ang mangyayari maraming magte-test marriage,” Zubiri said.

“You will have dysfunctional families. Maraming magsu-suicide, maraming mga sira-ulo, maraming mass murderers; these are borne out of the dark years of separation of their parents they experienced, and they feel they are to be blamed,” he added.

Zubiri said he would rather improve the process of annulment in the Philippines.

“At the same breath, we should also strengthen and quicken annulment proceedings. Mayroon din naman pong mga abusadong asawa na umaabuso sa kanilang partners in life,” he said.

Zubiri is running for Senate in the 2016 elections as an independent. But he is an adopted candidate of Senator Grace Poe, Davao city Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

He lost in the 2013 elections when he ran as senator under Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance.

Zubiri first won the 12th Senate seat in 2007 but he resigned in 2011 amid poll fraud allegations lodged against him by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who trailed behind Zubiri in the 2007 results.

The Senate Electoral Tribunal later proclaimed Pimentel as the rightful winner in the 2007 elections.

Zubiri’s name was dragged in the election fraud controversy when an aide of former governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. implicated him in an alleged post-election operation in Maguindanao to rig the election results. Zubiri has denied the allegation.