Presidential bets oppose legalizing divorce | Inquirer News

Presidential bets oppose legalizing divorce

/ 10:40 PM March 20, 2016

pilipinas debates=divorce

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines looks likely to remain one of the few countries where divorce is illegal, based on a survey of the four leading presidential candidates on Sunday.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas were asked during a presidential debate to raise their hands if they favored legalization of divorce.

Article continues after this advertisement

Not one raised a hand in the brief segment. They were not given time to explain their stance.

FEATURED STORIES

The overwhelmingly Catholic Philippines is the only country aside from the Vatican that bans divorce.

Strong pressure from the Catholic church has stymied previous attempts to pass a divorce law even though a survey last year showed that about 60 percent of adult Filipinos support such a measure.

Article continues after this advertisement

A survey earlier this month showed that Poe, the adopted daughter of the country’s top movie star, has a slight lead in the run-up to the May 9 vote for the presidency.

Article continues after this advertisement

She is followed closely by Duterte, who is running on a ruthless anti-crime platform; Binay, former mayor of the country’s financial district of Makati; and Roxas, the anointed successor of outgoing President Benigno Aquino III who is limited by law to one six-year term.

Article continues after this advertisement

In another portion of the debate, the four candidates were asked who supported restoration of the death penalty.

Poe and Duterte, who openly boasts about killing criminals, both raised their hands despite the Catholic church’s opposition to capital punishment.

Article continues after this advertisement

The death penalty was abolished in the Philippines in 2006, party due to lobbying by the church.

RELATED STORIES

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Bets name-call, tussle over track-record in no-holds-barred debate

Tempers fly as candidates audition to be strong leaders

RELATED VIDEOS

TAGS: divorce, Grace Poe, Mar Roxas, marriage, Philippines, Politics

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.