Duterte to let Congress decide on divorce bill

President Rodrigo Duterte is leaving the fate of the divorce bill to Congress although he previously registered his opposition to it, Malacañang said on Monday.

“No comment,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque quoted Duterte as saying when asked about the proposed measure on divorce.

Duterte’s position on the matter was sought after the House committee on population and family relations approved the bill by a unanimous vote.

“He leaves it to Congress,” Roque said.

Even when he was still mayor of Davao City, Mr. Duterte rejected the passage of a divorce law in the Philippines “for the sake of the children.”

READ: Duterte rejects divorce ‘for sake of kids,’ slams door on abortion

Roque, however, said Duterte remained to be against abortion.

“Tinanong ko, ‘di ba pinatanong ninyo, sabi niya no comment (on divorce bill) although he remains steadfast to be against abortion,” he noted.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said the divorce bill could be tabled for plenary debate next week and passed on third reading before the congressional break in March.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has expressed disgust over the House committee’s approval of the bill to legalize divorce in the country, describing it as “anti-marriage and anti-family.”                       /kga