Duterte is against passage of divorce law — Palace

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte is against the passage of a divorce law, Malacañang said on Monday.

“Ayaw po sana niyang magkomento pero since nagbotohan na naman sa kamara, ang Presidente po ay tutol sa divorce,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing in Camarines Sur.

(He didn’t want to comment on this but since they have voted in the chamber, the President is against divorce.)

Roque had earlier said that Duterte was leaving the fate of the divorce bill to Congress.

READ: Duterte to let Congress decide on divorce bill
The House committee on population and family relations had earlier approved the divorce bill by a unanimous vote.

But Roque said Duterte thought the bill would be disadvantageous for families and their children.

“Ang sabi po niya kawawa po yung mga anak, at kung magkakaroon ng divorce, mawawalan po ng karapatang magsampa ng kaso ‘yung mga asawa na pinabyaan ng mga asawa nila matapos silang mag-divorce,” he said.

(He said that the children would be hit the worst, and if there will be divorce, the abandoned spouse will have a hard time filing a complaint after they’ve been divorced.)

“So, ‘yan po ang posisyon niya pero ang una sabi niya sa akin ‘no comment’ na lang tayo pero since nagtanong kayo at tapos na po ang botohan sa kamara ay ‘yan po ang kanyang paninindigan,” he added.

(So, that is his position but he said “no comment” first; however, since you asked and the voting has been done in the chamber, that is his stance.) /je