MANILA – Sen. Risa Hontiveros corrected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s assertion that the proposed Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act includes provisions on masturbation.
In a recorded statement posted on her social media page, Hontiveros told President Marcos that “masturbation” and “try different sexualities” were never mentioned in her proposed measure.
“Mr. President, with all due respect, maliwanag na wala po sa Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill o SB1979 kahit ang salita na ‘masturbation’. Wala din po yung ‘try different sexualities’,” Hontiveros said.
She added: “Comprehensive Sexuality Education o CSE contains the very same things you support: teaching kids anatomy, consequences of early pregnancy. Yan po ang atin ding sinusulong.”
President Marcos said in an interview on Monday that he still supports teaching students about human anatomy, the consequences of early pregnancy and the prevalence of HIV, among other topics, but will veto the bill if “masturbation” and “try different sexualities” are included.
“I was shocked, and I was appalled by some of the — some of the elements of that. Because this is — all this ‘woke’ that they are trying to bring into our system. You will teach four-year-olds how to masturbate. That every child has the right to try different sexualities. This is ridiculous. It is abhorrent,” Marcos said.
“If this bill is passed in that form, I guarantee all parents, teachers and children: I will immediately veto it,” the Chief Executive added.
Hontiveros, who authored the controversial bill, said she is willing to accept any amendments on the measure for it to be passed into law.
“I am willing to accept amendments to refine the bill so we can steer it to passage,” Hontiveros said.
Some groups have opposed the bill, citing concerns that international standards referenced in CSE could include controversial concepts.
Hontiveros, however, had explained that the DepEd would oversee the development of CSE content to ensure it remains culturally sensitive and appropriate for Filipino society./PN
