President Marcos remained in favor of teaching sex education in schools, but strongly opposed the "ridiculous and abhorrent" elements included in the bill that seeks to prevent adolescent pregnancy.
"I was asked last Thursday on what my opinion was on sex education in schools. And I stand by my answer that sex education is extremely important," Marcos said in an interview on the sidelines of the launching of the Tesla Center Philippines at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City on Monday, Jan. 20.
However, the President revealed that he now has reservations after reading in detail the Senate Bill 1979 or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act, saying he was shocked and appalled.
"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," Marcos said.
"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. It is a travesty of what sexual and sex education should be to the children," he added.
Marcos further said that as a parent and grandparent, he feels "very strongly" about it. He said the proposed law takes away the right of the parents to decide on what and when they must teach their children related to sexuality.
"So, let me be very, very clear, I still believe that sex education in terms of teaching kids the anatomy of the reproductive systems of male and female is extremely important," he said.
"The consequences of early pregnancy, the prevalence of HIV, kailangan ituro lahat ‘yan para alam nung mga kabataan. Pero ‘yung mga sinama nila na mga 'woke' na absurdities are abhorrent to me (that needs to be taught to the youth but the 'woke' absurdities are abhorrent to me)," he added.
'I will veto it'
Marcos also assured parents and teachers that he will veto the bill if it is passed.
"And I’m already guaranteeing, hindi pa napasa ito pero (it hasn't been passed) in that – if this bill is passed in that form, I guarantee all parents, teachers, and children: I will immediately veto it," he vowed.
Last week, Marcos said teaching sex education in schools is "very important" as it is meant to address issues that come with early pregnancy such as the mother and child's health and welfare.
Marcos stressed that with the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in public schools, teenage pregnancy, increasing number of single mothers, and diseases related to early pregnancy would be addressed.
The President articulated that the widely opposed program would also stop the cycle of young mothers who are not knowledgeable in taking care of themselves and their children, which could also lead to malnutrition among kids.