Senator Risa Hontiveros, one of the authors of the bill, rejected Marcos's statements, explaining that the bill does not mention sensitive topics such as masturbation or the study of various sexual orientations. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed criticism regarding non-consensual placements in the proposed law against teenage pregnancy, calling them 'insulting' and 'deterministic' after thoroughly reading the proposed bill.
The debate was triggered by a viral video from the group 'Project Dalisay', which claimed that CPP can 'hypersexualize children'. Marcos stated his position on the bill, which includes teaching children about sexual issues and their consequences.
Former Supreme Court President Maria Lourdes Sereno, an ally of 'Project Dalisay', argued that despite the statements that these placements are not clearly stated in the bill, the CPP's framework is based on international guiding principles from organizations such as WHO, UNESCO, and UNFPA, which assert that children have the right to bodily autonomy, including the control over their own bodies.
Some lawmakers in the chamber called for a re-examination of the bill after its approval in a plenary session in September 2023. At that time, Senator Joel Villanueva, a member of a religious group, praised Marcos for his opposition to the law.
Despite the criticism, Marcos reaffirmed his belief in the importance of sex education, especially regarding anatomy, reproductive systems, and the consequences of early pregnancy.
"You clearly do not see this in the law, but whenever it is referenced to international standards, you must align it with international documents," Sereno noted. Hontiveros also stated that she is willing to propose amendments to the bill, but President Marcos warned that this may impose a burden on lawmakers if it remains in its current form.
"Does each child have the right to explore various sexualities? This is all part of an insidious ideology that they are trying to embed in our system," he stated, noting that the proposed bill has passed.
