Montemayor says same-sex union ‘foolishness’; disfavors abortion, divorce, death penalty

Presidential aspirant Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr. on Tuesday said he is “absolutely against” same-sex union as it is “foolishness” in front of the people and God.

Montemayor made the remark during the Catholic E-Forum hosted by Radio Veritas, emphasizing that the union between members of the LGBTQIA+ community is against the Philippine Constitution.

“Absolutely not. Sabi ko sa mga bakla at saka mga tomboy [I told the gays and the lesbians], you are violating the very Constitution [and] the Family Code,” he said

Under Executive Order No. 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines, marriage is defined as “a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life.”

“Walang sinabing a man and a man. I am totally against sa mga ganyan. Sabi ko, puro foolishness ‘yan sa harapan ng tao at sa harapan ng Diyos,” he stressed.

(It did not state that it should be a man and a man. I am totally against such. That is pure foolishness before the people and before God.)

Abortion

Further, Montemayor said he is also against all forms of abortion, except those for medical reasons, particularly a pregnancy complication called preeclampsia that puts both the lives of the mother and baby at stake.

“Absolutely against ako sa all forms of abortion except medical,” he said.

He added that he will follow Texas’ anti-abortion law as they remain “true to the word of God.”

Divorce

Montemayor also said that he is anti-divorce as it is against the will of God. He also argued that Filipino families should not be destroyed by issues that could be fixed.

“Anti-divorce po ako. Absolute divorce. Lahat ng klase ng divorce, lahat ‘yan, anti ako diyan. Against ako. [I am anti-divorce. Absolute divorce. I am against all forms of divorce]. What God has put together, let no man put asunder,” he said.

“Hindi pwedeng ang pamilyang Pilipino mawasak sa mga ibang bagay. Pwede namang ayusin 'di ba? Alam ninyo, tayo nagkakasala rin. Wala namang perfect pero pwede nating ayusin,” he added.

(The Filipino family should not be destroyed by things that can be fixed, right? We commit sins too. No one is perfect but we can fix it.)

He said that couples made a vow before the people and God when they get married, and they should abide by it.

“Ako, sinabi ko sa mga bakla, sa mga LGBT, sinabi ko sa mahilig sa immorality, sabi ko I am anti-divorce except only a divorce that was allowed by the Bible, ‘yung immorality, ‘yung sinabi ng Panginoong Hesus,” he said.

(I told the gays, the members of LGBT, those who commit immorality, that I am anti-divorce except the divorce allowed by the Bible which is immorality.)

In August 2021, the House committee on population and family relations approved the bill seeking to introduce absolute divorce in the country.

In 2019, several women suffering from abusive partnerships turned emotional during a Senate hearing on the matter.

Death penalty and suicide

Montemayor said under his governance, he will also not support death penalty and even suicide, emphasizing that God is the owner of the people’s lives.

“Life is so precious. Only God can clean that. Sa kanya ‘yan eh [it is His], and we are not even the owner of our lives,” he said.

“Kahit ang suicide, hindi papayagan kasi nga ang Diyos ang may-ari niyan. Siya ang nagbigay, siya ang pumili ng araw ng ating pagkakapanganak, siya rin ang kikitil sa’tin, ang magke-claim sa buhay natin,” he added.

(Even suicide will not be allowed because God is the owner of our lives. He gave us our lives, He chose our date of birth, and He will also be the one to claim our lives.)

At The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews, Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson all said they are against the reimposition of death penalty in the country.

Meanwhile, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he would consider pushing for the reimposition of the capital punishment to those the society perceives as someone who has no hope.—AOL, GMA News