Duterte Opposes Gay Marriage in Philippines, Reversing Campaign Pledge<br />By FELIPE VILLAMORMARCH 20, 2017<br />MANILA — The Philippines will not legalize same-sex marriage anytime soon, President Rodrigo Duterte has<br />said, reversing a campaign promise in which he pledged to support legislation to allow gay unions.<br />Same-sex marriage, deriving from that principle, protects both parties with respect to property rights<br />and even in caring for children both parties decide to adopt." She accused Mr. Duterte of being "unable to grasp truths beyond his myopic world of self-delusion." Mr. Duterte has had a complicated relationship with the Catholic Church, which he has assailed in vulgar terms as a "hypocritical institution." He has openly accused its leaders of corruption and sexual exploitation.<br />The bill would have legalized same-sex civil marriage in the Philippines, where the Catholic Church wields substantial political influence.<br />In a pre-election forum in January last year, Mr. Duterte endeared himself to progressives<br />and the gay community when he was asked whether he would push for legislation to allow same-sex marriages, and he replied that he would.<br />But he stressed: "Wherever God has placed you, stay there." He noted<br />that no one was empowered to "erase the great divide between a woman and a man." This stood in contrast to Mr. Duterte’s stance during the 2016 campaign, when he expressed support for possible legislation allowing same-sex marriage.<br />Rosales said that When people love each other, whether heterosexual or of the<br />same sex, what is paramount is the love towards the other person’s humanity,
