Ejercito, Go, Villar, Binay withdraw support for Anti-Adolescent Pregnancy Bill

At least four senators on Wednesday withdrew their support for Senate Bill No. 1979, also known as the controversial Anti-Adolescent Pregnancy Bill, making its chances of passing in the chamber slimmer.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, and Christopher “Bong” Go withdrew their signatures from Committee Report No. 41, which contains the proposed measure that introduces a Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) program in all public and private education institutions.

“In light of the recent feedback and numerous concerns raised on Senate Bill No. 1979, entitled An Act Providing for a National Policy in Preventing Adolescent Pregnancies, Institutionalizing Social Protection for Adolescent Parents, and Providing Funds Thereof, under Committee Report No. 41, we respectfully request the withdrawal of our signatures from the said committee report,” their letter reads.

“While we believe that the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy is an issue that must be urgently addressed, it is our position that further dialogues with stakeholders are essential in order to accurately dispel misconceptions and remove objectionable portions from the bill,” they added.

Binay, Villar, and Go, who are all running for different positions in the May 2025 elections, are three of the 18 senators who signed the said committee report.

Meanwhile, Ejercito is a half-sibling of Jerika Ejercito Aguilar, who is a member of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), a national organization of Christian churches, denominations, and mission groups in the Philippines.

PCEC, through Project Dalisay, is opposing the Anti-Adolescent Pregnancy Bill, as it “poses a significant threat to our societal, moral, and spiritual foundations.”

The group also expressed its strong opposition to the implementation of the DepEd’s CSE program, which it said “includes topics that challenge traditional family values, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and rights related to sexual activity and reproductive health.”

"The program introduces concepts like 'gender fluidity' and 'sexual diversity,' suggesting that people can choose their sexual identity beyond the binary of male and female,” the petition reads.

“It also emphasizes sexual rights, which could be interpreted as encouraging early sexual activity, and includes discussions on contraception, abortion, and non-traditional relationships. These concepts contradict traditional Christian and Islamic morality regarding marriage, procreation, and family life," it added.

According to former Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, who chairs the PCEC’s Legal Advisory and Public Policy Review Commission, 11 senators have already pledged their support to reject the measure.

Other senators who signed the committee report were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Win Gatchalian, Grace Poe, and Jinggoy Estrada.

Senators Robin Padilla, Francis Tolentino, Imee Marcos, Manuel “Lito” Lapid, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. also signed the committee report. Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara also signed the committee report while still a senator.