PBBM to review teen pregnancy bill

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will review the substitute Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill after initially expressing intent to veto the original version.

The original bill, SB 1979, faced backlash and lost Senate support, prompting Senator Risa Hontiveros to file a substitute bill.

Opponents claimed the original bill's provision for comprehensive sex education (CSE) based on 'international standards' could expose children to inappropriate content, such as masturbation.

Senator Hontiveros clarified that the term 'masturbation' is not mentioned in the bill and that the substitute bill will limit mandatory CSE to adolescents aged 10 and above.

The substitute bill will also incorporate guarantees for academic and religious freedom.

Malacañang asked the public to give the President the benefit of the doubt regarding his stance on the bill, suggesting he may have 'read between the lines' of the original legislation.