Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno appealed to Education Secretary Sonny Angara to immediately suspend the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) program noting its violation of the Reproductive Health Law.

"We need that sense of commitment from you Secretary otherwise the concern of parents will continue to be there because everytime a child gets confused about sexuality when a teacher is force to teach something that violates their conscience damage has done, there is damage to child, to teacher and to the integrity of education system," Sereno said in a forum on Wednesday.

"I am asking you most earnestly and humbly to please immediately suspend the CSE program and Filipino people will be grateful if you will do that," she added.

Sereno said many people including the teachers and parents who are against the implementation of the CSE were asking for Angara's statement concerning the appeal for the suspension of the program.

"Secretary (Sonny) Angara, many were already asking for you to please make a statement, you already heard the statement of (Pasig Dist.) Cong. Roman Romulo, he was surprised that the teachers are in chaos because of CSE and Sen. Win Gatchalian also said that the DepEd violates the allowable parameters of the RH law (Republic Act No. 10354 on Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health), "there is nothing that can prevent you from immediately suspending it," she said.

Sereno also raised concern that "at the end of the day" the CSE "will change the culture of the Filipinos".

"It will plant seeds of dissent and rebellion on the parental authority of the Filipino parents, we oppose it not just in the aspect of sexuality education but to forcely change our culture through the CSE," she said.

Sereno also noted that the petition that her group runs for a few days has already gathered 67,000 signatures supporting the suspension or stoppage of the CSE. Robina Asido/DMS