MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte maintained his stance supporting family planning but not abortion.

Speaking to reporters in Baguio City on Saturday, Duterte said he supports artificial family-planning methods but "hates" abortion.

"I do not know the state of these guys promoting abortion . . . I hate it. But family planning is OK. But killing the fetus inside mahirap yan. Walang laban yung (fetus)," he said.

This comes at the heels of a statement made earlier this week by the Commission on Population stressing the need for the Supreme Court to lift its hold order on selected passages of the reproductive health law, which they say limits women's contraceptive choices.

The commission added that if the TRO to re-certify contraceptives isn't lifted, birth control devices might run out by 2020.

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Duterte also said over the weekend that he believes abortion happens due to lack of opportunities to support the child.

"They are forced into it kasi there is no other way na suportahan ang mga bata," he said.

The president also suggested that women be given birth-control pills instead to prevent pregnancy.

Even as mayor of Davao City, Duterte funded birth control programs such as ligation for women and vasectomy for men.