House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Monday he is filing a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines.
In a press conference at the House of Representatives, Alvarez said, "Dumadami na yung population ng LGBT. Gusto ko lang ipadala ang mensahe na iginagalang natin ang karapatan na."
[The population of LGBTs is increasing. I want to tell them that we respect their rights.]
Still looking for a co-sponsor for the bill, Alvarez said that even the Constitution guarantees a person's happiness.
Alvarez clarified the planned bill will only cover civil marriage and will not cover marriages solemnized by the church.
Alvarez's initiative is welcomed by House Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano, saying that "it will pave the way for healthy discussions on these issues that affect the lives of millions of our kababayans in the LGBT community."
Cayetano added, "Inabot ko pa po yung time that certain issues were considered taboo like the RH Bill, and it took a long while for us to even attempt to discuss this in what I feel is a healthy and a productive way. But I feel that the time has come that we should be able to set aside our biases, our discomfort, because as legislators, we should be able to talk about this issue whenever it affects the lives of our kababayans. And so I look forward to this measure that will be filed by the Speaker of the House."
Meanwhile, some lawmakers appeared bothered by the proposal.
BUHAY party-list Rep. and Senior Deputy Minority Leader Lito Atienza said, "Marriage, as defined by law, is a union between a man and a woman. We are ready to defend the rights of anyone especially those in the LGBT community. But marriage should exclusively be, as intended by nature, for a man and a woman. I am quite disappointed that the Speaker would make such a commitment. We thought all along that his priority is federalism and not same sex marriage. We hope that he will change his mind."
Quezon City Rep. Bingbong Crisologo said he is personally against it. "I'm an advocate of the word of God. Clearly the Bible forbids same-sex marriage. I guess i would vote against it."
Camsur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said the propasal is controversial: "It has to be discussed."
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said he is also opposing the proposal.
In 2011, Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos filed House Bill 4269 which sought to amend the Family Code of the Philippines to recognize same-sex marriages overseas.
Source / Image: ABS-CBN
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