MANILA – While he is in favor of the sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) bill, President Rodrigo Duterte strongly opposes same-sex marriage, Malacañang said.
According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte has always been supportive of equal rights for all Filipinos regardless of gender.
“Naniniwala po (ang ating Presidente) na lahat po ng Pilipino ay pantay-pantay ano man ang kanilang kasarian. Pero hinahayaan na po natin sa Kongreso kung ano ang magiging pinal na bersyon ng SOGIE bill,” Roque said in a virtual presser.
“Sang-ayon po siya na magkaroon ng batas na iiral dun sa relasyon ng kaparehong kasarian. Dahil nga po itong SOGIE bill naman ay tinataguyod din ang karapatan maging pantay-pantay ang lahat ng Pilipino,” he added.
“Pagdating sa ‘yung civil relations na tinatawag, iba po ito sa same-sex marriage. Hindi po sang-ayon ang Presidente sa same-sex marriage. Whether be it church or civil, hindi po siya sang-ayon,” he furthered.
Currently, there are 16 SOGIE bills filed in the House of Representatives but none of them seek to legalize same-sex marriage.
The House unanimously approved its version of the SOGIE bill on third and final reading via a 197-0 vote during the 17th Congress, but failed to progress to the Senate./PN
