The other day,
President Rodrrigo Roa Duterte certified the sexual orientation and gender
identity and expression (Sogie) bill as a priority bill.
Senate President who is known for being against
the passage of the SOGIE bill said that such proposed bill will not be passed
as a law despite the certification of President Duterte as a priority bill.
“The SOGIE
bill, as is, will not make it even if the President certifies the Hontiveros
version,” Sotto said in a statement, referring to SOGIE bill advocate opposition
Senator Risa Hontiveros.
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| Senate President Tito Sotto and SOGIE advocate Opposition |
The Senate President justified his reasoning by
invoking “separation of powers” between the three branches of government.
“Remember
separation of powers?” he added
The Senate President expounded on the matter when
the chief executive certifies a bill as a priority.
“If you will
recall, and you know very well, a certification of urgency by the President
does not mean that it will be passed. It's only to do away with the three-day
rule, from second to third reading,” he said.
“But the
question is, will it pass on second reading? There were a number of bills that
were certified as urgent by the President in the previous Congress and there
were several that did not pass,” Sotto added, citing the Death Penalty bill and
TRAIN 2
The Senate
President said regarding a “true anti-discrimination” bill, one that is
similar to the anti-discrimination ordinance existing in Davao that the Palace
is supporting, will have a better chance of passing Senate scrutiny.
“He
(Duterte) is supporting an anti-discrimination bill pretty much like the
ordinance in Davao which is encompassing. You should not discriminate upon the
elderly, upon persons with disabilities (PWDs), upon gender, or whatever. Ito, talagang the
entire population should benefit from being not discriminated upon for whatever
reason. Mas maganda ang pag-asa nun (That has a
better chance of passing),” Sotto said.
“It's not
like the SOGIE na nakatuon sa mga gays (that is
centered on gays). SOGIE is class legislation,” he pointed out.
But Sotto clarified,
any measure supported by Malacanang will still undergo the strict scrutiny of
the Senate.
“Pag-aralan
munang mabuti. Tingnan natin kung ano yung anti-discrimination ng Davao
ordinance. (We will study it carefully. We will see first what
anti-discrimination is embodied in the Davao ordinance),” he said.
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Report from PNA
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