THE minority bloc in the House of Representatives on Wednesday turned the tables on a proposal to legalize same sex-union in predominantly Catholic Philippines.
The group’s members, Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza as well as Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin said they signed a resolution in Congress opposing the proposed measure which shall be initiated by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
“We are against it unanimously,” Atienza said, saying the marriage is a sacred union between man and woman.
But the opposition lawmakers were quick to say they will fight for the rights of any individual who belong to the so-called lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
Suarez said legalizing same sex union would run contrary to the natural law that marriage is a union between man and woman.
“The problem here is the children would be affected in the event the husband and wife would separate and marry a person with their respective same gender and they would live under one roof,” Suarez, speaking in Filipino, told reporters. Maricel V. Cruz
Garbin said the proposal for same-sex union violated the 1987 Constitution and the Family Code.
He added the Constitution “contemplates stable heterosexual relationship” and that family should be in accordance with natural law and long time tradition that marriage is between man and woman.
Garbin stressed even the Family Code provides that marriage is a permanent union, a contract entered into between man and woman.
Earlier, Speaker Alvarez rallied behind the passage of the controversial measure seeking to legalize same-sex union in the country, saying he himself would sponsor it to ensure its immediate enactment.
Alvarez said his office is now readying a copy of the draft measure which he said will give “happiness and dignity” to members of the LGBT community.
“I will sponsor it [same-sex union]. If you will look at the Constitution, it contains a provision guaranteeing happiness of the Filipino people. Why do we have to deprive them of such? I, for one, am one with the LGBT community. If that will make them happy, why don’t we just support them,” Alvarez said.