Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) — The controversial bill seeking to penalize discrimination based on one’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC) may be tackled by the Senate Committee on Rules next week, the panel’s chairman, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said Friday.
Nearly a month ago, the bill was referred to Villanueva’s committee for \”further study\” following concerns raised by a number of religious groups.
Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros opposed the move, and said it should be remanded to her panel, the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality. She lamented Villanueva’s supposed delay on the committee report submitted in December after one committee hearing.
Villanueva denied the claim, noting that Congress cannot rush such a controversial measure.
Asked for an update, Villanueva told reporters, \”We’re talking to our members and scheduling a hearing hopefully by next week.\”
He said it will be a closed-door meeting among members of the Committee on Rules, including Hontiveros. This will determine what happens next to the SOGIESC bill — whether it can be sponsored in plenary for debates or undergo more public hearings, and by which committee.
Villanueva said at least three other colleagues wanted the SOGIESC bill discussed together with other anti-discrimination measures. He questioned the opposition of SOGIESC bill.
“Until now ‘yun ‘yung pinagtataka natin doon sa ilang mga kabigan natin sa LGBTQ e no… Ang mangyayari talaga parang may special treatment, VIP treatment na gustong kuhanin ‘yung isang sector of our society,” said Villanueva, son of religious leader Rep. Eddie Villanueva.
[Translation: Until now that’s what baffles us about some of our friends in the LGBTQ… It seems a sector of our society wants to have special or VIP treatment.]
“‘Yung karamihan naman na nakausap natin okay sila na pagsama-samahin, holistic,” he added.
