Atienza backs Duterte’s anti-discrimination bill

Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza on Thursday said he supports the anti-discrimination bill being proposed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

On Tuesday, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President will certify as urgent the anti-discriination bill like the ordinance in Davao that was passed when the latter was mayor and not the SOGIE or the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression bill — focused on the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders (LGBT) community.

“I was listening to the clarifcation of Secratary Panelo. Ibang-iba ‘yan, hindi SOGIE bill yung ineendorso ng ating pangulo. Anti-discrimnation bill and I go with him on that. I agree with him,” Atienza said at a press conference.

Atienza said he will not support SOGIE, because the bill has “sub-agendas.”

“Yung SOGIE bill marami kasing mga sub-agenda dun. Hndi naman anti-discrimination lang yun,” he said.

He also added that there are bills that contain “hidden” provisions that would allow same sex marriage.

Atienza said he will support an anti-discrimination bill that has nothing to do with gender and natural law.

“Baguhin natin, strictly on discriminatory practices nothing to do with gender identification, palagay ko magkakaisa kami.”

“Alisin natin lahat yung mga pakikialam sa natural law. Yung babae, babae yan, yung lalaki, lalaki yan wag na natin baguhin sa batas. Hindi naman makukuha sa batas ‘yan e. Magbubuntis ba yung lalaki?”

“Yung babae ba pwede buntisin ng babae? Hindi rin pwede. May mga bagay na hindi na dapat pinakikielaman pero pag ikaw manakit ng kahit sinong Pilipino dahil lamang sa kanyang kasarian, e dapat parusahan ka,” Atienza said.

There are a total of 13 SOGIE bills filed at the House of Representatives as of 22 August.

House Deputy Speaker and CIBAC Partylist Rep. Eddie Villanueva, in a privelege speech last 28 August, said he will oppose SOGIE bill saying it undermines the role of parents in the family, threatens academic freedom and imperils freedom of speech and religion.

In September 2017, the House of Representatives passed on third reading its vesion of the SOGIE bill.

The bill however did not ripen to a law as the Senate failed to pass a counterpart measure.