SOGIE Bill: Sotto Doubts Hontiveros' Bill To Pass Even W/ Duterte Backing

Sen. Sotto Doubts Hontiveros’ SOGIE Bill To Pass Even W/ Duterte Backing

SOGIE BILL – Senator Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto said Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ SOGIE Bill won’t make it even if President Rodrigo Duterte certified it as urgent.

Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros is the author of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality (SOGIE) bill. He proposed bill energized after the bathroom incident in Quezon City. In a report, a transwoman named Gretchen Diez was allegedly harassed for using the ladies toilet in a mall last month.

However, Senate President Tito Sotto opposed the passing of the bill. He even said that the bill has “no chance” of passing the upper chamber.

During the meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte and the transgender woman, the 74-year-old politician said he supports the ‘Anti-discrimination’ bill and wants LGBTQ+ members to have their own restroom.

Based on a report from ABS-CBN News, Duterte was asked if he wants the proposed law protecting the gay community from discrimination and hate crime as urgent. “Yes, whatever would make the mechanisms, what would make them happy,” he replied.

According to the report, Malacañang Palace spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified the statement of the Davaoeño politician. He said the president “was referring to the anti-discrimination bill, not SOGIE bill.”

SOGIE-Bill-1 — Photo Source: Philippine Star

Based on the report, Tito Sotto said the Hontiveros’ bill “will not make it” even of the chief executive of the country certified it as a priority bill. “Make no mistake, the SOGIE bill as-is will not make it even if the President certifies the Hontiveros version. Remember separation of powers?” said Sotto.

“Make no mistake, the SOGIE bill as is will not make it even if the President certifies the Hontiveros version.”
Sotto doubts SOGIE Bill to pass ‘as is’ even with Duterte backing https://t.co/Gi47mMFTRT
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) September 11, 2019