A provincial board member has expressed opposition to the Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill.
Board Member Eduardo Modesto Rodriguez said in a privilege speech during the regular session on Tuesday that it is unnecessary to have a bill protecting the rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) in Palawan.
He said that in Palawan, there are no recorded cases of anyone abusing the members of the group.
“Hindi naman natin kailangan dito sa Palawan ang SOGIE bill, wala naman tayong kaso ng mga minamaltrato, kinakahiya o dinidiscriminate hindi katulad sa ibang lugar. Ang sa atin ay as far as the province is concern ay wala naman tayong mga issue tungkol doon sa mga LGBTQ,” he said.
Rodriguez said that the passage of SOGIE Bill may also lead to the passage of the proposed same-sex marriage bill which is also opposed by the provincial government.
“We are strongly opposing the SOGIE Bill, ang gusto lang naman nating iparating ay mayron na rin tayong mga batas kung saan napoprotektahan ang kanilang mga karapatan. Isa pa kapag sinuportahan natin ito ay baka eventually ay maipasa na rin ang same sex marriage kaya wala tayong pagpayag na ginagawa,” Rodriguez said.
 Equality Bill. Board Member Eduardo Mode){kind=link}