Sotto says 15 senators vs. SOGIE bill; Hontiveros says there is still fighting chance

Reiterating that the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill will not be passed into law, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday at least 15 senators have expressed opposition to the bill.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, believes the SOGIE bill still has a strong fighting chance in the Senate.

The Senate became some sort of a battleground for those supportive and against the SOGIE bill Monday afternoon:  Sotto talked with oppositors of the bill, composed of religious groups, in one of the rooms, while the bill’s proponents prepared for the ribbon-cutting of their gallery, led by Hontiveros, in the adjacent hall.

In front of the Senate, about 5,000 members of various groups opposing the bill held a prayer rally.

Members of a pro-life group from Caloocan City gather outside the Senate on Monday, September 30, 2019 to urge lawmakers to reject the proposed SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) bill. Benjie Castro

During the meeting with those against the SOGIE bill, Sotto said there is no need for such measure as it is a redundancy of present laws.

“The ratio of those against SOGIE is not 10 is to 1 but 100 is to 1, baka nga 1,000 is to 1. We can safely say there is no need for it, it is a redundancy of the laws. All Filipinos are equally protected. There are enough laws that protect them in particular issues they are talking about,” he said.

Also present during the meeting were Senator Joel Villanueva and his father, CIBAC party-list Representative Eddie Villanueva.

Asked if the bill will not be passed, Sotto replied: “Yes na yes.”

“As a matter of fact, you will be surprised at some of them, I’d rather not name them now but when the proper time comes you will see. A great majority, I will say at least 15 (senators) and counting,” he said.

Sought for comment, Hontiveros said it would be better for the bill to be presented to the plenary so that the senators can finally deliberate on it and vote.

“Kung sinasabi po na may majority na laban sa SOGIE equality bill e di dalhin na namin sa botohan. There is no need, no reason para patagalin pa yung interpellation dito. Tapusin na rin natin ang period of amendments at pagbotohan na natin para masabi natin sa ating publiko kung ano ‘yung fact ng pagsuporta o  hindi pagsuporta. Ano ang sense of the Senate dito sa SOGIE equality bill,” she said.

“I believe, based sa conversation ko sa mga kapwa sendor ko, na we have a strong fighting chance with this SOGIE equality bill,” she added.

She further said that it is clear that the laws are not enough to protect the rights of every Filipino especially those belonging to the LGBTQI+ community.

“Kulang pa ang ating mga batas para sabihin na bawat Filipino, ano man ang ating SOGIE ay pantay pantay sa ilalim ng batas. This SOGIE bill will fill a real need nating mga Filipino,” she said.

Hontiveros, who chairs the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, said she will submit the committee report to the plenary before the year ends. — RSJ, GMA News