Imee hopes Senate bill recognizing 'civil union' of same-sex couples would be tackled soon

A pending bill in the Senate which seeks to institute a property regime for cohabiting same-sex partners in the Philippines should be tackled soon, its author Senator Imee Marcos said Friday after Pope Francis expressed support for civil union laws for homosexual people.

"Sabi ng Santo Papa, 'Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God.'  Tayong lahat ay anak ng Diyos, na lahat ring minamahal ng Panginoon. Amen po," Marcos said.

"At sana magka-hearing na 'yung aking Senate Bill No. 417 na kumikilala sa 'civil union' na binanggit ni Pope Francis, kung saan may karapatan at obligasyon ang bawat partner ng isang mahabang samahan," she added.

The said bill, filed in July 2019, seeks to provide protection to the rights of same-sex partners to jointly acquire, own, use, enjoy, manage, sell, dispose, or alienate properties during the period of cohabitation. It recognizes the need for the consent of both partners in managing their properties.

In case of dissolution of the relationship, the properties co-owned by the partners shall be divided equally, according to the proposed measure.

"Any loan or financial obligation incurred by a partner without the knowledge or consent of the other shall be the personal liability of the party who incurred the debt or liability," the bill added.

"Sa dinami-dami kong kaibigang LGBT, na may talino at sipag, na sumikat at kumita, ang dami rin sa kanila o sa kanilang partner ang tumandang mag-isa, 'di mabayaran ang ospital, at hanggang sa paglibing, kapos pa rin ang pamilya," Marcos said while pushing for the measure.

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, a vocal ally of LGBTQ community.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, expressed doubt Pope Francis' position on civil union law would affect the stance of lawmakers in the Philippines.

Same-sex union is already being practiced in the Philippines but same-sex marriage is still rejected by many religions and sectors, according to the Senate leader.

"It's just tolerated but not in the legal sense. We should leave it at that," he said.

A Filipino priest also said the pope's opinion on the matter is not yet the official stand of the Catholic Church.—AOL, GMA News