Civil partnership more feasible than same-sex marriage, Roman says

Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman on Monday said civil partnership is a more feasible option than same-sex marriage, which President Rodrigo Duterte said he is in favor of.

In a phone interview with reporters, Roman said she wants to be "realistic" in terms of providing couples, whether same-sex or heterosexual, with their legal rights.

"I think the more feasible option, 'yung civil partnership which has already been filed by the Speaker (Pantaleon Alvarez)," said Roman, the country's first transgender politician.

"Itong partnership, it aims to regulate lahat ng civil relationships outside marriage at binibigyan po 'yan ng mga karapatan na kaakibat ng isang legally-recognized relationship."

Alvarez has filed House Bill 6595, which seeks to recognize civil partnership of same-sex couples and provide for their rights and obligations.

During the 7th Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,Transgender gathering in Davao City on Sunday, Duterte expressed his support for same-sex marriage.

"I am for same-sex marriage. If that is the trend of the modern times, if that will add to your happiness, who am I [to oppose it]?" he said.

Roman, however, said while she is not unsupportive of it, marriage connotes a religious meaning, which she said her fellow lawmakers may not be fully supportive of.

"Congress is a numbers game. So ang isang batas ay papasa kung ito ay susuportahan ng mga congressman at congresswomen. Ngayon, what is the point of filing something na hindi naman nila susuportahan?" she said.

"Pero kung ito ay civil partnership, mas katanggap-tanggap para sa kanila 'yan because hindi naman 'yan marriage. It's a legal recognition of stable relationships outside marriage. It does not entail marriage in church or any kind of religious ceremony, it is purely civil and legal, wala religious connotation ito. So mas may posibilidad ito na maaprubahan," she added.

Roman said civil partnership may likewise be more acceptable to society, given that it does not entail any religious ceremony.

Couples who want to enter civil partnership, she said, only need to fulfill requisites such as being consenting adults free from any form of legal attachment such as marriage, and having a stable relationship.

Roman said there is no counterpart measure in the Senate yet that also seeks civil partnership.

"But I want to clear out that this is an initiative of the House Speaker, so hindi tayo mahihirapan maghanap ng counterpart sa Upper House. And I'm hoping that with the blessing of the President, mapagpapatuloy natin yan," she said. —KBK, GMA News