Supreme Court resumes oral arguments on plea for marriage equality in PHL

The Supreme Court (SC) resumes on Tuesday afternoon hearing oral arguments on a lawyer's petition for marriage equality which — if granted — could pave the way for same-sex marriage in the Philippines.

Jesus Nicardo Falcis III, a public interest lawyer who petitioned the Supreme Court (SC) to strike down gender-specific legal limits to Philippine marriages in 2015, faced the scrutiny of the magistrates of the high tribunal in an hours-long oral argument last Tuesday.

Solicitor General Jose Calida, representing the Civil Registrar General, the respondent in the petition, is expected to face questioning by the SC on Tuesday's proceeding, which starts at 2 p.m.

During the first day of the oral arguments last week, Falcis' legal standing to bring the case was challenged since he, a single gay man, has never applied for a marriage license, was consequently never denied one, and thus appears to have suffered no "injury in fact" by virtue of the enforcement of the Family Code.

He was also told by some justices of the SC that he should have first brought the petition to a lower court, particularly a regional trial court, instead of running straight to the highest Philippine court for relief.

When quizzed, Falcis also argued that there might be members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community that cannot wait for the enactment of a law on same-sex civil unions.

He also said he seeks the legal recognition of same-sex relationships under marriage that would grant gay couples access to "numerous" rights and obligations, such as those to inheritance and government benefits. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/MDM, GMA News