Hontiveros says it’s time to vote on Sogie bill, believes it has ‘strong chance’

MANILA, Philippines — Contrary to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s claim, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros is positive the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (Sogie) Equality bill has a strong chance of getting passed in the Senate.

She said it is time to end the debates and finally vote on the measure.

“Well kung sinasabi po na may majority na laban sa Sogie equality bill, e di dalhin na natin sa botohan,” Hontiveros said Monday in an ambush interview.

(“If it is being said that there is a majority opposing the Sogie equality bill, then it is time to vote on the measure.”)

Hontiveros made the call after Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III claimed at least 15 senators would vote against the measure which the former authored.

READ: Sotto: At least 15 senators are against Sogie bill 

“There’s no need, no reason para patagalin pa yung interpellation dito. Tapusin na rin natin yung period of amendments at pagbotohan na natin para masabi natin sa ating publiko kung ano yung fact ng pagsuporta o hindi pagsuporta, anong sense of the Senate dito sa Sogie Equality Bill?” Hontiveros added.

(“There is no need, no reason for us to prolong the interpellation. Let’s end the period of amendments and vote on the measure so we can tell the public whether the Senate support the Sogie Equality Bill or not.”)

Contrary to what Sotto claimed, Hontiveros was positive the Sogie bill has a “strong fighting chance” based on her conversations with colleagues in the Senate.

“Yes, I believe based sa conversation ko sa mga kapwa senador ko na we have a strong fighting chance with this Sogie Equality Bill,” Hontiveros said.

(“Yes, I believe, based on my conversations with fellow senators, we have a strong fighting chance with this Sogie Equality Bill.”)

“Kahit pa merong Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill ngayon sa Senado which I believe lahat kami ay sumusuporta din na kulang pa yung mga batas para protektahan ang bawat Pilipino lalo na yung LGBTQ+ community laban sa diskriminasyon,” she continued.

(“Although we have a Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill in the Senate which I believe we all support, laws protecting Filipinos especially the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination are still inadequate.”)