Groups hold prayer rally outside Senate vs Sogie bill

MANILA, Philippines — Several groups staged a prayer rally outside the Senate in Pasay City on Monday to protest against the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (Sogie) Equality bill.

Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) Rep. Eddie Villanueva explained that the prayer rally participated in by faith-based communities and “straight communities, does not seek to promote hatred towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) community.

“Wala pong hatred sa aming puso against our countrymen na it so happened naging gay or lesbian [There is no hatred in our hearts against our countrymen who so happened to be gay or lesbian.] We actually love them with the compassionate heart of Jesus,” Villanueva said at a press conference at the Senate.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile, claimed that at least 15 of the 24 senators would vote against the bill, underscoring that there was “no need” for the bill, citing redundancy.

Sotto also answered “yes” when asked if the measure would not pass the Senate.

“This is a representation, what we see today outside the Senate is a representation of what the people feel,” Sotto said./ac