Eleazar: LGBT couples living together OK to pillion ride

MANILA, Philippines — Pillion riding on motorcycles for LGBT couples is allowed, as long as they present proper identification to show that they live under one roof, Joint Task Force COVID-10 Shield commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Saturday.

“Kung titignan po natin, binanggit ng National Task Force na ito ay para sa married couple and others na live-in partners,” Eleazar said during the Laging Handa online press briefing.

(If we look into, the National Task Force said that this protocol is for married couples and other live-in partners.)

“So in essence, kung ‘yung ating mga kasamahan sa LGBTQI ay sila po ay magkasama sa isang bahay at sila naman ay live-in partners, kasama rin sila doon,” he added.

(So in essence, if our fellowmen belonging to the LGBTQI live in the same address as live-in partners, they are included in that rule.)

“Ang kailangan lamang po ay mga patunay na sila ay nakatira doon sa iisang lugar o iisang address ng iisang bahay para patunayan na sila ay magkasama,” he further said.

(What they need to prove is that they live-in together in the same house, in the same address.)

LGBT couples only need to show their IDs to authorities as proof, Eleazar said.

“”Sa ngayon, kung nagpatunay lang na meron silang ID doon, ayun po ay kino-consider natin. Kung sa pagsisinungaling nila, bahala sila. Pero kung makakakuha ng additional certification coming from the barangay, maganda din po ‘yan,” he said.

(For now, all they need to show is their IDs, we’ll consider that. If they will lie about it, it’s up to them. But if they show additional clearance from the barangay, that would also suffice.)

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) earlier allowed pillion riding on motorcycles for married couples, as long as they have a divider between the driver and pillion rider.

/MUF