House panel approves PH Magna Carta of Freedom of Religion

MANILA, Philippines — A committee in the House of Representatives approved Wednesday a bill protecting the right of the public to freedom of religion in the Philippines.

During its meeting, the House committee on human rights approved House Bill No. 6538 or the Philippine Magna Carta of Freedom of Religion, filed by CIBAC Partylist Representatives Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva and Domingo Rivera, which seeks to “create enabling laws that will protect the rights of our citizens to religious freedom which, in turn, will further bring peace and stability to our nation.”

Under the bill, the right of every person to freedom of religion and liberty of conscience, including their free exercise or expression in public, shall not be “denied, burdened, regulated, and curtailed. ”

The bill covers the following rights:

The bill likewise states that compelling a person, by means of force, threat, intimidation or undue influence, to choose or not to choose a particular religious belief to subscribe to or a particular religious group to join is prohibited.

However, the right to freedom to religion, including its expression, can be denied and regulated if:

With the bill approved at the committee level, it will be brought to the plenary for debates and approval on second and third reading.

CFC

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