By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Braving fireworks in both houses of Congress because of her controversial bill and stressing that it’s not a traditional marriage, Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Representative Bernadette “BH” Herrera has renewed her push for a same-sex civil partnership law in the Philippines.
Under her proposed House Bill 1015 or the Civil Partnership Act, same-sex couples under civil partnerships will also benefit like the married “straight” couples who can apply for tax exemptions for their spouses and qualified dependents.
“Civil partnership po ang isinusulong namin sa Kongreso, hindi same-sex marriage, HINDI UNION. Matagal nang kinikilala ng Civil Code of the Philippines na kahit sinong tao sa Pilipinas ay maaaring pumasok sa isang partnership agreement,” Herrera pointed out.
She clarified that in her proposed same-sex civil partnership contract, the only parties are the two persons binding themselves to their contract, so there are no religious issues involved.
“Iyan lang ang requirement. Hindi requirement ang anumang kasalan. Walang officiating officer sa anumang seremonya. Iyong kontrata lang at pag-register nito sa city hall o munisipyo ang requirement sang-ayon sa mga pamantayan na nakasaad sa panukalang batas,” Herrera explained.
In a statement, the BH party-list lawmaker said she sees the same-sex civil partnership as an “alternative” to marriage in a Catholic-majority nation so same-sex partners could be granted the same constitutional rights given to straight couples.
Herrera emphasized that passing a same-sex civil partnership law is a human rights issue and that it does “not seek to dilute nor diminish marriages solemnized in Catholic and other religious rites.”
(el Amigo/MNM)