Remulla: SOGIE, same-sex, divorce bills rejected because PH is predominantly Catholic
In a characteristic display of “hypocrisy” and “intellectual dishonesty,” Justice Department Secretary Boying Remulla said that bills seeking to protect LGBTQIA+ rights and legalize same-sex marriage and divorce are “not acceptable” in the Philippines because it is a predominantly Catholic nation.
Remulla made the statement in his radio program on Saturday, November 19, where he reported on the participation of the Philippines in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) last week.
At the UPR, the Remulla-led Philippine delegation rejected recommendations for the country to adopt measures such as the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Bill and laws legalizing same-sex marriage, divorce and abortion.
“They want the SOGIE Bill for same-sex marriage to have the same as in their countries. So, that’s not acceptable for us. They really want a lot to be implemented here,” Remulla said in Filipino.
Remulla said they also rejected calls for the Philippines to adopt abortion, which the UNHRC considers as a measure for respecting women’s rights over their body.
He said the UNHCR also sees the legalization of divorce and the legislated total removal of the death penalty in the country as measures that the Philippines should adopt.
“Divorce, even though we want it, needs thorough discussion, given that ours is a Catholic nation,” he added.
Remulla’s son, Juanito Jose Remulla III, is facing charges for illegal possession of dangerous drugs, while the elder Remulla refuses to resign his post as Justice Secretary.
Netizens have shot down Remulla’s rationalization for rejecting the SOGIE and divorce bills by pointing out that many Catholic countries, including Spain, which had colonized the Philippines and spread Catholicism in the country, have laws that protect LGBTQIA+ rights and legalize divorce. Moreover, it reeks of hypocrisy to deny SOGIE rights and divorce from members of the LGBTQIA+ community who continue to face discrimination and separated couples who have to clear legal hurdles and pay exorbitant fees in order to secure their new civil status.
Furthermore, netizens argued, religion has no place in a true democratic government that is supposed to uphold the separation of the Church and the State. Here are a few examples of indignation that Remulla’s latest statement has sparked online:
