Duterte to certify as urgent ‘anti- discrimination, not Sogie bill’

Sen. Risa Hontiveros had refiled the Sogie Bill at the 18th Congress. The House of Representatives approved the bill in 2017, but the Senate version experienced delays during the period of interpellation.

“Remember separation of powers? He might have said Sogie but I know he means anti discrimination,” the Senate chief said.

Sotto has said majority of the senators did not support the Sogie bill for being “anti-women’s rights.”

Duterte met previously with the LGBTQ advocates, including transgender woman Gretchen Custodio Diez, in Malacañang and expressed his full support, Go has said.

Diez made headlines last month after she was barred from using the female comfort room of a shopping mall in Quezon City.

Diez, however, was released on the same day after the janitress apologized and backed out from pursuing the unjust vexation case.

Panelo, who is also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, had said the incident was a clear violation of Quezon City’s Gender Fair Ordinance. CATHERINE S. VALENTE, BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO