Palace: Duterte can’t do anything if Congress rejects SOGIE bill
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2019 09:00:46 +0000
Malacañang said President Duterte cannot do anything if Congress will not pass the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression bill since the Executive cannot encroach on the territory of the Legislative branch.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement following the resistance of some lawmakers to the passage of the bill which was intended to prevent any kind of discrimination against people based on their gender orientation or expression.
Senate President Tito Sotto had said that the SOGIE bill has no chance in hurdling the Senate.
In an interview, Panelo said the passage of the bill will depend on the wisdom of the lawmakers.
“With respect to any bill the discretion, the wisdom will always lie in the lawmakers,” he said.
Transwoman Gretchen Diez, who was involved in a discrimination incident, had earlier said that Duterte assured her of his support for the SOGIE bill and that it would be passed.
However, Panelo said that the President can only do so much.
“Still even if the President supports it, if Congress disagrees that’s how the so-called balance of power and checks and balances operate,” he said. (Argyll Geducos)