THE Human Rights Watch has reminded President Rodrigo Duterte of his campaign promise of supporting the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Carlos Conde of HRW made the statement after Duterte, in a speech in Myanmar before the Filipino community Sunday night, criticized same-sex marriage, saying it would not work for the Philippines because it is a Catholic country and the Civil Code provides that a man can only marry a woman.
He recalled that during last year's presidential election campaign, Duterte said he was open to the idea of same-sex marriage, boosting his popularity in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and gave credibility to his image as a politician respectful of LGBT rights.
Conde said Duterte's reversal is not just about campaign promises, "it jeopardizes the fundamental rights of LGBT partners and families."
"Allowing same-sex marriage would enable gays and lesbians in the Philippines to marry the person they love and would strengthen everyone’s rights. From a human rights perspective, broadening civil marriage to couples of the same sex demonstrates respect for the fundamental rights of equality and nondiscrimination," he said.
It should be enshrined in Philippine law, he added.
He urged that the Philippines should join countries including the United States, South Africa, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, New Zealand, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and Ireland, all of which have enshrined marriage equality in their laws.
He noted that in Asia, lawmakers in Taiwan are mulling a draft law that would legalize same-sex marriage.
"Duterte’s backtracking is easily remedied. He and his government should demonstrate the political will to push through legislation to protect the rights of the country’s LGBT population, starting with same-sex marriage," he said. (SDR/VoxPop Philippines)