Sep 10 2019 03:39 PM | ABS CBN News
MANILA – The country’s top cop on Tuesday said there was “no need” for a measure seeking to protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination.
Philippine National Police chief Director Oscar Albayalde said the Constitution “provides ample protection for everyone already.”
“There’s no need actually kasi (because) we are already protected by the Constitution and by all laws of the land equally,” he told reporters.
“Ang sa’kin lang pong take d’yan (My take is), we cannot make laws that are tailor-fit to a certain group lang (only). Let us not make laws just to satisfy a certain person, individual or group. Otherwise everybody will have their own laws.”
Albayalde cited Sen. Nancy Binay, who called for a more “universal” anti-discrimination bill.
“Sa ngayon (Right now), we (PNP) really cannot wisdom on crafting a law just for that purpose alone. I don’t think kailangan pa natin ang ganiyang batas (we need that law) just for that purpose alone and for those people alone,” he said.
“Otherwise, pwede rin sana ako. Paano kung yung mga walang buhok dapat eh ‘di ka dini-discriminate ‘di ba? Eh ‘di gagawa din sana ng batas ng ganun.”
The SOGIE Equality Bill recently became a hot-button issue after transgender woman Gretchen Diez was arrested following an altercation with a mall personnel for using a woman’s restroom.
The proposed measure has deepened divisions among various sectors in the predominantly Catholic Philippines.
President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed support for the bill’s passage.
SOURCE : https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/10/19/pnp-chief-says-no-need-for-sogie-equality-bill