Senatorial candidate and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says that he would file a bill legalizing same-sex marriage should he be elected in the May 2022 polls.
“Pabor po ako diyan dahil hindi po puwede manghimasok ang estado pagdating sa isyu kung sinong mamahalin at sinong magiging kapiling sa buhay (I am in favor of this because the state cannot interfere when it comes to who people want to love and who they want to be with in life),” said Roque in a press statement on Thursday, Feb. 17.
Roque added that he is also in favor of legalizing divorce in the Philippines.
“Pabor din po ako dyan kasi talaga naman pong may mga taong nagkakamali ang nagbabayad po ay ang mga anak (I am also in favor of this because there really are people who make mistakes, and it's the children who suffer) when the parents are stuck in a bad marriage,” he added.
A previous petition seeking the legalization of same-sex marriage in the country was denied by the Supeme Court (SC) in 2020.
Roque is vying for the senatorial seat in the 2022 elections and has been selected for the UniTeam senatorial slate led by presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.