LAMBAYONG, Sultan Kudarat--Presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. says that if public clamor pushes Congress to pass a bill instituting same-sex unions, he would sign it.
"Dapat it will be up to Congress kung gugustuhin naman ng tao. At Congressmen and Senators as representatives of their constitutencies, ay kung masabihan sila kung 'Ito yung gusto natin' at ipasa, gawin batas, pipirmahan ko yan kung presidente ako (It will be up to Congress if the people want it. Congressmen and Senators as representatives of their constituencies, if they are told 'This is what we want,' and they pass it into law, I will sign it if I am elected president)," Marcos said, citing Pope Francis during a townhall session with sectoral representatives in Lambayong here on Monday, March 28.
To preface, he explained the differences between same-sex marriage and same-sex unions, and claimed that the Church had warmed up to same-sex unions.
"Same-sex union and same-sex marriage is different, dahil yan yung marriage eh simbahan yan pero (because marriage is an affair of the Church but) when it comes to same sex union, malaki na ang pagbabago sa Roman Catholic Church dahil nung tinanong si Pope Francis kung ano ang kanyang opinyon sa (there has been big change in the Roman Catholic Church. When Pope Francis was asked his opinion on) same sex union he said it best: 'Who am i to judge?'" he further explained.
"The only thing is that there are legal implications. Kung may asawa ka na, iba. yung mga taxation, maraming mga benefits, maraming mga subsidy, maraming kaibahan (If you have a spouse, it's different. Taxation, more benefits, more subsidy, many differences)," Marcos added.
He also said that he would advocate the passage of laws protecting members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgeder, and Queer (LGBTQ) community from discrimination.
One such bill that has yet to be passed is the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression or SOGIE Bill.
Marcos is running for president alongside his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in the May 2022 polls.