Vice President Sara Duterte hopes that members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community and their relationships would be given the protection of the law.

As the guest speaker during the 62nd mass wedding sponsored by Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting, the official congratulated the newlyweds “for making the right decision to legitimize your union under the law,” but also expressed hope that the same could be accorded to the LGBTQ community.

“Kanina po, habang nakaupo ako, napaisip din ako. Dahil marami na pong (Earlier, while I was sitting, I thought about it. Because there are many) gender ngayon na kinikilala ng ating (now being recognized in our) society,” she said.

“Naisip ko sana sa mga susunod na taon ay ‘yung mga ibang (I hope that in the coming years, the other) gender tulad ng mga (like the) LGBTQ ay mabigyan na rin sila ng proteksyon ng batas, ng kanilang mga (may be given protection by the law, by their) partners, at sa kanilang mga (and in their) relationships,” Duterte added.

Her remarks came as the Senate—specifically Senators Joel Villanueva and Risa Hontiveros—butt heads on the contentious Anti-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) bill, with Villanueva sending the bill to the powerful Committee on Rules that he heads.

READ: Hontiveros wants SOGIE bill returned to original panel; Senate majority voted against senator’s bid

Villanueva attacked the bill for what he said was the “bottomline” of eventually allowing same-sex marriage, which he said would destroy families and violate the country’s laws.

However, nothing in the SOGIE bill under Committee Report No. 15 mentioned about same-sex marriage. Instead, it seeks to prohibit discrimination based on one’s sexual orientation.

Duterte shared that she and former congresswoman Joy Tambunting have many friends in the LGBTQ community.

“Ang gusto po natin mabigyan sila ng proteksiyon sa batas tulad natin na mga kinakasal (What we want is to give them protection under the law just like us who were married),” she stressed.