CEBU, Philippines - Senator Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, joins the growing clamor for the Commission on Elections to overturn its earlier decision denying the petition for accreditation of the gay rights organization, “Ang Ladlad”, on grounds of immorality.
“The reason used by Comelec to justify the disqualification of “Ang Ladlad” is uncons-titutional,” she said. “It violates the principle on the separation of Church and State.”
She said that Comelec has jurisdiction to approve or disapprove accreditation of a party-list but that the poll body must base its ruling on legal principles, and not on religious beliefs nor on its subjective view of what is moral and what is not.
The lady senator also took issue with Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer for joking before reporters that “Ang Ladlad” was “overrepresented” since there are already “many gays and lesbians in Congress.”
“That remark, even if made in jest, is unnecessary and uncalled for. It only affirms his deep-seated prejudice against homosexuals which was reflected in the controversial decision of the Comelec’s second division,” Cayetano added.
Cayetano, a lawyer, said that Republic Act 7941, or the Party-List Act, enumerates several grounds for disqualification of a party, but one’s homosexuality or perceived immorality, is clearly not among them.
“Instead of continuously isolating groups like ‘Ang Ladlad’, the poll should go to the lengths of encouraging the participation of the most diverse possible mix of interest groups and marginalized sectors in the parliamentary arena.
These include gays and lesbians, who are among the most productive and creative sectors of our society, and who for decades, have been victims of various forms of discrimination,” she added.
Cayetano was here yesterday as one of the guest speakers in the 1st Asian Cooperative TEAMshop. TEAM stands for “Together Everyone Achieves More” to emphasize the need for unity and cooperation in the cooperative movement in the country and in the whole of Asia.
The conference held at the Cebu International Convention Center flaunted “Doing good, doing well through coopreneurship” for a theme.
Further, Cayetano confirmed of her plans to seek reelection next year as an independent candidate.
However, she pointed out, she is also a guest candidate under the Nacionalista Party coalition of Senator Manny Villar.
“I have faith in his leadership and he has the qualities needed to be the next president,” Cayetano said of Villar’s presidential bid. - Johanna T. Natavio/MEEV (FREEMAN NEWS)