Council opposes same-sex marriages

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council is strongly supporting the move to criminalize the same-sex marriages in the country because it would be highly immoral and scandalous.

Councilor Roberto “Bob” Cabarrubias said that the Revised Penal Code does not contain any provision penalizing a person for marrying another of the same gender, neither is there a provision penalizing a person for solemnizing the marriage of persons of the same gender.

Cabarrubias said under Article 15, section 2 of the Constitution, marriage is defined as an inviolable social institution and the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the state.

House Bill 6919, once enacted into law, will slap 15 years imprisonment and a fine of not more than P150,000 to every violator and a 12-year jail term and a fine of P100,000 for anybody who misdeclares or hides his or her true gender in order to secure a marriage license.

An employee of the Office of the Civil Registrar in Cebu City said so far they have not encountered such case that somebody is applying for a marriage license with a person of the same sex. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)