Former Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, now running as a senatorial candidate for #Eleksyon2016, stated that because the Philippines may not yet be ready for it, she supports – instead of same-sex marriage – civil unions of LGBT people in relationships.
Interviewed by InterAksyon, De Lima was quoted as saying: “I think Philippine society is not yet ready for same-sex marriage, much as we respect their rights and we must protect them. Maybe we can instead consider civil unions in terms of property rights, contractual rights. Also to protect them. Couples are living together, they have built their lives together and therefore, kailangan ding protektahan ‘yung mga (we also need to protect the) consequences of living together.”
In a profile on De Lima by TV5 Network, the former Justice Secretary’s advocacies are said to revolve around the following issues and concerns: justice and the rule of law; anti-corruption; human rights; marginalized sectors; and education.
