Bill seeks penalties for same-sex marriages

A Philippine lawmaker has sought the criminalization of same-sex marriages even though no such case in the country has been documented yet. Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. has filed House Bill 6919, which seeks to impose penalties on those of the same gender who want to tie the knot. The same-sex union is “highly immoral, scandalous, and detestable," a media release from the House of Representatives citing the lawmaker said. “The absence of clear legislation serves as an invitation to same-sex marriage," Abante said, adding that the Revised Penal Code has no specific provisions that penalizes a person for marrying someone belonging to the same gender or for solemnizing the marriage of persons of the same gender. If same-sex unions “become a reality in this part of the globe, that would snap the remaining strand of our moral values," he said. Under Abante's bill, those found guilty will face 15 years imprisonment and a fine of not more than P150,000. It also proposes to impose 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. Similarly, the measure also seeks to penalize any person who issues a marriage license, or who shall solemnize the marriage of persons of the same sex or gender with imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of not more than P100,000. His or her license or authority to solemnize marriages will also be revoked. “Any marriage license issued, and any marriage solemnized, in violation of this measure shall be declared null and void," Abante said. Under the bill, if the violation has been committed by a public officer, s/he will be dismissed from employment and barred from any government job. The measure also requires the local Civil Registrar and the solemnizing officer to ascertain the true gender of the parties to be married before issuing a marriage license and solemnizing the union. - GMANews.TV