CIBAC Representative and House Deputy Speaker Bro Eddie Villanueva lauds the decision of the Supreme Court to deny the legalization of same sex marriage in the country, says that it should set the tenor among policymakers not to attempt any alteration on the existing set-up of man-woman only marriage.
In its 113-page decision, the High Tribunal denied with finality any motion for reconsideration of petitions requesting to legalize same sex marriage in the Philippines because “no substantial arguments were presented to warrant the reversal” of the previous decision upholding the constitutionality of Family Code provisions which confine marriage to just between man and a woman.
“The Family Code was crafted to mirror the historical, traditional and religious values of Filipinos on marriage. Marriage, as an inviolable social institution in Filipino life, has always been conceived between a man and a woman. Hence, to nullify such law which bears our values on marriage is tantamount to denying our identity as a people and betraying our deep-held morals. It is not only against God, it is also against ourselves as a people,” said Citizens’ Battle against Corruption (CIBAC) Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva.
Articles 1 and 2 of the Family Code limited marriages between man and woman while Articles 46 (4) and 55 (6) mention lesbianism or homosexuality as grounds for annulment and legal separation.
Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in his ponencia said that invalidating the Family Code provisions on who can marry may disturb a barrage of gender-specific laws in many Philippine statutes, such as taxation, family relations, labor, and even penal laws.
“The litany of provisions that we have just recounted are not even the entirety of laws relating to marriage. Petitioner would have this Court impliedly amend all such laws, through a mere declaration of unconstitutionality of only 2 articles in a single statute,” said the ponencia.
“The Supreme Court decision is a welcome development to us. It reaffirms our belief that we are in the right path when we stand to defend that marriage is just and must be confined between man and woman. It is not only the divine will of God, it is also the standing spirit and will of the laws of our land,” adds the CIBAC solon.
“Though the High Court noted that the issue might be better resolved in Congress than in court, the decision must echo a warning to all policymakers that to alter the current order where marriage is just between man and woman is not only legally troublesome but absolutely unnecessary and just a waste of time. The confusion, disorder and disarray that migh be created by altering the man-woman order on marriage will far outweigh any iota of advancement, if there’s any, promised by those wishing to change it,” ends Deputy Speaker Villanueva.
It can be recalled that Deputy Speaker Villanueva, with CIBAC’s second Representative Domeng Rivera, opposed last year the SOGIE bill which is considered by many as the initial stage of introducing same sex marriage in the country.
