Sara, GMA attend Pride Month festivities

MANILA, Philippines — In an apparent show of support, former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday accompanied impeached Vice President Sara Duterte at the Pride Month celebration in San Fernando, Pampanga, the bailiwick of the Arroyos.

Arroyo, a close ally of the Dutertes, was stripped of her title as deputy House speaker in 2023 – sparking the collapse of the Dutertes’ relationship with President Marcos.

Advocates, allies and leaders of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community attended Kasarilayaan, the annual Pride reception of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

At a press conference, Duterte endorsed the passage of a bill allowing same-sex civil unions, authored by Sen. Robinhood Padilla.

“This is one of the proposed laws that will acknowledge same-sex relationships or non-traditional families. They will be given the rights,” Duterte said.

The 19th Congress failed to pass Padilla’s Senate Bill 449.

“If he needs the help of the OVP to present it and help senators understand it, we are willing to help,” she added.

The Catholic Church should not oppose the measure since Pope Francis backed same-sex civil unions, Duterte maintained.