Sen. Padilla loses Muslim support over same-sex bill

SENATOR Robin Padilla’s sponsorship of the same-sex bill may have cost him the support of the Grand Imam of the Marawi Grand Mosque and his followers.

Grand Imam Alim Abdumajeed Djamla of the biggest mosque in Marawi said he and his followers are withdrawing their support and “strongly condemn” his sponsorship of Senate Bill no. 449 or “An Act Institutionalizing Civil Unions of Same-Sex Couples, Establishing Their Rights and Obligations, and For Other Purposes.”

The bill proposes to give same-sex couples the right to obtain valid licenses for a civil union and be afforded inheritance and adoption rights.

“I regret to inform all Muslims in general and the Muslims in the Philippines that I and those who follow me have withdrawn our support for Senator Robin Padilla and strongly condemn his sponsorship of Same-Sex Marriage Bill no (449) Civil Union Acts in the Senate,” Djamla said.

He said the measure that seeks the legalization of same-sex marriage is considered immoral by all religions and is forbidden (Haram) under Islamic laws.

Djamla warned Muslims who enter into a same-sex marriage that it is “tantamount to disbelief (Kufr),” which is outside the creed of Islam.

Padilla landed the first spot among the senatorial candidates in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur province during the last May 9 elections garnering 323,326 votes.

Legalizing same-sex marriage has faced opposition in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines in the past.

Djamla’s statement that was posted on Facebook has been shared by many netizens who supported the call from the Muslims.

“I, as Christian, I also support this condemnation and regret, by supporting Robin Padilla (in the) last elections,” Netizen Bhoy de Castro said on his Facebook wall.

A Social Weather Stations survey in 2018 showed that 61 percent of Filipinos opposed any proposal to legalize same-sex marriage.