Respect for different beliefs: House panel OKs proposed Magna Carta on Religious Freedom

By Billy Begas

The House Committee on Human Rights has approved the substitute bill for the proposed Magna Carta on Religious Freedom.

The measure, principally authored by Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva and CIBAC Rep. Domingo Rivera will be endorsed to the plenary for approval on second and third reading.

The authors said that the measure would become the enabling law of Article III, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution, which protects the rights of Filipinos to religious freedom.

“Our society is held together not only by law and its enforcement, but more importantly by those who voluntarily obey the established laws as motivated by their internalized norms of righteous or correct behavior. Since time and immemorial, religious belief has been a vital influence in man’s knowledge of right and wrong and produces voluntary compliance by a large number of our citizens,” the authors said in their measure.

The substitute bill outlines the rights of every individual to religious freedom such as the right to choose a religion or religious group, the right to exercise or express religious beliefs, practices, acts or activities, the right to freedom against discrimination in employment as well as in educational institutions.

Committee chairman and Quezon City Rep. Jesus ‘Bong’ Suntay said the measure “is regarded as another landmark legislation of the committee as it is an embodiment of the State’s policy to protect and uphold at all times the fundamental and inalienable right of every person to freely choose and exercise one’s religious belief.”

The members of the panel in numerous instances voted for and against sections of the substitute bill to ensure that it is constitutionally valid, reasonable and that it adheres to sound public policy.

Deputy Speaker and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante moved for the approval of the substitute bill and its amendments after four hours of deliberation.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)