SW News: In the Philippines, the House of Representatives conducted the third and final reading of a bill that seeks to protect religious freedom. As many as 256 members voted in favor of House Bill No 6492 with one voting against and three abstaining from the vote.

Known as the Magna Carta on Religious Freedom, it seeks to protect Section 5, Article III of the Constitution which protects the citizens’ "free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference." Once it becomes a law, then it will permit all citizens to practice whichever religion they follow without any restrictions. The only exception is if "the free exercise of religious freedom or conscience results to violence or harms public safety, public order, health, property and good morals".

The religious freedom bill was co-authored by Representative Bienvenido Abante of Manila who also tabled House Bill No. 5717 "to protect and guarantee the rights of heterosexuals in their dealings with their fellowmen." It is now before the House panel on women and gender equality and it seeks to safeguard the right of people who are straight to "to adhere to, practice, proclaim, promote, propagate, defend and protect their religion and religious beliefs, convictions and standards without interference and/or abridgment".

Another author of the religious freedom bill is Representative Eddie Villaneuva  is also mulling to use religious freedom to oppose the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression Equality bill. "What happens to a Christian like me and to the majority of people in this August chamber if we are to be threatened with punishment every time we share our Bible-based beliefs,” he asked.

As per the religious freedom bill, those who exert force on others to defect to a particular religion, use threats to obtain the same objective or insult others  because of their religious convictions will be penalized. Violators will be imposed with a fine ranging from 100,000 pesos to 500,000 pesos along with a jail sentence of six to eight years.