MANILA - For Senator Grace Poe, same-sex marriage may be unconstitutional but members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community can be given by law some benefits that are granted to married couples.

"Meron tayo anti-discrimination na tinutulak," she said. "Ang kailangan kasi, sa mga magkakasama na ng matatagal katulad niyan mga nagmamahalahan, hindi kasi pinapayagan sa ating Konstitusyon, kahit gustuhin man nino, na magkaroon same-sex marriage, pero sa tingin ko, maamyendahan natin para iyung mga benepisyo katulad ng health, life insurance, pati na rin mga tax deductions ay mailagay sa probisyon para payagan yung mga benepisyaryo na pipiliin natin. Kahit wala naman silang dokumento na kasal sila, pag na-name natin iyun as beneficiary, as a partner ay mabigyan sila ng pagkilala ng ospital, ng insurance company, at ng BIR, so sa tingin ko, iyan ay pwedeng talakayin sa lebel ng lehislatura ng Kongreso."

Poe's proposal is not quite like civil unions in the United States. "Iyung ginagamit ko kasing example iyung sa America, may civil unions. I'm not sure kung ito ay magiging applicable sa atin, especially with our Constitution. Baka masyadong thin line iyung pagkakaiba nun but definitely, if we tackle benefits individually without necessarily going through a process of union, baka naman maibigay na natin yung benefits na iyun."

"For example, civil union sa America, which is not exactly a marriage but here in the Philippines, if we're not ready either for a civil union or actual marriage, then we can work on benefits, individually amending let's say the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] regulations or even for health," she added.

"I'm not a lawyer pero sa tingin ko naman, the individual has a right to choose who his or her beneficiary should be," she added.