President Rodrigo Duterte made it clear on Wednesday that he bore no ill will toward the LGBT community.
But he draws the line with same-sex marriage because such a union, he says, is forbidden by law.
"Kung ano ang makapaligaya sa isang tao o dalawang tao, kanila yan. But for the reason there is a law which says in the family code sa ating civil code, defining the relations of our society . . . marriage is always between a man and a woman," Duterte said at a press conference at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, an hour or so after he and a government entourage had arrived from official visits in Myanmar and Thailand.
"If I allow (same-sex marriage), I would have violated the law. Pero kung ako tanungin mo, kung ano ang makapaligaya sa’yo, gawin mo. Isang beses ka lang dumaan dito."
Duterte upset LGBT members when he said on Monday: "Kung saan ka pinuwesto ng Diyos, diyan ka lang. Huwag mong haluin kaming lahat. Biro mo, ako ang Presidente tapos wala ng — you erase the great divide between a woman and a man."
His recent words were interpreted as a condemnation of lesbians and gays, but Duterte said he respects their preference.
"If it makes the gays happy, let them be. I do not condemn anybody there. What makes you happy, good. Just don’t violate the law, period," Duterte said.