MANILA - Malacañang reiterated Thursday the need to respect gay rights in the wake of the detention of transgender woman, Gretchen Custodio Diez for using a female restroom at a Quezon City mall earlier this week.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said barring Diez from using the women’s restroom is a violation as he noted the need to respect members of the LGBT community.

“Our position is we have to respect LGBT. Another thing, there is an ordinance to respect them so violation 'yung ginawa sa transgender (that was a violation),” Panelo told reporters, referring to Quezon City's 2014 anti-discrimination ordinance.

Diez was barred by a janitress from using the women's comfort room at a mall on Tuesday and was detained after the mall's management filed an unjust vexation complaint against her for going live on Facebook while the incident was unfolding.

She was later released and in turn, filed a complaint against the shopping mall for violating the city ordinance.

• Trans woman detained after being harassed for using ladies' toilet in QC mall

The management of Farmers Plaza apologized to Diez and the LGBT community on Wednesday.

In light of the incident, Sen. Risa Hontiveros again called for the passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill which Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte would likely support.

Panelo, however, could not say yet if the President would certify the measure as urgent for its swift passage.

“I remember the President expressed support for the LGBT one time di ba? So I think he will support that kind [of bill] kasi ang gusto nun laging (because he wants) fair treatment to all eh,” Panelo said.