MANILA- A proposed law against discrimination should cover all forms of prejudice and not just bigotry, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after he clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte would certify as urgent an anti-discrimination bill contrary to the chief executive’s earlier remark that he wanted to expedite the passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) bill.

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“With respect to anti-discrimination against this particular class, that can be included in the general anti-discrimination law,” Panelo told reporters.

Panelo said addressing bigotry may be included in Sen. Sonny Angara’s proposed measure which seeks to ban “all forms” of discrimination in the country.

“Hindi puwedeng class legislation so include mo na lang,” Panelo said.

(It cannot be a class legislation so just include it.)

The SOGIE bill is seen as a measure to protect members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community from all forms of discrimination

Senators started debates on the SOGIE bill, proposed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, following the brief detention of a transgender woman who attempted to use the women's toilet at a Quezon City mall last month.

The proposed measure has deepened divisions among various sectors in predominantly Catholic Philippines.

• SOGIE: Hard questions over bill vs gender-based discrimination
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