Albay Representative Edcel Lagman passed away on Thursday, January 30, leaving in his wake a divorce bill with a narrow window of opportunity between now and the midterm elections. United States President Donald Trump’s executive orders take effect, stirring conversations about whether or not Filipino-Americans are safe from his mass deportation plan. Meanwhile, his freeze order on foreign aid has forced LGBTQ support groups in the Philippines to look elsewhere for funding.
In case you missed it, here are some of the most important State of Affairs stories this week.
Lobbying for Philippine Divorce Bill Continues Even as Congress Adjourns
With only a week left before Congress adjourns, Divorce For The Philippines Now continues lobbying for the passage of the Divorce Bill, which has been held up in the Senate for six months. While religious groups maintain their stance against the bill, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada says that divorce legislation is just not a priority right now.
US Foreign Aid Freeze Affects Trans and HIV Health Services in PH
U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to re-evaluate foreign aid programs has affected gender-affirming hormone therapy and access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the Philippines. Support groups like Transmasculine Philippines and LoveYourself are determined to keep operations afloat to continue providing constituents with health services and gender-affirming care.
In History: Carlos Celdran is Convicted of Blasphemy
January 28 commemorates the day activist and artist Carlos Celdran was first convicted of offending religious feelings. The METC found that his one-man protest against the Catholic Church’s efforts to block the Reproductive Health Bill violated one of the blasphemy laws, particularly Article 133, written into the Revised Penal Code.
Marcos Urges Postponement of BARMM Elections
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez confirmed on Wednesday, January 29, that President Bongbong Marcos has urged Senate to pass a bill postponing the elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. welcomes the proposed reset, saying the BARMM needs time to amend key legislation.
Filipinos Deported from U.S. Are Mostly For Petty Crimes
In a radio show on Sunday, January 26, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said that 24 Filipinos have been deported from the United States for their alleged involvement in “mostly petty crimes.” While they’re allowed to fly home in commercial planes, immigrants alleged to be involved with “gangs” are being deported in cargo planes.
