Jinggoy willing to support bill vs discrimination of gays if...

Opposition Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada yesterday expressed willingness to support the bill filed by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. that seeks to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.

At the same time, Estrada urged Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information, to start public hearings on the proposed Magna Carta for Journalists to create legislation to protect the welfare of mediamen.

Estrada said like Sen. Revilla, he is also against discrimination against gays and lesbians, and also indigenous peoples and even ex-convicts that have a hard time getting regular jobs.

I personally support the bill protecting gays and I also appeal to Sen. Revilla to likewise support my bill seeking a Magna Carta for Journalists to protect practicing journalists, said Estrada, who is also chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment.

Estrada added "Kakausapin ko rin si Sen. Bong Revilla to expand the scope of his bill. I will personally ask my good friend, Sen. Revilla, that ethnic tribes such as Aeta, Igorot, Lumad and the likes should also be given an equal opportunities together with ex-convicts."

According to Estrada, he is willing to start public hearings of the Senate labor committee to tackle Revillas bill if the chair of the Senate public information committee.

Estrada also called on Revillas panel to start hearings on the bill for the Magna Carta for Journalists and an investigation on the killings of more than 70 journalists in the past years.

Estrada said Congress should now make laws like the Magna Carta for Journalists to protect the welfare of mediamen and also measures to prevent discrimination against gays, lesbians, indigenous peoples, and ex-convicts.