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Villanueva joins Church groups’ protest vs SOGIE Bill: Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday joined the Christian Coalition for Righteousness, Justice, and Truth (CCRJT) composed of Philippines for Jesus Movement (PJM), Intercessors for the Philippines (IFP), Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), Negros Island House of Prayer (NIHOP), NFS Ministry, together with the G12 Philippines, at the prayer rally outside the Senate of the Philippines to express their strong opposition to the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Bill. According to the CCRJT, about 30,000 Christian believers from all over the country gathered today to reiterate that the SOGIE Bill violates one’s freedom to express his or her religious beliefs which is embedded in the Constitution. Villanueva further lamented that cases of discrimination exist not just against the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community but also against people from different religion or belief, social class, civil status, age, race, and medical condition. “We need an anti-discrimination law that will promote genuine equality--a measure that is concrete and holistic. We will never allow the suppression of people's rights to exercise their religious freedom or cultural beliefs,” Villanueva said.