Mc Richard Paglicawan
At Radyo5’s 92.3 TRUE FM grand launch on March 11, anchor Danton Remoto revealed he has no plans to return to politics. He says he prefers a quiet life being a teacher, radio host, and writer.
Danton Remoto ,is the founder of Ladlad party-list – an LGBTQ political party that fights for human rights and anti-discrimination. In 2010, after more than four years of trying, Ladlad made history and became the first gay political party that got included in the ballot in the 2010 Philippine elections.
When asked, “Diyan ka na talaga sa radio? May balak ka bang tumakbo? Kase tumakbo ka before (sa) Ladlad partylist.”
Remoto is unsure if he will return to politics. He explained, “Hindi ko alam, sa totoo lang.”
He jokingly added he will run for the senate if he receives funding.
“Pag may nagbigay sa akin ng P100 million, tatakbo akong senador! Bongga!”
He goes on to say that politics is a complicated and muddy career choice.
“Magulo kase ang politika eh. You know, masyadong marumi siya.”
In fact, he feels happier being a teacher and a radio host as it allows him to live a quieter life.
“Mas masaya akong teacher…tsaka sa radyo. Parang si Manong Ted. Mas tahimik ang buhay.”
Ladlad means “Out of the Closet” and the partylist he founded aims to fight for equal opportunities for LGBT Filipinos to fund welfare programs, legal aid and counseling services for the poor and disabled gays. Ladlad also wants to see more youth and senior centers set up for the LGBT Filipino community. However, the partylist has yet to win a seat after losing consecutively since 2010 and not participating in the 2019 and 2022 elections.
13 years ago, the Commission on Elections denied Ladlad’s registration twice.– first, for lack of members and then on moral grounds. In its second dismissal, the COMELEC cited the partylist’s tolerance for “immorality which offends religious beliefs.”
It quoted the Bible, the Koran and then the Law Department’s definition of the civil code.
But on April 8, 2010, the Philippine Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ang Ladlad and ordered COMELEC to grant accreditation saying, “The denial of Ladlad’s registration on purely moral grounds amounts more to a statement of dislike and disapproval of homosexuals, rather than a tool to further any substantial public interest,” the court said in its ruling.
At the moment, same-sex marriage is not part of Ladlad’s platforms.
Remoto admitted that the biggest setback is the predominance of Catholicism in the Philippines as shown in surveys they conducted.
“We’ve done surveys… we’re going to lose on this one,” explained Remoto.
He revealed that Filipinos should prioritize advocating for human rights first before Ladlad can even bring same-sex marriage to the courts.
“We’re not going to push this. We focus on human rights first!”
Ang Ladlad, which has an estimated 25,000 members, has received an ‘outpouring of support” from politicians and individuals from religious institutions’ like nuns and priests who cannot outwardly express it,” Remoto said.
You can catch Danton Remoto’s show Remoto Control on Radyo5’s 92.3 TRUE FM every 9PM weekdays.
