Oct 22 2020 06:29 PM MANILA— Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said he doubts that Pope Francis' comment that same-sex couples should be covered by civil union laws would affect the stance of lawmakers in the Philippines.Last year, the Senate blocked the passage of the Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) bill, which will accord same-sex couples civil rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples in predominantly Catholic Philippines."I doubt it," Sotto told reporters in a text message when asked if senators would reconsider the passage of the SOGIE bill after the Pope's remark that same-sex couples "have a right to be in a family.""Same-sex union is already being practiced here and there is nothing we can do.