MANILA, August 6, 2012— A lawmaker has admitted receiving “huge pressure” from Malacañang for him to favor the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the lawmaker from the impoverished Samar Island said it left him no choice because several projects for his district will be compromised.
“There will be projects for my district that will be compromised if I will not vote [in favor of] the bill,” he said.
He said there is also a “threat” to hold the release of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) if passage of the RH bill will be derailed.
President Benigno Aquino III earlier today met with members of the House of the Representatives in Malacañang over the contested population control bill.
After the meeting, Aquino allies in Congress agreed to vote whether or not to terminate the debate on the RH measure later today. The House was originally scheduled to vote tomorrow.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) earlier called on the lawmakers to vote according to conscience.
“It is about time to remind our congressmen and senators that they have responsibility to our people to come up with a sincere evaluation of what they believe for the good of the nation,” said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, CBCP president.
Fr. Melvin Castro of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) said the Church is still hoping that the solons would continue interpellation on the RH bill.
According to him, there are still many issues and concerns that the public need to know about the proposed measure.
“Our appeal is to continue the discussion. If they are going to end it, they must make sure that the issues are clear to the people,” Castro said. (CBCPNews)
