Cuenco clarifies stance on RH Bill

CEBU, Philippines - Former Representative Antonio Cuenco made clear last Friday his opposition to the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, contrary to the claim of his critics that he has no clear position on the issue.

Cuenco said that his critics are spreading propaganda and using his alleged lack of concern on the issue against him.

Cuenco said in a news conference last Friday that he is against the passage of House Bill 5043 ever since.

When he was a congressman, he called it “an imported death bill” and was about to deliver a privilege speech expressing his opposition had the then House Speaker Prospero Nograles not abruptly adjourned the deliberation of the bill.

Cuenco said he was tasked to deliver the Turno en Contra or the speech against the bill.

He furnished the copy of the undelivered Turno en Contra to the media last week where he said that the bill is giving way to the “new merchants of death” and the practices against life.

“This legislation will make these deadly practices legal and a “responsible choice” for our people. Our country is being pushed by this legislation to a moral precipice and a sure cultural death for the Filipino family,” the Turno en Contra reads.

Cuenco said that the proposed law will destroy the “moral fabric” of this nation that Filipinos will soon have difficulties distinguishing between right and wrong and good and evil in matters concerning the value of human life.

Cuenco said the HB 5043 is a “conspiracy against life” and against the present laws of the Philippines and the laws of God.

He said its foreign influence clearly shows in its adoption of the United Nations’ definition of “reproductive health”, which in all its sense recognizes abortion as a “valid recourse and promotes its decriminalization as well as encourages the installation of health systems that provide for ‘safe abortion’.”     - THE FREEMAN