2 presidential bets vow to block RH bill

MANILA, Philippines - Two presidential candidates, Nacionalista Party (NP) bet Sen. Manuel Villar and Ang Kapatiran Party’s John Carlos de los Reyes vowed yesterday to block the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.

Villar and De los Reyes along with several senatorial candidates signed the “Covenant for Life” pushed by the Catholic Church and pledged to oppose the RH bill and any legislation “that will ultimately pave the way for divorce, euthanasia, abortion, tyrannical population control and homosexual unions.”

The senatorial candidates who signed the agreement at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila yesterday included former senator Francisco Tatad of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, Gwendolyn Pimentel of NP, and Adrian Sison, Rizalito David and Manuel Valdehuesa of the Ang Kapatiran Party.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, however, clarified that the Catholic Church would not endorse the candidates who signed the agreement.

“I don’t think that’s the essence of the covenant. They are really intent on preserving the sacredness, unity, quality of the family that we have now,” Rosales told reporters.

In his homily, Rosales called on Filipino families to teach their children to value life.

He also urged RH bill’s proponents and advocates “to stop disturbing the innocence of the children.”

“No one should insult the value of both love and life and the values of the Filipino families and the fidelity they put in both. There is certain dignity in the way anyone, including government, is addressing our Pinoy mores. This is the reason why, with special delicadeza, the presentation or offer of contraceptive paraphernalia, etc. need not be proffered to the young,” Rosales said.

“We want values and not confusion for our children,” he said.

Catholic bishops have asked the faithful not to vote for politicians who would back the controversial RH bill.

House Bill 5043, otherwise known as the Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood, and Population Development Act of 2008, makes artificial contraceptives more accessible to the public through health programs and calls for sex education in schools, among others.