Pro-life groups urged to remain focused on RH bill

MANILA, Philippines - A Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) official yesterday asked pro-life advocates to remain focused on the issue of the Reproductive Health bill and learn from what happened during the filing of the impeachment case against Chief Justice Corona.

“We appeal to the lawmakers who are against the RH bill and the pro-lifers to be very vigilant because if they can pass the Articles of Impeachment with 188 signatures without much discussion, they might also be able to do the same with the RH bill,” CBCP-ECFL executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro said.

According to Castro, the public should remain vigilant on other anti-family bills such as divorce and same sex marriage.

Castro added during an interview on Radio Veritas the people should not forget that the interpellation on the RH bill in the Senate is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Pro-Life Philippines founder Pilar Versoza asked the Aquino administration to widen the educational campaign on sexuality and preserving a person’s dignity as a means to fight HIV and AIDS in the country.

“There should be a strong educational campaign and abstinence program. They should be able to explain to the people the meaning of sexuality, the importance of relationships and the dignity of a person,” Versoza said.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported a 37 percent increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases last year. The 2,349 cases were significantly higher than the 1,591 cases recorded in 2010.