SC junks plea to lift suspension of RH law

MANILA, Philippines - The 120-day order stopping the government from implementing Republic Act No. 10354 – the Reproductive Health (RH) law – remains in effect.

Justices of the Supreme Court (SC) voted 10-4 yesterday to deny the motion of former lawmaker Risa Hontiveros to lift the status quo ante order issued last March 19.

They saw no merit in the argument of Hontiveros that the order would cause lasting and permanent harm to mothers and their children.

The SC will tackle the consolidated petitions questioning the constitutionality of the RH law in oral arguments on June 18.

Couple James and Lovely-Ann Imbong filed the consolidated petitions last January.

Joining them as petitioners were the Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines Inc., Serve Life Cagayan de Oro City, Task Force for Family and Life Visayas Inc., lawyer Expedito Bugarin, Eduardo Olaguer of the Catholic Xyberspace Apostolate of the Philippines, former senator Francisco Tatad and his wife Ma. Fenny, and a group of doctors that lawyer Howard Calleja represented.

They argued that the RH law negates and frustrates the foundational ideals and aspirations of the sovereign Filipino people as enshrined in the Constitution.

“The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of government,” they said, quoting the Constitution.

Petitioners said at least 11 provisions in RA 10354 supposedly allowing couples to choose to suppress life violate the Constitution.

The law violates the freedom of religion and expression of opponents and creates doubtful or spurious rights called reproductive health rights, they added.