RH advocates have a strong case - Cayetano

MANILA, Philippines - The sponsor of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act in the Senate believes that they have a "strong" case when they face off with the critics of the controversial measure at the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday.

Senator Pia Cayetano said she looks forward to Tuesday's oral arguments on the Reproductive Health (RH) Law and welcomed the opportunity to present before the high court their arguments on the constitutionality and legality of the contested measure.

"I am confident that our group - the respondents and the intervenors - have a strong case. As the sponsor of the RH Law in the Senate, I worked meticulously on each and every provision to ensure its constitutionality," Cayetano said in a statement on Tuesday morning.

Critics and advocates of the RH Law will finally face off in a debate before the SC on the legality of Republic Act 10354, with two former senators – Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Francisco Tatad – leading the petitioners in challenging the constitutionality of the measure.

Related story: Pro, anti-RH law advocates face off today

Fifteen consolidated petitions had been filed by RH critics at the SC, which issued last March 19 a 120-day status quo ante order enjoining the government from implementing the contested law.

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

Named respondents in the petitions were Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr., Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II.

Six intervenors in the case will present their arguments in support of the RH law. Among them are former Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros, former health secretary Esperanza Cabral, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, and Cayetano herself, who has called for the early resolution of the case.

"The implementation of the law has been restrained for 120 days and in the meantime, 15 women die each day," the lady senator said.