RH Law opponents continue attacks

MANILA, Philippines - Opponents of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act (RH law) or Republic Act No. 10354 continued to assail the controversial law as the debate before the Supreme Court (SC) continued yesterday, this time banking on religious freedom in the Constitution.

Luisito Liban, counsel for petitioners against the measure, said in the oral arguments before the high court, with all 15 justices in attendance, that the RH law not only breeds acts offensive to Catholic teachings, but also leads members of the church to commit a “sin” by using contraceptives.

Under the law, Liban said a Filipino Catholic is confronted with a dilemma to follow religious beliefs at the risk of facing criminal sanctions or obey the law and commit a sin.

He said even health care providers would face the same problem since though they are not forced to perform RH services, they would be required to pass the responsibility to other health professionals.

Liban claimed that the law would inundate the country with contraceptives and promote a contraceptive mentality among Filipinos.

He said the RH law would allow the government to harness its entire machinery supposedly to reduce maternal death and probably controlling population growth.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno grilled Liban, saying the counsel seemed to have a “utopian” perspective.

Liban got a support from another magistrate, Associate Justice Roberto Abad who even described hormonal contraceptives as “poison.”

Petitioners were not able to present their arguments completely as the SC cut the debate and decided to continue on Aug. 6. – With Marvin Sy, Evelyn Macairan