CBCP hits Palace for using pork barrel in RH issue

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on Monday called on the people to condemn Malacañan for allegedly using the priority development assistance fund or pork barrel to convince legislators to vote for the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life chairman, Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes, said there have been unconfirmed reports that the  Aquino administration has been pressuring the anti-RH congressmen to change their vote in favor of the proposed measure.

The bishop also called on the faithful and pro-life groups to pray and join the protest rally on Wednesday, opposing the passage of the RH bill in Congress.

Prior to the protest-rally, Bishop Reyes will celebrate mass at the St. Peter Cathedral along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City Wednesday noon.

For his part, Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani, Jr. said it is not proper for Malacañan or the Department of Budget and Management to use the pork barrel as a bargaining tool to push for the RH bill.

"Sapagkat hindi dapat payagan ang ganyang mga pamamaraan na gamitin para sa isang imoral na panukalang batas. Daanin natin unang-una sa public opinion. Dapat gisingin ang bayan dyan sa ginagawa ng Malakanyang pagkat hindi daang matuwid 'yan, daang liko 'yan," Bacani told Church-run Radyo Veritas.