Pres. Aquino labeled a 'bad Catholic'

As Philippine President Benigno Aquino III prepares his State of the Nation Address for delivery on July 25, one of the most heated topics he will push for is the controversial Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill).

The bill, which has been passed by the Lower House, also appears to be favored by majority of the senators.

Senate Health Committee Chairman Pia Cayetano, who has started gathering the signatures of her colleagues for her committee report on the measure, said she believes the pro-RH bill legislators outnumber those against it, including the Senate President, the Senate President Pro-tempore and the Majority leader, who have even filed a “Protect the Unborn” bill, more like a counter-measure to the RH bill.

Proponents of this legislation claim their measure will be the better option to save the unborn from abortion, allegedly being espoused by the RH bill. Proponents and supporters of the RH bill, however, insisted there are no provisions in the current bill which promote abortion.

Reproductive Health bill proponent Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago commented on the “counter-measure” as saying protecting the life of the so-called unborn erroneously equate contraception with abortion. She referred to the bill’s authors as restricting access to contraceptives and increasing the Revised Penal Code provisions on abortion.

The Senator explained the proposed law will not initiate outlawing abortion, for abortion is already a crime under the Revised Penal Code of 1930. Furthermore, she openly rebuked her colleagues on their counter bill.

“Government officials should uphold our Constitution which guarantees the separation of church and state and non-establishment of religion. Legislators who want to pass such protection of the unborn are trying to enact legislation that establishes the views of the Catholic Church hierarchy,” Santiago said, although she herself is a devout Catholic.

Notwithstanding the presence of a “counter-measure,” the Palace may eventually win the proverbial “numbers game” in the Upper Chamber because survey reports indicate more Filipinos want the RH bill enacted into law. If this will be a sustained trend, there is a great chance the controversial bill may become law within the year.

But while the Administration may win in the legislative battle, it may still face serious legal and religious challenges from the Catholic Church and its supporters, among them Boxing Champ and Congressman Manny Pacquiao.

Already, some Catholic Church leaders have branded President Aquino a “bad Catholic,” while others have even come to the extreme extent of threatening to excommunicate the Chief Executive if he insists on instituting birth control in the country, whose population has been estimated at a hundred million to date.

But the President, despite the name-calling, refuses to budge.

Left or right, he said he would “court” the Church’s understanding and favor, as if serenading a young lady for her love, to accept what may be considered his pet legislation.

Unfortunately for the Chief Executive, his serenades seem to fall on deaf ears.