Gordon on RH bill: ‘I am not afraid of the Church’

Bagumbayan standard bearer Senator Richard Gordon claimed on Thursday that he is not afraid to earn the ire of the powerful Roman Catholic Church, although he would not push for the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health bill. Gordon issued the statement in response to a question on how he would handle the controversial Reproductive Health bill amid fierce opposition from the Catholic Church, which has been a historically powerful political force in the predominantly-Christian Philippines. “Hindi ako takot sa Simbahan, pareho lang natin na tao yan (I am not afraid of the Church, they are also human beings like us)," he said at a recent presidential forum in UP Manila titled Make Health Count. Lawmakers have long deemed the Reproductive Health bill as one of the solutions to address the country's ballooning population, supported by lobbyists that advocate women’s rights and women’s health advocates alike. The RH bill provides for disseminating information and access to both natural and modern family planning methods, including the use of condoms and ligation. The bill has been pending at the Lower House for years due to the Church’s strong opposition. The Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) even vowed to campaign against political candidates who would push for the bill’s passage. According to Gordon, while he will not campaign for the bill’s approval, it’s important for the government to ensure the good health of its citizens by providing them information on how to take care of themselves. He added that although Church people are considered messengers of God, the separation between church and state should be recognized. “I will not make it a policy because man is born with free choice [but] he should be reminded of [his] rights," Gordon said, even as he assured the audience that he would not support abortion. Population not an excuse On the other hand, the Bagumbayan candidate said a big population is not a problem and that the government should not use the country’s population growth as an excuse for its failure to deliver services to the people. Citing India and China as examples, Gordon said the two countries have big populations that did not hinder them from becoming fast-developing nations. A big population could be used to attract investors, he said, adding that what the nation needs is an effective leader who would lead its people toward change. He even wanted to have a big family, according to Gordon. He said he regretted that his wife Kate had to undergo tubal ligation after suffering from maternity complications. “I kinda regret that," he said. “I kinda wish we had been patient." The couple has four children.—Aie Balagtas See/JV, GMANews.TV