Four senatorial candidates battled it out on the unending debate on the Reproductive Health bill, with one candidate belonging to a ‘pro-life’ political party dismissing statistics presented by one of the panelists as inaccurate. Lawyer Adrian Sison of Ang Kapatiran Party, known for its hardline opposition to the bill, said the data presented by economics professor Solita Monsod on the average number of members of poor families in the country was erroneous. "With all due respect, iyong datos po na binigay ninyo ay hindi accurate. Bumaba na po ang average size ng pamilya ngayon. Bumaba po. Hindi na po 6.5. At ang statistics ngayon, only three out of 10 families have more than three children ngayon ang nangyayari," Sison said during Unang Hirit's Hiritan 2010 segment. (With all due respect, the data you presented is inaccurate. The average size of the family has decreased—it’s not 6.5 anymore. In fact, only three out of 10 families have more than three children now). Other senatorial candidates present were Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel (Liberal Party), Jose "Joey" de Venecia III (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) and Kata Inocencio (Bangon Pilipinas).
In asking the senatoriables’ stand on the bill, Monsod cited the latest government data as saying that poor families have an average of 6.5 members, compared with 4.8 members for the average-income groups. Monsod added that the poor wanted to have access to artificial or natural family planning methods. Supporters of the RH bill have cited the steadily increasing population as justifying the need for reproductive health policy. Asked if he would support the RH bill if he wins a Senate seat, Sison replied: "Hindi namin susuportahan. Pro-life po kami, kasi may mga artificial methods na walang chance mabuhay iyong fetus, so tutol po kami doon (We will not support it. We are pro-life. There are artificial methods that kill the fetus, so we are against that)." "Mr. Sison, I tell you, that 6.5 is the average family size of the poor families who are below the food threshold. That is government statistics," Monsod said, to which Sison replied: "But you know the government does not have an official stand." "I’m not talking about the stand, I’m talking about statistics," Monsod retorted. Ang Kapatiran Party has been openly endorsed my some Catholic bishops for their ‘pro-life’ platform. For her part, Hontiveros, one of the principal authors of the RH bill at the House of Representatives, insisted that she would refile the bill if she wins a Senate seat in May. "May iba’t ibang opinion sa RH bill, pero para sa akin, kung makapagtrabaho ako sa Senado sa 15th Congress, definitely ire-refile ko iyong RH bill upang tugunan ang ating abortion crisis sa ngayon—the figures range from 400 to 800 thousand annually—at para mabigyan ng suporta ang mga magulang na Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng ating mga paaralan sa usapin ng age-appropriate adolescent education," she said. (There are different stances on the RH bill, but for me, if I get into the Senate in the 15th Congress, definitely I will re-file the RH bill to address the abortion crisis today—the figures range from 400 to 800 thousand annually—and to support Filipino parents by providing age-appropriate adolescent education in schools.)
Meanwhile, De Venecia said he was for the natural family planning methods. "I am for the natural plan.. on the family planning using natural methods. And that’s what I would support if I am elected as senator," De Venecia said. On the other hand, Inocencio reiterated her party standard bearer Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s stand on reviewing the bill. "Para sa amin, dapat itong repasuhin dahil mayroon itong mga magagandang probisyon, pero may mga kwestiyonable ring probisyon," Inocencio said, stressing they are against abortion. "Ako’y na-a-alarm sa pag-pu-publish, pag-bro-broadcast, o pagbebenta ng mga condom sa telebisyon, hindi lang ho sa pagpigil ng size ng pamilya yan, kundi naapektuhan po iyong moralidad," she said. Inocencio added that the size of the family must be left to the married couple, stressing that the population boom is not a problem if the economy is healthy enough to secure the needs of the people, especially food. The RH bill has long been pending in Congress due to strong opposition from sectors such as the Catholic Church.
— RSJ, GMANews.TV 
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