CBCP to ‘monitor’ elected pro-RH bill candidates

Catholic bishops are not giving up their fight against the controversial Reproductive Health bill now pending in Congress despite the victory of lawmakers supportive of the measure in the recently concluded elections. “We will remain vigilant. We will continue to monitor these people," said Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, the media director of the influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Prior to the elections, the CBCP appealed to the public not to vote for pro-RH bill candidates. But despite the appeal, which started as early as 2008, some of the measure’s most ardent proponents were victorious in the May 10 polls. Among these candidates were Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, authors of House Bill No. 5043 or the Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008. Both Lagman and Garin were re-elected in the recent elections. Quitorio blamed this on an electorate whom he said doesn’t seem to have a clear grasp of issues. “Our electorate is not mature yet in a sense that their choices are not issue-oriented," he said. Even Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III, who is likely to win the presidential race, is a known supporter of RH bill, which the Catholic Church said promotes the use of artificial contraceptives and is thus tantamount to abortion. A Social Weather Station (SWS) survey released in February 2010 showed that Filipinos who would vote for pro-RH bill candidates outnumber those who will vote for candidates who are opposed to the measure. On Aquino’s impending candidacy, Quitorio said there may be other factors why people still chose to vote for pro-RH bill candidates. “There must be other convening factors beside the issue. I think many will agree with me and even the surveys will agree that even in the selection of senators are not so much issue-oriented. So if you use that observation that can also be used in the presidential candidates," he said. A number of bishops had earlier urged Aquino to reconsider his stance on RH bill, even saying that he may lose votes if he will continue supporting the controversial measure. Quitorio, however, said that they respect the decision of the electorate. “Whoever the people vote for that is their choice, their option. As long as the process is honest, clean and orderly," he said. “Whoever wins it should be respected because this is the sovereign will of the people," he added. - KBK, GMANews.TV