Pro-life groups to Aquino: Draw the line on RH bill

Saying it is time to draw the line, pro-life groups urged President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to express a definitive stand on the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill. Pro-Life Philippines president Eric Manalang said it will be more acceptable to the people if Aquino gave a definitive stance on the measure instead of hinting at win-win solutions. “I think it’s time for us to draw the line and stop all of this because we are just being taken for a ride ... At the end of the day, is he pro-RH or not? Let’s get away from putting in this responsible parenthood bill whatever. Yes or no? Are you or are you not?" Manalang said at a rally against the RH bill in Pasay City Sunday. “If you are pro-RH, then we draw the line. We stop there. If you are not pro-RH, he has the power to call the Speaker of the House and tell him ‘let’s drop this bill against life,’" Manalang said, according to a report posted Monday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site. Malacañang officials earlier hinted that the Responsible Parenthood (RP) bill, which the CBCP had branded as just a renamed RH bill, would be among the priority bills of the government. However, the bill was not included in the initial list of 17 bills considered as priority measures by the Aquino administration. The government's “flip-flopping" on the issue sends the signal that it is not sincere in its dialogue with the church, Manalang said. “It did not happen only one time. It happened several times. It’s about time that they tow the line. If you are here (dialogue) on bad faith… we will not talk," he said. The CBCP said several lawmakers addressed the crowd during the rally to observe “Pro-Life Month," and called on their colleagues to reject the RH bill. “We stand with you for life," said Lanao del Norte Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo, who added the promotion of contraceptives in family planning would risk women’s health and would not solve the country’s problem on poverty. The CBCP said many Christian and Muslim groups joined the rally and sang songs such as “Say yes to life, no to RH bill" and “We strongly reject abortion" during the four-hour rally. Melisa Miguel of Quezon City carried the sign that read “RH bill destroys human dignity" and she said she vowed to join more rallies against the measure. “We’d rather support life than death," said Miguel, a mother of five. The other personalities in the rally were former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., former Manila Mayor Jose Atienza Jr., Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez, Cebu Rep. Cutie del Mar, and election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, the CBCP said. – VVP, GMA News