RH proponent to bishops: We are not terrorists

A proponent of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill at the House of Representatives on Wednesday opposed a bishop’s view that supporters of the measure are no better than terrorists. House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said that majority of the Filipinos know that House Bill 4244 or the consolidated RH bill at the lower chamber is not meant to terrorize or kill innocents, contrary to statements made by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma. "Everybody knows that we are not terrorists and are not akin to terrorists," he told GMA News Online in a phone interview Wednesday. He, however, declined to further comment on the matter, saying that the bill is undergoing proper legislative processes at the lower chamber. Debates on HB 4244, which seeks to give couples the option to choose between natural and artificial birth control methods, are currently pending before the House plenary. The Roman Catholic Church promotes only natural family planning and is opposed to the use of artificial birth control methods such as condoms and birth-control pills, saying these could lead to promiscuity and a rise in abortion cases. 'Like becoming Judas' In an interview on Tuesday, Palma likened RH bill supporters to terrorists for supposedly promoting the death of innocent lives through artificial birth control methods. The bishop likewise said that lawmakers who will vote in favor of the measure due to fear of losing funds are "like becoming Judas." For his part, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said that branding RH proponents with these kinds of names is "not helping" in the debates on the measure. "Para bang napipikon na ‘yung mga ganoong klaseng statement. ‘Yun lang parang napipikon na sila," Belmonte said in a separate interview. Belmonte likewise said that lawmakers who have been "silent" on the issue would have to make up their minds soon. "I would say the big percentage of the [House] members have been very silent on their own positions,... but if it reaches the point that it should be voted on third reading, then everybody has to show their cards," he said. — RSJ, GMA News