Jinkee: I took contraceptives without Manny knowing it

Jinkee Pacquiao, the wife of eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, on Wednesday confirmed that she has taken contraceptives in the past without her husband knowing it. In an exclusive interview aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras," Jinkee said she would not have used the birth control pills if she knew that Manny, who is opposed to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill now pending in Congress, was against it. “Gumamit ako [ng pills] na hindi alam ni Manny. Kung hindi naman pala siya payag na magpills ako, hindi ko na ginawa," she said.

Jinkee, who has four children with Manny, said she used contraceptives even before the bill became the subject of a wide-ranging, acrimonious debate. The proposed measure allows government-funded access to contraceptives. Jinkee, who was previously quoted as saying that four is enough, now says she does not have a problem with getting pregnant again. “It is a blessing, so kung magbubuntis magpapasalamat na lang ako sa Panginoon na binigyan pa ako ng isa pang anak," she said. Manny, a Catholic often shown on television praying and attending Mass, said the provisions of the bill go against the Bible. Some pro-RH advocates accused him of hypocrisy after reports came out that Jinkee admitted that she had taken birth control pills. The Catholic Church is opposed to the bill and is trying to block its passage in Congress. On Wednesday, an anti-RH bill website was even launched by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). — Jesse Edep/KBK, GMA News