Lacson may withdraw support for RH bill over ‘condom pork’

News of P300 million in pork barrel allegedly meant for lawmakers to fund the distribution of condoms to their constituents may prompt Senator Panfilo Lacson to withdraw support for the Reproductive Health (RH) bill. Lacson on Sunday cited information reaching him that congressmen could receive P300 million each to procure equipment supporting the RH bill once it becomes law. He stiffly opposed the proposed “pork to buy condoms." “Kung may siningit na provision na hindi naayon sa aking paniniwala, hindi ako boboto. Sa House, narinig ko may pork barrel allocated, ang pagbili ng gamit in support of RH. Bakit ibibigay sa congressman yan, P300 million each, bakit mo bibigyan, pork pambili ng condom?" he said in an interview on dzBB radio. “Pork barrel" is the term used for funds in the General Appropriations Act or National Budget earmarked specifically for projects identified by legislators. Pork barrel goes by many names but the current one is Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Lacson himself had authored a reproductive health-related bill in the Senate, and has voiced support for the RH bill pending at the House of Representatives. However, he is against the supposed pork barrel fund, which he branded as a source of temptation to commit graft. He may have to soften his pro-RH bill stance, considering that he has not touched his pork barrel funds in the last decade. While the bill has met stiff opposition from the Catholic Church for its provisions allowing artificial contraception, it has the support of President Benigno Aquino III. But Lacson said that the insertion of pork in the RH bill — a provision meant for “self-aggrandizement," he said— would convince him not to vote for the bill, no matter how much he advocates its passage. “Pagka may ganitong provision baka hindi ako boboto sa RH bill no matter how I advocate strongly sa pagpasa niyan. Pero pag pinasok ang ganoong kalokohan, self-aggrandizement, teka muna hiwahiwalay muna tayo," he said. — MRT/KBK, GMA News