Aquino not siding with condom makers – Palace
Malacañang on Saturday dismissed claims by a Manila bishop that President Benigno Aquino III is siding with âmultinational condom makers" when he suddenly included the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill in the list of priority measures. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte laughingly described as âway off the mark" the claims made by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo. âI think thatâs way off the mark. Ang pag-push natin sa Responsible Parenthood is for poverty reduction," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. According to her, Aquino will continue to support the passage of the measure because of its necessity and timeliness to combat poverty. Aquino had said he was willing to risk excommunication from the Catholic Church for continuing to pursue responsible parenthood. Bishop Pabillo had been quoted as saying Aquino is siding with the big multinational companies that produce condoms and other contraceptives in supporting the RH bill. The Catholic Bishopsâ Conference of the Philippines had twitted Aquinoâs inclusion of the RH bill in his administrationâs priority measures. Confusion, dismay, distrust Another CBCP official warned of confusion, dismay and mistrust over the Aquino administrationâs inclusion of the RH bill in its list of priority legislative measures. Outgoing CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura also said there may be âmore serious" discussions and study on the supposedly fine-tuned RH bill. âI am a bit worried about possible reactions which may range from confusion, dismay, mistrust," Figura said in an article posted Saturday on the CBCP news site. He also asked if the fine-tuned bill still carries the âcharacteristic contraceptive pro-abortion agenda" and âadvance a new rendering of âconscience,â âfreedom,â ârights,â âresponsible parenthoodâ and âfamily.â" âWill it still use a lot of taxpayersâ money? And most importantly, has the penalty clause on violations been truly omitted?" he said. He urged lay people, especially the youth, to âinitiate actions, to reach out to everyone who believes in the sanctity of human life and family, to use your skills." âWe are in coordination with a number of lay groups that are working along this line and would be willing to help those who would like to start getting involved," Figura said. â LBG, GMA News