Lapid debates for the first time, opposes RH bill

It took his opposition to the controversial Reproductive Health bill to make Sen. Lito Lapid take the Senate floor for the first time since the 15th Congress opened in July last year. Lapid, a former movie actor, was in a jolly mood when he stood on the Senate floor to interpellate Sen. Pia Cayetano, co-sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2865 or The Reproductive Health Act of 2011. The senator even jokingly asked in what language he should ask his questions. "Ano gusto mo, Tagalog o Ingles? Wag mo ako susubukan," Lapid told Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who was presiding the Senate session late Tuesday. In response, Estrada said: "Matagal na kitang hinihintay na tumayo." "Kaya nga ang sabi ko tatayo na ako, ako pa ang namilit sa ‘yo. Nagpakuha na po ako ng tuwalya dahil pagpapawisan ako," Lapid retorted. After the introduction, Lapid asked Cayetano about the history of family planning in the country. Cayetano explained that family planning as a national program started during the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Lapid went on to ask Cayetano whether she herself used contraceptives when she got married, to which she answered yes. Lapid then argued that such contraceptives had severe side effects on women. He cited the experience of his wife, whom he said became pregnant despite taking contraceptives. He said his wife gave birth to a blue baby, who was supposed to be their third child. That child died when he was nine years old. "Dahil ako namatayan ng anak... tinanong ko po siya (asawa), dahil ba ito sa gamot na ininom mo at itinurok sayo, nag-birth control ka? Oo, pinatunayan niya. Sabi ko magsasalita ako at tatayo ako sa Senado. Ikaw ang ihahalimbawa ko sa RH bill na ito," Lapid said. He also cited the women in his hometown who supposedly gave birth to children with defects because of the contraceptives they took. Cayetano, however, said there is no clear relation between the contraceptives taken by the mothers and the defects of their children. "Wala naman hong nakitang relasyon sa isang kapansanan ng sanggol sa paggamit ng kontraseptibo," she said. "Ako po ay medyo panatag naman ang loob ko, kung ang pag-uusapan lang ay ang kapansanan ng bata, wala ho tayong nakitang research, wala ho tayong ebidensya na ganyan nangyayari," she added. Cayetano said the only possible side effects of contraceptives, specifically pills, were nausea and stomachache. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was interpellating Cayetano as of posting time. - GMA News