Miriam prays to new saint: Help pass sin tax and RH bills

(Updated 4:32 p.m.) Hours before he was formally named the Philippines’ second saint, Blessed Pedro Calungsod has already received an early petition from a senator to pass two controversial bills. Sen. Miriam Santiago on Sunday morning asked Calungsod’s intercession in passing the sin tax reform bill and the reproductive health bill, both of which she said are crucial. “Dahil may bagong santo, mas malamang na magbibigay siya ng idadasal natin, 'yan ang idadasal nating mga Pilipino,” she said in an interview on dzBB radio. Calungsod was canonized as the country’s second saint by the Pope in Vatican City Sunday, some 25 years after the canonization of the country’s first saint, Lorenzo Ruiz. Santiago said it was important that the bills be passed. “[N]akakapatay ang resulta kung di natin ipapasa itong panukalang batas,” she said. The reproductive health bill is encountering opposition from the Catholic Church due to its provisions allowing artificial contraception. The Church allows only natural family planning. On the other hand, Congress is still reconciling provisions on the sin tax bill that would hike prices of alcohol and tobacco products, with the proceeds going to the government’s health program. Santiago pointed out 10 Filipinos die every hour from tobacco smoke, and that as many as 75,000 Filipinos die every year due to consumption of alcohol and tobacco products. “Iyan nakakatakot pero di alam ng sambayanan, kaya ang tawag sa smoking and alcohol silent epidemic. Ang Pilipinas, isa sa pinakamababang presyo ng sigarilyo at alak,” she said. As for the RH bill, Santiago noted 11 mothers die every day due to complications from childbirth, mainly because they are not aware of their reproductive health options. “Tutulungan natin sila, di natin sila pipiliin,” she said. Candidates' positions Meanwhile, Santiago said she is resorting to social media to find out the positions of lawmakers on the sin tax and RH bills, as well as the Cybercrime Prevention Act. “I think I will start an online campaign to force senatorial candidates to tell us their position, yes or no,” she said. — BM, GMA News