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Can the House of Representatives "do a Corona" on the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill, fast-tracking it in the same way they quickly impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona last year?

 

A Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines official voiced this fear over the weekend, as he called for vigilance against such moves in the House of Representatives.

 

"We are not sure how the impeachment passed with 188 votes and without any discussion. That same thing can happen to the RH Bill so I hope we keep track of it," said CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro in an interview on Manila Archdiocese-run Radio Veritas.

 

Excerpts of the interview were posted Saturday on the CBCP news site.

 

The CBCP has been vocal against the RH bill over its provisions allowing artificial contraception. The CBCP allows only natural family planning.

 

Castro said the people must remain vigilant even as they also monitor the impeachment trial against Corona at the Senate.

 

“My appeal to the faithful, pro-family and pro-lifers is not to forget that interpellation of RH Bill (which) takes place in the morning session of the Senate,” he said.

 

“Although there is no active interpellation in Congress these days, we must still be watchful,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, Pro-Life Philippines founder Sister Pilar Verzosa said the government should implement a widespread education campaign on sexuality, in light of the increase in cases of HIV-AIDS in the country. She said that instead of promoting the use of artificial contraceptives as protection against disease, Filipinos should be taught the importance of morality. 

 

“Dapat matindi ang education campaign, abstinence program. Ipaliwanag sa mga tao kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng sexuality, ‘yung kahalagahan ng relationship, ng dignidad ng isang tao," she explained.

 

According to data from the Department of Health, there were 2,349 HIV cases in 2011, with 95 percent having been infected through sexual contact. –CGL/KG, GMA News