Palace: Aquino likely to sign RH bill into law before year ends

Malacañang on Saturday reassured the public that President Benigno Aquino III will most likely sign the Reproductive Health bill into law before the year ends. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino already mentioned earlier that he hopes to sign the controversial measure into law before yearend. Several pro-life and Catholic Church groups had opposed the bill due to its provisions allowing artificial contraception. The Church allows only natural family planning. “Wala pang naibibigay na advice sa atin when the president is due to sign it,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. However, when asked if Aquino is likely to sign the bill into law before yearend, she said, “Oo (Yes), before the end of the year, as the president mentioned earlier.” Aquino earlier certified the RH bill as urgent, facilitating its swift passage by both houses of Congress. The Senate and the House of Representatives ironed out disagreeing provisions in their versions of the bill before they went on Christmas break. On the other hand, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) indicated it may back moves by pro-life lawyers to question the bill before the Supreme Court. - VVP, GMA News