UST postpones forum with pro-RH candidates to avoid 'misimpression'

The University of Santo Tomas, known for its opposition to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill which became law last December, postponed on Friday its student-organized #Youthvote2013 senatorial forum, which was expected to be attended by pro-RH candidates Risa Hontiveros and Teddy Casiño. Argee Gonzales, UST Student Council Vice President, explained that the school did not want to confuse students about its stand on the controversial "Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012," signed into law by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on December 21 last year. Gonzales said Friday's #Youthvote2013 was postponed because “we might give the misimpression that we are endorsing these pro-RH candidates.” “We have to be careful and were trying to be cautious [with these kinds of issues]. Very sensitive kasi ang university sa RH bill and the administration is only trying to protect us,” he added. Meanwhile, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros claimed that the UST Secretary General revoked the permit for the activity after learning of the participation of pro-RH law candidates. She posted a statement on Facebook on Thursday expressing her dismay at the postponement of the youth forum. “What are the schools afraid of?” Hontiveros said, accusing the UST administration of partisanship when it did not push through with the forum. “I am deeply dismayed, disappointed and alarmed by this development,” Hontiveros said. While saying she respects the stand of Catholic institutions such as UST on the RH law, her stand as a pro-RH candidate is “pro-life, pro-choice, and pro-chance.” She urged the UST administration to push through with the event in the spirit of “fairness and non-partisanship,” even with the participation of pro-RH bill candidates in the forum. The Catholic Church is against the passage of the RH law which promotes both natural and artificial family planning methods. The Church espouses only natural family planning. UST's #Youthvote2013 senatorial forum aims to inform the youth about the May 2013 senatorial candidates' stands on health, population, and development issues. However, Gonzalez emphasized that the forum was merely postponed, not cancelled. “Postponed ang event pero hindi cancelled,” Gonzalez stressed. While there is still no specific date when the forum will push through, he said pro-RH bill candidates will be allowed to join the event RH Law's 14-year journey Entitled “The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012,” the law seeks to provide improved public access to natural and artificial family planning options, better maternal care, and reproductive health education.   The Catholic Church has opposed the law, which was first introduced in Congress 14 years ago.   Under the new law, the government will promote programs that allow couples to have their desired number of children with due consideration for the health of babies and women. Resources will also be made available to parents in accordance with their personal and religious convictions.   It also aims to inform young people between the ages of 10 to 19 years old about reproductive health issues and responsible teenage behavior, among other things.   Aquino quietly signed the RH bill into law in December minus the customary photo opportunity with the bill’s main proponents. Fight not yet over Meanwhile, a Catholic Church official on December 29 said the fight against the controversial measure is by no means over. RH bill critic Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa, Batangas said the Church and anti-RH groups can consider many courses of action. "Nilihim talaga iyan kasi alam din nila maraming ayaw, maraming galit," Arguelles, vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said in an interview on dzBB radio. "Hindi pa tapos ang laban. Palaging ipagtatanggol ng Simbahan ang buhay, hindi titigil ang Simbahan," he added. Arguelles warned that after the signing of the RH bill into law, other "anti-life" bills may soon be proposed. He said these include those on divorce and same-sex marriage, and even euthanasia or mercy killing. Last January 2, the son of the legal counsel for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) questioned the legality of the RH law. In a petition filed with the Supreme Court, James Imbong and his wife Lovely-Ann said the government should cease implementing the law for being "unconstitutional." The couple said they filed the petition "in behalf of our minor children." Mr. Imbong is the son of lawyer Jo Aurea Imbong, executive secretary of the CBCP legal office. The CBCP staunchly opposed the RH bill when it was being deliberated in Congress. - VVP/HS, GMA News