Lani Mercado offended by remark on hubby Bong Revilla's virility in RH debate

An emotional Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado on Wednesday lamented the “shabby treatment” she supposedly experienced from some of her colleagues during deliberations on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.   In a privilege speech, Mercado took offense with ALAGAD party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta’s remark on the virility of her husband, Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.   At the height of heated debates on the RH bill Tuesday night, Marcoleta said: “Mas mabagsik si Senator Revilla. Minsan madaanan lang po eh nabubuntis.”   “Why Mr. Marcoleta needed to mention the senator’s name, who was not present and who does not belong to this chamber, is beyond me,” Mercado said. “Basic parliamentary courtesy dictates even just a modicum of respect, which the honorable party-list representative forgot because he got carried away.”   Mercado also requested that Marcoleta’s statement be removed from the House’ records.   In the same speech, Mercado also called out Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III for supposedly “swiping” her in an “ungentlemanly manner” when she asked if sessions were already suspended on Tuesday night.   Mercado also accused Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin of ignoring her when she asked her about the suspension of the session.   Marcoleta and Tañada immediately rose after Mercado’s speech to ask for her apology. Tañada said he did not intend to hurt Mercado’s feelings.   “It just so happened that I have been presiding for two straight days,” Tañada said in response to Mercado’s speech.   Still, Mercado called for “sobriety” and “calm” during the RH bill debates, urging her colleagues not to be carried away while arguing their respective sides on the issue.   “Hindi ko naman talaga hinangad na maging magaling na mambabatas. Ang tanging dalangin ko ay maging mabuting kinatawan ng aking distrito sa bulwagang ito… Ang aking taimtim na panawagan para maging mahinahon ang lahat,” she said.   The House is still introducing individual amendments on the RH bill, which promotes both natural and artificial forms of birth control. — KBK, GMA News