House debate over RH bill

Using contraceptives is abortion, says Bagatsing

House debate over RH bill heats up
MANILA, Philippines - Using contraceptives to prevent pregnancies is abortion, Manila 5th District Rep. Amado Bagatsing said on Tuesday.
The lawmaker issued the statement during the ongoing lower House interpellations on the proposed reproductive health (RH) bill.
"Ang contraceptives ay humaharang... humaharang para huwag magbuntis, huwag magkita ang egg at ang ovum (sic)," Bagatsing, who is against the RH bill said.
"Para bang we're playing with semantics. Iniistop mo ang pagkikita. Pagka hinadlangan mo, sa Ingles, ina-abort mo," Bagatsing added. "When you stop something from fulfilling its obligation... pag pinipigilan mo ang buhay, ina-abort mo ang buhay. Mahirap bang intindihin iyon?"
He also insisted that "abortion" is hidden somewhere in the RH bill and may legalize it.
House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, one of the proponents of the measure, earlier stressed during the interpellations that contraceptives are not abortifacients.
"Ang lahat ho ng pag-aaral, ng United Nations, ng international community, at dito sa atin sa Pilipinas, ay nagsasabi na ang contraceptives ay hindi abortifacient."
He cited opinion made by the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, and the World Health Organization on contracaptives.
"Ito ay binigay na expert opinion sa mababang kapulungan. Ang nakalagay ho dito, ay itong contraceptives are not abortifacients," Lagman said.
"Hindi po pro-abortion ang RH bill. Ito ay anti-abortion," he added.
The guiding principle of House Bill (HB) 4244, or an An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population Development, and for Other Purposes, bans abortion.
“This Act recognizes that abortion is illegal and punishable by law," the bill  states.
Senate Bill 2378, or An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population Development, also reaffirms existing penal laws on abortion.
Lagman said the regular and proper practice of family planning methods, including contraceptives, will reduce abortion rates in the country by 85%. "Maiiwasan iyung tinatawag na mistimed and unwanted pregnancies."
"Iyan po ang mga datos na nakuha ng pagsusuri... dito sa ating bansa at sa labas ng ating bansa," he said.
Religion and government
The 2 lawmakers also debated on religious beliefs entering politics.
"Hindi pwedeng i-enforce ang dogma thru legislation," Lagman said.
"I am a congressman who is Catholic but I am not a Catholic congressman," he added.
Lagman said anti-RH forces do not understand that the measure goes beyond the issue of contraceptives, as it includes the prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases and violence against women, as well as promote reproductive health education for the youth.
Bagatsing, however, believes that the government does not have to teach youths about sexual reproduction.
"Bakit binubuksan natin ang mga mata ng mga musmos pa na ang alam ay magpiko, magtumbang oreso, bahay-bahayan? Bakit di iiwan sa mga magulang na siyang magtuturo sa mga batang ito?" he asked.
He also questioned the need to pass the RH bill because of related laws that are already in place.
He added that funds intended for contraceptives could be put to better use.
"Hindi na ito bago. Ito'y existing and so walang saysay na ipasa pa itong bill na ito unless ang nais nito ay pondohan ng Kongreso ang pagbibili ng abortifacient," he said.
"Nakatago ang abortion dito bagamat sinasabi mong illegal," he insisted.
Thirty-eight lawmakers are scheduled to interpellate the bill's authors in the lower House. - With a report from Caroline J. Howard, ANC