Lani Mercado cries enough on endless bickering over RH bill

Cavite Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla

MANILA, Philippines – Heated discussions over the Reproductive Health Bill marked the sessions at the House of Representatives the past few days and one lawmaker who had grown weary of the seemingly endless bickering is crying enough.

Cavite Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla turned emotional when she rose on her personal and collective privilege Wednesday, urging for “sobriety” in the proceedings on the RH Bill (House Bill 4244) and asking that certain portions of the transcript be stricken off.

“Ang aking pananawagan ay para maging mahinahon ang lahat… Huwag tayong padalos-dalos (I’m appealing for sobriety. Let’s avoid making reckless actions),” she told fellow lawmakers.

She asked that a portion of Alagad Representative Rodante Marcoleta’s statement Tuesday night which made mention of her husband Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. be stricken off the journal.

Revilla quoted from the transcript on Tuesday night’s proceedings in which Marcoleta said “mas mabagsik si Senator Revilla dahil minsan nadaanan lang ay nabubuntis (Senator Revilla is so fertile that just passing him by can make you pregnant).” She cried foul over the statement, pointing out that a swipe at her was also a swipe at her constituents.

She also deplored her tense encounters with fellow lawmakers Iloilo Representative Janette Garin and Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada III, the latter whom she said was arrogant in replying to her question on the suspension of session.

Revilla said she was ignored by Garin when she sought her comment on Tanada’s reaction to her query, adding that she overheard the Iloilo lawmaker say “wala akong pakialam magalit man siya, matuto siyang sumunod sa rules (I don’t care if she gets angry, she must learn to follow the rules)” as she was walking away.

“In fairness to Rep. Garin, she sent me an apology but the harm has been done,” she said.

Marcoleta apologized for dragging the senator’s name into their deliberations on the RH Bill. Tanada also apologized, saying that it was never his intention to hurt Revilla’s feelings.

The deputy speaker reasoned that he had been presiding for two days straight and was expecting more arguments which may have made his tone seem condescending.