Belmonte to defuse tension at House over RH debates

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Amid tension caused by the controversial Reproductive Health Bill at the plenary of the House of Representatives, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is set to meet with lawmakers in a bid to resolve the longstanding fierce debates on the proposed measure.

Belmonte is scheduled to meet with House leaders and lawmakers who opposed developments on House Bill 4244 at 3 p.m., said minority leader Danilo Suarez. The meeting would push for a “meeting of minds” to make the RH Bill acceptable to its critics, he added.

Another issue which could be discussed during the meeting was Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez’s outburst.

Rodriguez lost his cool as he questioned the lack quorum Tuesday while a privileged speech about the RH bill was about to be delivered by Pangasinan Representative Kimi Cojuangco.

It was during the commotion on the floor that Suarez met with Belmonte to speak about the Church’s statement that it cannot prevent couples who wish to use contraceptives, he said. “What they (the Church) will not support is the government buying contraceptives for them.”

Lawmakers have agreed to the creation of an informal technical working group to tackle issues that have hampered the developments of HB 4244. The group will be composed of members from the executive, senators, proponents of the RH Bill as well as those opposing it, and “reasonable” members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Once the TWG comes up with acceptable amendments to the RH Bill, House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II said that they will be pushing for its approval.