President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER photo
MANILA, Philippines – President Beningo Aquino III on Monday issued a fresh appeal to lawmakers to put the reproductive health bill to a vote as soon as possible and vote on it according to their conscience.
“Basically [Mr. Aquino] feels that it should not be left hanging, and at some point in time the bill should be put to a vote. That’s all. He left it to everyone’s conscience as to how to vote,” Nueva Ecija Representative Rodolfo Antonio said in an interview after emerging from the caucus between the President and members of the House of Representatives in Malacañang.
The President met with the lawmakers after plenary deliberations on the population management measure were bogged down by lack of quorum. It was only last week that they mustered a quorum to debate a “substitute bill.’’
In a briefing, the President’s deputy spokesperson, Abigail Valte, confirmed that Mr. Aquino made a call on the lawmakers to vote on it according to their conscience.