House version of RH bill may be sent to Senate next week if…

Lawmakers at session hall for RH Bill debates voting. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — If it is approved on second reading on Wednesday, the House of Representatives’ version of the Reproductive Health Bill could be well on its way to the Senate next week.

This was according to House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II who said he was hopeful that the RH Bill would finally be voted on second reading during Wednesday’s session.

In an interview with reporters, he said that three days were needed before they could put the measure on third and final reading because it was not certified as a priority measure. The earliest that they could vote on it on third reading was Monday next week.

Gonzales also said that it has been agreed upon that the move to terminate the period of individual amendments would come from the opponents to avoid the impression “na sinagasaan namin sila.”

The opponents of the RH Bill are currently proposing amendments to the measure and have reached page 12 of the 27-page document.

But finishing the amendments to the entire substitute version was no longer necessary and they can start voting anytime a motion to end the period of amendments is made, Gonzales said.

“I said yesterday that eventually you have to terminate it. We will just forgo it and have the bill approved or disapproved on second reading,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the plenary.

He said that he has spoken to Batangas Representative Hermilando Mandanas who had initiated talks with them on their issues on the RH Bill. “Mandanas said sa kanila na (yung motion to terminate),” he said.

Second reading of legislation usually entail voice vote but Gonzales said that there was also the possibility of nominal voting.

The Liberal Party has earlier urged legislators in its ranks to vote for the passage of the RH Bill but the House majority leader said that in the end it would still be up to the lawmaker to decide which side he would be on.

“Officially there can be official stand for the LP but that would require convention–lahat ng kasama ipapatawag–and it will not happen. And kinikilalang liderato ng partido ay nagsalita na, ang direksyon ay to vote for it,” he said.

“Bahala sila anong boto nila, at end of the day they will decide, walang diretsuhang pressure. We only hope they would stick with the decision of the President,” Gonzales added.

The Catholic Church has also flexed its muscles in pushing against the approval of the RH Bill, bringing a flock of supporters to monitor the session as lawmakers prepared to vote.

They earlier warned of repercussions for legislators who insist on voting for the passage of the measure.