Pro, anti-RH lawmakers gear up for 3rd and final reading showdown

House of Representatives. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The reproductive health bill hurdled the historic second reading in the House of Representatives only by the skin of its teeth, with a narrow nine-vote victory that opponents said was shaky and could very well change when the third and final reading comes.

But the close fight did not bother the bill’s supporters, who are optimistic that their numbers will hold, if not increase, until the end.

In a nominal vote that lasted over five hours and ended in the wee hours of Thursday, 113 lawmakers voted for the bill’s passage, and 104 voted against it, three lawmakers abstained, and 62 others were absent. The nominal vote confirmed the results of the earlier ayes and nays voting in favor of the bill’s passage.

“Today, reason triumphed over fanaticism; logic over dogma; and hope over fear,” said the bill’s main sponsor, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.

Lagman expressed confidence thr pro-RH vote would post a wider margin of victory on third and final reading because many of the lawmakers absent during the vote were supporters of the measures. The third reading vote would be three days after the distribution of the printed copies of the bill to lawmakers.

But the opponents see things differently, and vowed that the third reading would be another battle. There are many lawmakers who were not around during the second reading vote and could show up in the final phase, they said.

Third reading votes are usually uneventful, with debates already exhausted before the second reading vote, but it may not be the case now for the reproductive health bill.

“Definitely there’s no cause for celebration [for the proponents]; the fight was too close. Things can go our way the next time around,” said Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, referring to the third reading vote.

Magsaysay said the opponents were able to show in the second reading vote that the measure did not have the overwhelming support of the people.

“This will send a strong signal to Malacañang and to the people that this measure was not a majority decision of the people,” she said.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez scoffed at the results, saying the bill only managed to win by a slim margin despite administration stalwarts being present in the House throughout the proceedings.

Rodriguez said the opponents would marshal all their forces and fight the bill’s passage during third reading vote.

“So we have the momentum at this time because imagine, there was only a nine-vote margin and all the arsenal of government were here,” he said.

He was referring to the presence of Liberal Party stalwarts Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, who stayed in the lounge during the vote. Other administration officials were seen on the floor, such as Commission on Human Rights chair Loretta Rosales and presidential adviser for environmental concerns Nereus Acosta.

Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales II and Lagman both said they expected a slim margin between the “yes” and the “no” votes on the bill.

Gonzales said the third reading vote would be important as it would show whether the bill’s victory in second reading would be sustained, or if it would be dashed. But he believes it will be difficult for lawmakers to change their position after the second reading vote.

“Now that the votes are recorded, it would be hard to change these,” he said.

He said those who voted on second reading should show up during the third reading vote. Those who didn’t show up on Wednesday should appear during the final vote, said the majority floor leader.

Lagman said the proponents of the measure knew the fight would be a close one based on the “thorough political mapping” they conducted. They did not want to reveal the numbers beforehand so as not to dishearten fellow supporters of the bill, he said.

If there was one surprise for him, said Lagman, it was the withdrawal of Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla as co-author of the bill and his abstention from a vote.

Remulla said he would just submit a written explanation of his position later.

Lagman surmised that Remulla withdrew his support for the measure because he did not get an amendment he wanted pertaining to the automatic review and a sunset provision that Lagman said would have killed the bill prematurely.

Before the vote, Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco also withdrew as co-author of the bill and later voted against its approval.

Lawmakers from Cebu and the Bicol region were also among those staunchly against the bill.

Cebu representatives Eduardo Gullas, Pablo Garcia, Pablo John Garcia, and Benhur Salimbangon, along with Cebu City Rep. Rachel del Mar, all thumbed down the bill. Fellow Cebu lawmakers Ramon Durano, Gabriel Quisumbing and Tomas Osmeña were absent.

Also voting against the measure were lawmakers from Bicol region. They are Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara, Camarines Sur representatives Arnulfo Fuentebella and Salvio Fortuno, Camarines Norte representatives Renato Unico and Elmer Panotes, Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, Masbate Rep. Scott Lanete, and Sorsogon Rep. Deogracias Ramos.

A good number of those who voted to kill the measure say it goes against the teachings of the Catholic Church, including the value of life and human dignity.

Among those who voted for the reproductive health bill were Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, whose father, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, is a known opponent of the bill.

But blood or family ties do not necessarily translate into similar positions on the matter.

Lanao del Norte Rep. Imelda Dimaporo voted for the measure, but her daughter, Lanao del Norte Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo thumbed it down.

Malabon Rep. Josephine Lacson Noel is an ardent supporter of the bill, while her husband, An Waray party list Rep. Florencio Noel, voted against it.

The nominal vote confirmed the earlier ruling of presiding officer Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III that during the voice vote, the ayes for the bill’s passage overpowered the nays.

But it was a very close fight until the end, with a last minute rally of successive “no” votes narrowing the gap between the ayes and the nays, and putting many spectators in the gallery on the edge of their seats.

The announcement of the final vote was initially met with muted responses, since Tañada reminded the gallery not to show any emotion during the announcement of results.

But after Tañada banged the gavel and adjourned the session, purple-clad supporters of the bill in the gallery erupted in cheers and applause, while its red-clad opponents in the audience quietly left the hall.