Santiago says 11 to 13 senators may vote for RH bill

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. FILE PHOTO/SENATE POOL

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Miriam  Defensor-Santiago predicted  a slim lead in favor of the  controversial   Reproductive Health bill  when the Senate  votes  on  it on  Monday.

“Malamang mananalo kami,” Santiago, a staunch supporter of the RH bill, said in a television interview.

“We’ll have a majority I hope of between 11 to 13 senators ,”   she  said.

There  are  23 senators but Santiago  said  not all  members  might  be present during the voting  or if they are  present , some of them  would  probably  abstain.

“It’s not necessarily a total vote of 23 that’s why  I’m making a conservative estimate of maybe 11 to 13 votes in favor of RH and therefore, we  should win it  not only on second reading  but also on third reading,”  she said.

Since   President  Benigno Aquino III has certified the measure as urgent ,  the senator  said , the Senate  can immediately  proceed  on  third and  final  reading  after    they vote on  second reading  this  Monday afternoon.

“Pag nanalo kami sa second reading, panalo na kami sa third reading,’ she pointed out.