Lawmakers, senators hold pre-bicam meeting

MANILA, Philippines — Despite opposition, the Senate and the House of Representatives held an informal pre-bicameral conference committee on Tuesday on the controversial Reproductive Health bill.

Only Senator Pia Cayetano was present from the Senate panel at the start of the meeting.

She was later joined by her brother, Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, and Senator Franklin Drilon, who  also left  a few minutes after.

The Senate contingent is composed of the two Cayetanos, Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Teofisto Guingona III, Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. Ralph Recto, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

Pimentel and Sotto were the only members of the panel who voted against the bill.

The Senate composition though has yet to be formally read before the plenary.

Ten members of the House contingent including Albay Representative Edcel Lagman and Paranaque Representative Roilo Golez were present at the pre-bicameral meeting.