Solons confident RH law constitutional

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Thursday said he was confident about the constitutionality of the Reproductive Health law, following the filing of a petition seeking to bar its implementation.

In a text message to reporters, Belmonte said that it was “laughable to say [the approval of the bill was] rushed. (The) bill (was) pending for l4 years.”

“I am very confident that the law will pass the crucible of judicial scrutiny,” Iloilo Representative Janette Garin added when asked about the petition for certiorari and prohibition against the RH law or Republic Act No. 10354 as filed by lawyers James Imbong and his wife Lovely-Ann at the Supreme Court.

It was the first petition filed against RA 10354, considered to be one of the most divisive among legislation handled by Congress in 2012.

Opponents of the RH bill in Congress have raised the issue of constitutionality during their deliberations but the measure was eventually passed and signed into law before yearend.

A staunch advocate of RA 10354, Garin said that although she respected the petition filed by the couple “I appeal to them to respect the voice of the majority.”

“Their claim of unconstitutionality emphasizes the need for the RH law because over the years, misinformation and twisted interpretations on RH have prevailed, to the detriment of the poor Filipino families and teenagers, whose desire for a better quality of life has been hindered,” she said.

Meanwhile, Cibac Partylist Representative Sherwin Tugna said that it was likely that the high court would deny the Imbongs’ petition.

“Walang basehan at ide-deny lang ng Supreme Court ang petisyon. walang violation ng Consitution ang RH law. Ang mga provision ng RH law ay naayon sa batas,” he said.