Pia Cayetano laments SC order on RH law

Senator Pia Cayetano. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Women will continue to be vulnerable to maternal health complications after the Supreme Court extended indefinitely the status quo ante (SQA) order stopping the government from implementing the Reproductive Health (RH) Law, Sen. Pia Cayetano said on Wednesday.

Cayetano—the chair of the Senate committee on youth, women and family relations, and the author of the Senate’s version of the RH bill—said she was disappointed at the high court decision, claiming that it was clear during the first round of oral arguments that the case presented by the petitioners against the RH Law was “quite weak.”

“To me, it sends the wrong message to the women of our country. As we debate this, it’s the women who sacrifice. They’re the ones who bleed and die. They’re the ones who lose their children. They’re placed in a situation wherein they need to have abortions,” Cayetano told reporters.

The Supreme Court, by a vote of 8 to 7, extended the SQA order it had initially issued for a period of 120 days on March 19. The extension was indefinite.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III, a staunch opponent of the RH bill in the Senate and the former majority leader, said the indefinite extension of the SQAO was heaven-sent.

“[I] think that the Supreme Court decision is a sign that God is answering the prayers of the faithful,” Sotto said in a text message.

The original SQA order’s expiration on Tuesday would have paved the way for the implementation of the RH Law’s provisions on improving maternal health and providing couples with the contraceptives of their choice.

“But as a member of the bar, as a member of the co-equal branch I will respect the decision, although I am extremely disappointed to hear there was a need to extend it despite the fact that the arguments initially presented already show that the petition is really without basis,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano blamed the opposition to the RH law on what she called a wrong perception that it encourages abortion.

“We know very well that holds back a person from supporting this law. Remember this is not an abortion law. This is a law providing access to reproductive health, services and information. It at all, it’s a law providing access to contraceptives not abortion,” she said.

Cayetano also called on those opposing the RH law to separate issues of religion from those of the state.

“I call on all those concerned to really have an open mind and listen to the arguments, because to stand in the way because of one’s religious views would be contrary to our obligation to uphold the Constitution,” she said.

“As our Constitution says, we have to separate church and state. So as lawmakers, as policy makers, we really shouldn’t make decisions based on personal religions,” she said.