SC asked to declare RH law unconstitutional

MANILA, Philippines—An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday asked the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional the reproductive health (RH) law following allegations that pork barrel was used as “incentive” to push its approval.

“We would like the high tribunal to take cognizance of this serious allegation and declare the RH law unconstitutional (if) only for the fact that it was passed through bribery and through illegal means,” according to Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life.

On Wednesday, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada disclosed in his privilege speech that the graft-tainted Priority Development Assistance Fund (also known as pork barrel) was used by the executive branch as “incentive” for lawmakers to push several issues, including the controversial family planning measure.

Estrada was expected to use his speech to answer allegations that he got as much as P183.79 million in kickbacks from PDAF allocations coursed through bogus nongovernment organizations connected to detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. Instead, the senator zeroed in on alleged abuses in the use of the PDAF, claiming that P50 million was given to lawmakers for their support in the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The Palace denied Estrada’s allegations.

“It was the senator who said the PDAF was used to push for the RH measure so we are appealing to the SC to consider such a serious allegation [in deciding on the case],” Castro said.

The high court last month concluded oral arguments on the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law after five hearings that started in July.

The law, which was signed by President Aquino in December last year, allows the state to use public funds to provide poor couples with contraceptives, educate the youth on reproductive health matters and improve maternal health.