Speaker Feliciano Belmonte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House of Representatives would not allow an abortion bill, allaying fears that such legislation would follow the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) law.
“The idea of having an abortion bill is very far-fetched and involves playing God to the unborn which is a role we will not play,” Belmonte said in a statement.
He added that such a bill “also runs counter to our principle of aiming to improve the lives of our people.”
“It is not and cannot ever be in our agenda,” Belmonte said.
In a report, retired archbishop Oscar Cruz expressed said he fears that an abortion bill may follow the RH law, which was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court despite petitions against it.
The controversial law mandates the government to provide access to family planning methods such as contraception, a sensitive topic in this predominantly Catholic country.
Belmonte also allayed fears that an even more controversial legislation that would legalize gay marriage may follow. Congress has yet to file such a bill, and Belmonte said this is merely “speculation.”
Meanwhile, an equally contentious measure that seeks to legalize divorce is still in the middle of the legislative mill, Belmonte said.
The Speaker also refused to comment on the bill as it will still go through the legislative process.
“While a Divorce Bill has been indeed filed, my personal views on the issue as well as those of my colleagues will be irrelevant at this point because like any measure filed, it will have to go through the regular legislative process,” Belmonte said.
“This means that thorough studies, committee and possible public hearings will still be held before the bill reaches final congressional approval,” he added.
Under the 15th Congress, Gabriela party-list Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmi De Jesus filed House Bill 1799, which seeks to legalize divorce. But the measure was stuck in the committee level.
The militant solons said they would refile the bill in the 16th Congress, but they have yet to do so.
Rep. Ilagan told INQUIRER.net they would refile it when the chamber resumes session in May.
“We just updated the data in the explanatory note… But the provisions basically remained the same,” Ilagan said.
RELATED STORIES
House not likely to give divorce bill priority—Belmonte