Aquino to welcome Pacquiao at Palace despite opposing views on RH bill

MANILA, Philippines — Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao remains welcome to pay a courtesy call on President Aquino despite his stand against the reproductive health bill now pending in Congress.

“There is no reason why (President Aquino) should not welcome Manny Pacquiao if he wants to pay a courtesy call. In fact, there’s already a schedule for a courtesy call this week,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during Wednesday’s news briefing in Malacañang.

Pacquiao on Tuesday went to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines to give his support to the Catholic leaders in their campaign against the RH bill, which sought to fund the government program to help low-income to poor families plan their family sizes with the use of artificial and natural birth control methods.

The Aquino administration supports a responsible parenthood bill that offers couples education on birth control measures and freedom to choose the type of birth control method they would use.

The Catholic leaders have reservations on the government’s responsible parenthood initiative, saying it might pave the way for the legalization of abortion. Their representatives have pulled out of dialogs with the government on the matter.