Sotto hell-bent on stopping DOH from giving condoms in schools

Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was hell-bent on stopping the Department of Health (DOH) from distributing condoms in schools, reminding it anew on Friday that it would be against the law to have sex with underage students.

This time, Sotto took to social media to slam the DOH for its planned distribution of condoms to high school students starting this academic year.

“Bawal makipag sex sa menor de edad (It’s inappropriate to have sex with underage students)! Why are you distributing condoms to high school students?” Sotto wrote on his Twitter account.

The senator earlier warned the DOH against its plan, saying it would be a crime to encourage high school students to “indulge in sex.”

READ: Sotto on giving condoms: Crime to encourage sex among students

“Nothing in the RH (Reproductive Health) law allows the DOH to promote the violation of the law on statutory rape! High school students are mostly underage,” Sotto said in a text message when asked to elaborate his tweet.

Asked how he could stop the DOH’s plan, the senator said: “Through the Commission on Appointments.”

Sotto, a member of the powerful Commission, has already warned that Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial would not get the approval of the Commission if she pushed through with the plan.

“I assure you, the Secretary will not pass the CA if they do that,” the senator said in an earlier statement. RAM/rga

READ: Sotto: Ubial won’t get CA nod if DOH gives out condoms in schools