Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III shot back at Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial on Tuesday, saying it would be “insensitive to dismiss the sentiment of a conservative culture” just because the government failed to implement effective health programs.
Sotto was responding to Ubial’s call on social media against critics of the Department of Health’s (DOH) plan to distribute condoms in schools not to impose their beliefs on others.
READ: Ubial lashes out at opponents of condom-giving in schools
“Look who’s talking?” the senator said in a statement on Tuesday. “It’s a boomerang to her. She should not only impose her beliefs on us who oppose but to the entire country.”
“It’s insensitive to dismiss the sentiment of a conservative culture just because they failed to implement effective health programs. Your position is temporary but the damage you will cause cannot be reversed,” Sotto added.
As to Ubial’s challenge for critics to come up with options on how to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among the youth, the senator said: “I’ve been saying it over and over again that they should instead embark on effective information campaign on moral values and against HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) aids to the benefit of the Filipino youth.”
Sotto has been criticizing the DOH’s plan to distribute condoms in schools, saying it is a crime to encourage underage students “to indulge in sex.”
READ: Sotto on giving condoms: Crime to encourage sex among students
He even threatened to block Ubial’s confirmation at the powerful Commission on Appointments if the DOH pushes through with its planned distribution of condoms to high school students. RAM