RH debate far from over—Enrile

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. SENATE POOL

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday told proponents of the reproductive health (RH) bill the debate on the contentious measure was not over as a lot of questions still needed to be answered.

“I don’t know why some insist the time is ripe to approve the RH bill. This is not a banana or mango or durian. It involves a lot of things,” he said.

Enrile said he was for reopening the period of interpellation for the controversial bill, which had ended even before the senators turned their attention to the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona earlier this year.

The Senate President expressed anxiety over how the RH bill was being marketed as “prohealth” and “prowomen,” arguing that birth control has caused “social problems” in First World countries.

Enrile said he would not interpret the President’s call for responsible parenthood during his State of the Nation Address as a direct expression of support for the RH bill.

Responsible parenthood, he said, does not involve the government in the purchase and distribution of contraceptives and other forms of artificial birth control as provided for in the RH bill.

Enrile noted that no one had contradicted the President’s support for responsible parenthood. Cathy Yamsuan