RH law has gone ‘berserk’ – lawyer

A protester dressed as a priest displays a placard at rally outside the Supreme Court Tuesday to coincide with the oral arguments by the highest court on the merits and demerits of the RH law. AP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A lawyer on Tuesday described the Reproductive Health law as a piece of legislation that has gone wild.

“The RH Law is a piece of legislation that has gone berserk,” lawyer Luisito Liban said during Part 2 of the oral argument at the Supreme Court on the hotly contested law that was put on hold indefinitely by the high tribunal.

“It violates multiple fundamental rights, unfairly targets the poor, undercuts our demographic advantages, misuses our limited resources and exposes 25 million of fertile women to health risks,” Liban added.

The RH Law has been subjected to a wide debate in Congress and now at the Supreme Court with some calling it violative of the constitutional provision on the right to life.

The law guarantees universal access to methods of contraception, fertility control, sexual education and maternal care.

Liban said the government simply wants to flood the country with contraceptives.

“Why push for the massive distribution and use of artificial contraceptives, when there are natural methods of avoiding pregnancy? These natural family planning methods are safe because they involve no chemicals, are at least 97 percent effective and are practically free,” Liban said.

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