Lawmakers ‘Don’t Want To Vote Against Life,’ Says Prelate
MANILA, Philippines — The lack of quorum in the House of Representatives is due to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, according to a Catholic prelate. Lipa Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said yesterday he is convinced that the reason some lawmakers are not attending the plenary session is their opposition to the bill. “They don’t want to vote against life. They don’t want the RH bill to be rammed down their and our throats especially by foreign powers out to eliminate our nation and our race,” he said in an interview. The former vice-chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (CBCP-ECFL) said foreign powers and the rich want to impose the RH bill to eliminate the poor and the weak. “They pretend to think of the poor but they are against the poor,” said Arguelles. “Let us open our eyes. The Philippines do not need this law. The enemies of our country do,” he added. Arguelles said these foreign powers do not give what the poor people really need such as education and work, for fear of Filipinos becoming stronger and powerful than them. To recall, the House adjourned for three straight days due to lack of quorum last week. The lower chamber also had to cut short the session because of lack of warm bodies on the floor. (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/383102/no-quorum-on-rh-bill)
By: LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO November 25, 2012, 7:38pm