No immediate SC order on RH law petitions

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) deferred acting yesterday on a petition seeking to stop the implementation of the controversial Republic Act 10354 or the Reproductive Health (RH) law.

The SC public information office confirmed that the justices in full-court session decided to reset deliberation on the petition of couple James and Lovely-Ann Imbong to their next session on Tuesday next week.

Associate Justice Jose Mendoza, who is in charge of the case, reportedly sought more time to submit recommendation on whether to issue a temporary restraining order on RA 10354 as requested by the Imbong couple. 

Mendoza is reportedly a devout parishioner in the archdiocese of Lipa in Batangas, which is among the staunchest critics of the RH law. His two brothers are priests and another brother is a parish assistant.

In their 24-page petition filed last Jan. 2, the Imbong couple asked the high court to issue a TRO on the law signed by President Aquino last Dec. 21. They said the high tribunal should declare the law unconstitutional.

Petitioners argued that the RH law “negates and frustrates the foundational ideals and aspirations of the sovereign Filipino people as enshrined in the Constitution.”

They said Article II Section 12 of the Constitution stipulates that the state “recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution.”

The same provision mandates the government to “equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception,” they said.

“The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of government,” the petitioners said, quoting the Constitution.