8th petition against RH law arrives at SC

MANILA, Philippines - The eighth petition against the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) law was filed before the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Calling the new law "ultimately detrimental to society," pro-life groups Doctors for Life and the Filipinos for Life asked the high court to issue a temporary restraining order on the RH law or the Republic Act 10354.

"What we are presenting here are medical and legal arguments against the RH law. We believe the Supreme Court will listen to us and correct this grave error imposed by the executive and legislative branches on faithful and freedom-loving Filipinos," Doctors for Life ad-hoc chairman Rey Echavez said in a statement.

Lawyer Howard Calleja, primary author of the petition, questioned the law's provisions on contraception citing studies in Spain purportedly showing the increase of abortions despite condom use.

"The overdependence of individuals on contraceptives promotes irresponsible, reckless and imprudent sexual behavior. In the event of failure or misuse of the contraceptive method, unwanted pregnancies occur, forcing women to turn to elective abortion to terminate such unwanted pregnancies," Calleja said.

The document claimed its opposition on six constitutional conditions including the freedom of religion, prohibition of involuntary servitude and undue control of private education and hospitals.

"Although no law should establish or promote any religion, the law should also accommodate the religious beliefs of individuals and not force them to act against their beliefs," the petition reads.

The high court has not yet released a decision on the earlier petitions against the measure.

Filipinos For Life president Anthony James Perez also criticized the government of railroading the measure through Congress.

"The high tribunal must carefully scrutinize the RH law considering it was rammed through Congress by the Aquino administration to please the well-oiled pro-RH lobby," he said.

The tribunal saw 15 petitions against the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, another contested measure signed by President Benigno Aquino III, before putting it on a temporary restraining order for an indefinite period.