Delay in RH law implementation emboldens prolifers

MANILA, Philippines - The delay in the implementation of the controversial Reproductive Health law in the country has emboldened so-called prolife groups to seek to stop actions of the advocates of women's reproductive health.

This was the reaction of Ramon San Pascual, deputy secretary general of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development regarding the legal action taken by Prolife Philippines Foundation, which tried to stop the holding of the 7th Asian Pacific Conference on Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights in the country.

"For as long as that Supreme Court decision (on the petition) is pending, it will emboldened them (prolife groups) to do other very harmful actions and utilizing the court because they do this in the legislation. They go to court," San Pascual said.

He added that the High Court could not just continue to allow the RH law to go on unimplemented, noting the several years of lobbying and advocating of groups supporting the advancement of women's reproductive health rights.

"It's already a law; they could not just reject the years of work done by our parliamentarians over this reproductive health law. And they could not just reject the strong support given by the government through the value of legislation to protect mothers in a safe giving of birth," San Pascual said.

As of date, the High Court has yet to rule on the petition of prolife groups, questioning the constitutionality of the RH law, which has been signed by President Benigno Aquino III Dec. 21, 2012.

Its implementation was however indefinitely suspended by the High Court pending the decision on the petition of pro-life groups.

Members of Prolife of the Philippines Foundation earlier asked the Pasay City court to issue a TRO on the four-day event the Philippine International Convention Center, saying the holding of the conference is illegal since it promotes abortion in the country.

The Pasay court, however, denied granting the TRO to the group and scheduled the hearing for a preliminary injunction on February.