Rally staged to oppose condom use campaign

CEBU, Philippines - Concerned ordinary citizens of the city along with representatives from the religious sector and members of AIDS-Free Philippines headed by executive director Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer staged a rally in front of the Department of Health Field Office 7 yesterday to express their opposition to the recent campaign of the government promoting the use of condom for safe sex.

Protesters, as they symbolically burned different brands of condoms available in the market, insisted that the use of condoms is not a proven solution to solve the problem of increasing cases of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) in the country.

“The use of condoms has never been proven to solve the problem on increasing AIDS. Kay kung solusyon pa na, dugay ra nga nasulbad ang maong problema sa US, Australia ug sa uban pang nasod na available g’yod kaayo ang condoms,” Bullecer said.

He alleged that this plan of DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral to distribute free condoms to the poor is influenced by graft and corruption.

“Since condoms have not been proven to minimize AIDS, we are thinking that they are doing this for graft and corruption. Because we are talking about millions of dollars that are pouring in to the hands and pockets of government officials,” Bullecer alleged.

He added that what Cabral is actually doing is telling the children that it is okay to engage in sex anytime instead of telling the youth to avoid it.

The rally yesterday, Bullecer said, aired the voices of the people who want to protect lives and the future of their children.

“The government should listen to the people because these people are the ones paying your salaries,” Bullecer said.

Protesters told Cabral that she may want to use the P8 million budget set to buy condoms to be distributed for free for other purposes that will benefit the people in this time of crisis like distribution of rice and other basic commodities.

From the religious sector, protesters said that the Catholic community who may be thinking of heeding the call of DOH must think twice because condoms, a form of contraceptive, is anti-life which “may save their lives but will not save their souls.” - Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)