Former PMA president did not speak for group in RH bill hearing

MANILA, Philippines - A former president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has clarified that he was not speaking for the group when he appeared at a hearing of the House of Representatives on the Reproductive Health bill last Dec. 15.

Dr. Santiago del Rosario said in a statement sent to The STAR that he was the “official representative” of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) in the House hearings conducted last Nov. 24, Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.

“I did not speak for the PMA during the hearing. When recognized by Hon. Chairman (Rogelio) Espina to speak, it was as a reply to the question of the Hon. Cong. Pablo Garcia ‘When does life begin? What is the stand of the PMA?’” he noted.

In press statements sent to reporters last Dec. 17, PMA president Dr. Oscar Tinio maintained that del Rosario was not authorized to speak for the PMA during the Dec. 15 hearing.

Tinio had charged that del Rosario, who is also a former president of POGS, had “uttered statements that are contrary to their official stand” on the issue of where life begins.

For his part, del Rosario explained that he “did not make statements contrary to the official stand of the PMA.”

“I merely read the latest position paper of the PMA sent to me by the PMA Secretariat on Dec. 14, 2010,” he added.