Noy not softening on RH bill

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has not softened his stand on the reproductive health bill with his offer of reconciliation with Catholic bishops, but has only “opened doors for negotiations” over the controversial bill and other issues, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said yesterday.

“I think even now there are still talks going on that the President would want to reconcile his views with that of the Catholic church,” Ochoa told news anchor Karen Davila on ABS-CBN “Headstart” program.

“It’s not really softening of his stand (on RH bill). He’s just opening the doors for negotiations to keep this issue from becoming adversarial,” he said. Ochoa issued the clarification a day after Aquino said he was looking forward to renewing talks with the new leadership in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda gave the same explanation. “We just wanted to make mention of the fact that the CBCP is under new leadership. There has been lately a media conflict between the government and the Church,” he said in a briefing.

“That’s why we wanted to dispel that and with the new leadership coming in, we would expect a more fruitful dialogue and a more harmonious relationship with the CBCP leadership,” he added.

The Palace is leaving it up to the House under Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to decide on the RH bill, which is being discussed in the plenary.

“We have emphasized that it is already underway in the House and I think it’s within the House rules. The manner and procedure by which the RH bill can be tackled is under the control of the House leadership,” Lacierda stressed.

“So we leave it with them, nonetheless, we would like to emphasize our support for Responsible Parenthood, the five-point statement of the President with respect to responsible parenthood,” he added.

In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), Aquino thanked Catholic prelates for their willingness to dialogue with his administration over vital issues including the RH bill. But he stressed he felt no need to apologize to bishops who had received vehicles from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office during the Arroyo administration.

“I thank the priests and bishops who have continued to dialogue with us, like Cardinals (Gaudencio) Rosales and (Ricardo) Vidal,” he said in his SONA last Monday.

“Cardinal Rosales and I may not be the closest of friends, but I believe that he did all that he could to reduce the tensions between the church and the government,” Aquino said.

The President also welcomed the election of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma as the next president of CBCP.

“The election of Archbishop Palma, defender of human rights and of the environment, as head of the CBCP only bolsters my confidence that the state and the clergy will be able to engage each other in a positive manner,” he said.