Cayetano, Santiago expect Senate to vote on RH bill this year

MANILA, Philippines - The two main proponents of the reproductive health (RH) bill, Senators Pia Cayetano and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, believe that a vote on the measure could be taken by August this year now that interpellations on the bill have concluded in the Senate.

However, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, one of the most vocal critics of the bill, cautioned the two senators against hoping for a speedy passage of the bill.

He said that the closing of the period of interpellation does not mean the bill would breeze through plenary sessions like what they have been saying.

Santiago had expressed confidence that the bill has a greater chance of being approved by the Senate now that the impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona is over because her colleagues would be in a conciliatory mood.

She said that the bulk of arguments for or against the bill have already been exhausted, so getting the bill ready for voting should not take much longer.

Cayetano said that the closing of the period of interpellation is a big deal to her, considering that she spent more than a year defending the measure before nine of her colleagues.

“Some of them took the floor three times, four times, many at least twice, explaining. And though I am a very patient person, I’ve had to explain many times the same things over and over again, which I did so that people would understand the issues,” she said.

However, she said that “at some point, we have to move on.”

“Just like in the impeachment, remember how they said we have to see this impeachment through, people need to see that the Senate makes a decision. I feel the same way about RH, let’s take it to a vote,” she added.

Cayetano said that the bill would now undergo the period of amendments after which it would be closed on second reading.

However, Sotto said that the two RH proponents should not be too confident about the fate of their pet bill because a lot could still happen between now and the period of amendments.

He said the critics of the bill would still have their turn to air their position on the measure to try and convince their colleagues to cast a negative vote.

He said that he still has some cards up his sleeve and would reveal more of his information against the RH bill at the proper time.

Sotto has opposed the bill for various reasons, including the alleged involvement of pro-abortion organizations and contraceptive manufacturers, whom he said are backing its passage.