Anti-RH bill camp 'willing to fight the law'

MANILA, Philippines- Advocates against the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill are determined to fight the law in case the measure gets passed in Congress, the president of Pro-Life Philippines said Saturday at the Catholic Church's prayer rally at the EDSA Shrine.

Despite rains, the rally led by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines was attended by about 25,000 people including clerics, students and other anti-RH Bill advocates, Manalang said.

He added that participants in the prayer rally came from as far as Davao City, in a show of might against the measure which has been a subject of heated debates from opposing sides.

Manalang said clerics and the lay people in general have sustained interest in following the bill's development in Congress.

The House of Representatives will vote on Tuesday whether the members will continue to debate on the proposed bill or proceed with amendments.

"We will not stop in our protests and in our prayers until the Reproductive Health Bill is junked," he said.

Quoting Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, Manalang said the RH Bill is not the answer to the government's problem on lack of education, poverty and maternal deaths, among others.

"The government is paying attention to the wrong things... the bill is against our rights," he said, adding that they are willing to take the issue to various avenues, including the courts, to stop the enactment of the bill.