'Opponents of RH bill delaying amendments'

MANILA, Philippines - Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman yesterday accused lawmakers opposed to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill of delaying the process of introducing amendments to the measure.

Lagman, one of the bill’s principal authors, asked the House leadership to stop such delaying tactics.

“When the House voted to terminate floor debates on the measure, it was a decision to also start forthwith the period of amendments prior to voting on second and third final readings,” he said.

Lagman said those opposed to the proposed RH law are violating such mandate by delivering privilege speeches “to delay and derail the start of the period of amendments.”

“Why terminate the long-winding and repetitive interpellations only to temporize and hold hostage the legislation?” he asked.

The former minority leader appealed to House leaders “to foreclose the malevolent and dilatory filibustering and strictly enforce the rule on ‘questions of privilege’ because more than a right, this privilege to speak is subject to the permission of the presiding officer who shall determine whether the request is in order.”

Lagman invoked Section 101 of the Rules of the House, which provides that “questions of privilege are those affecting the duties, conducts, rights, privileges, dignity, integrity or reputation of the House or of its members, individually or collectively.”

“The invocation by Rep. Dennis Socrates of a question of privilege to assail the decision of the House to terminate the debates and the speech of Rep. Roilo Golez on congressional response to the calamities were obviously not within the ambit of questions of privilege,” he said.

He suggested that the House leadership fix a definite schedule for amendments and second and final-reading voting similar to the proposed P2-trillion 2013 national budget.

“The RH and budget bills are interrelated since no amount of appropriations for social services and sustainable human development are adequate if the problem of population is not addressed,” Lagman said.

“If those opposed to the RH bill have the numbers to defeat the measure as alleged by the Catholic Church, then why are they afraid to proceed with the amendments and eventual voting?” he asked.

Last week, efforts by the House to start the process of introducing amendments to the bill proved futile after congressmen opposed to it delivered privilege speeches.

Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin Remulla, who was presiding over the session, allowed the speeches.

Reps. Jeanette Garin of Iloilo and Kimi Cojuangco of Pangasinan, co-authors of the measure, denounced their colleagues for delaying the proposed RH legislation’s consideration.