Pia to seek end to RH bill amendments

MANILA, Philippines - When Sen. Pia Cayetano files her motion to end the period of amendments to the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill either tomorrow or on Tuesday, she will need the support of only seven of her colleagues to move the measure closer to voting on third and final reading.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, co-author and sponsor of the RH bill along with Cayetano, said she is sure of support from 13 senators for her and Cayetano’s efforts to have the measure approved. “We have been counting noses,” she said.

The two senators discussed their strategy for moving the RH bill forward in the Senate following yet another attempt by opponents of the measure to delay its consideration.

Last Monday, Cayetano attempted to put the RH bill on the floor for the resumption of the period of amendments, which she said would only take a mere 30 minutes to complete.

Cayetano noted that there were only three senators left who would be introducing amendments, namely Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Ralph Recto.

Enrile, however, said he would not be rushed into introducing his proposed amendments.

“We are now in the period of amendments but there are those who want to keep on going back (to the interpellations). They have interpolated already. Their questioning went on for a long time and we were very patient,” Santiago said, reacting to Enrile’s position.

Cayetano said Recto gave his word that he would introduce his proposed amendments tomorrow.

She said she would give Enrile and Sotto until Tuesday to introduce their own amendments.

Santiago said Cayetano, based on their discussion, would file a motion to end the period of amendments if Enrile and Sotto still refuse to come out with their amendments.

She said only 13 senators are needed to constitute a quorum and in order to have their motion approved, all they need are seven votes.

“We cannot let one person control the entire Senate. Because the general rule in the Senate is everything is decided by a majority of the senators present, there being a quorum,” Santiago said.

“So we will try the tactic. We will try everything so that the people will see that we did everything we can for the RH bill,” she added.

Santiago reiterated that the RH bill is an urgent measure aimed at giving women greater access to reproductive health services.