After anti-RH defeat, 'pro-life' group vows to renew battle in May

MANILA, Philippines - Their decades-long campaign against the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill--now a law--and attempted divorce measures did not spell the end for anti-RH groups.

Hoping to re-enter the political front this time through the upcoming midterm polls, Ateneo Law School professor Jeremy Gatdula of Ang Pro-life Partylist said the family is the major issue of the May polls.

"This is the first time, I think, in so many recent years that the issues of family and life have become so crucial and so much in the consciousness of people and that probably is an indication of how crucial it is," Gatdula, who is also a columnist for a business daily, said in a statement on Monday.

Together with James Imbong, whose petition for a temporary restraining order for the RH law is still pending before the Supreme Court, Gatdula expressed his hope for the new party to make it to Congress where they plan to uphold traditional family values they deem to be waning.

"The structure of the family must be taken into consideration as an institution not isolated within society. Institutions of government, economy, and education, which highly influence the family, are present as well, initially for the purpose of the people," party-list supporter Nicole Fuentes said.

Gatdula added that politicians and legislators always talk about and forward plans on taxes, government reforms and business while leaving out the welfare of families.

"If the primary institution of the family is destroyed, no government intervention will suffice," he said.

Fearing a backlash of the newly signed RH act, Gatdula also said the country might see the sad fate of other countries where abortion rates increased due to a pro-contraceptive measure and children doing poorly in school due to parents' divorce.

"So we know that poor family life translates to a lot of things. We just have to look at the other countries," Gatdula said.