All set for oral arguments on RH law

MANILA, Philippines - All is set for the showdown between staunch supporters and critics of the controversial Republic Act 10354 or the Reproductive Health (RH) law at the Supreme Court (SC).

The 12 petitioners, six intervenors and the respondents in the case met with justices of the high court yesterday for a second preliminary conference in preparation for the oral arguments on July 9.

Women’s rights lawyer Claire Padilla, an intervenor representing the Catholics for Reproductive Health and Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood Inc., said the parties agreed to summarize the arguments in four main issues.

These are whether the law violates autonomy of local government and equal protection of the law, life and health, natural law and disregard intergenerational responsibility and freedom of religion, speech and academic freedom.

“There was no objection among the respondents and intervenors to the issues raised by petitioners,” Padilla, emerging from the closed-door meeting, said.

In their meeting last June 6, the SC justices set three main issues they wanted discussed during the oral arguments — proscription against involuntary servitude and equal protection clause; right to life, freedom of religion and natural law; and freedom of speech and academic freedom.

Padilla said the high court would issue the guidelines regarding the final issues for the oral arguments “taking into consideration the agreements of the parties” during yesterday’s conference.

It was also agreed that the petitioners would take the floor on the first day of oral arguments.

The respondents and intervenors would have their turn in the next hearing.

Padilla drafted the earliest version of the RH law – House Bill 4110 or the Reproductive Health Care Bill – in December 2001 under consultancy with the Philippine Legislative Committee on Population and Development.

Zahria Mapandi, a Muslim mother and executive director of Al-Mujadillah Development Foundation Inc., joined Padilla in filing the motion to intervene in the case.

Former Akbayan party-list rep-resentative Risa Hontiveros; former health secretaries Esperanza Cabral, Jamie Galvez-Tan and Alberto Romualdez Jr.; the group of 2005 Bar topnotcher Joan de Venecia; Sen. Pia Cayetano, and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman are the other intervenors.