SB optimistic SC to uphold RH Law

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. yesterday expressed optimism that the Supreme Court (SC) would uphold the constitutionality of the Reproductive Health (RH) law.

Belmonte, as Speaker of the House of Representatives who steered the passage of the controversial RH bill in the 15th Congress, said the merits and legality of the law have been debated for years by lawmakers and other stakeholders.

The SC held oral arguments on the constitutionality of the RH law on Tuesday with the justices reportedly unsure whether the high court was the proper venue to tackle medical and moral issues raised in the case.

“I haven’t been following the arguments there but I suppose they are repeats of the argument done. I remain very happy and proud that it was in the 15th Congress headed by me that we finally passed an RH bill,” Belmonte said.

“It’s a good law. I’m 100 percent for it. I’m very hopeful that at the end of the day, the Supreme Court will find that a bill that has been pending for years and has been debated many times must be an OK bill,” he said.