Mocha campaigns for RH bill at House

MANILA, Philippines - Singer Mocha Uson tied purple ribbons on the gates of the Batasang Pambansa and distributed condoms to passersby in campaigning for the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill in the House of Representatives yesterday.

The latest pro-RH gimmick took place as the House resumed floor debates on the controversial measure with the gallery packed with both pro-life and pro-RH groups.

Facing off for the second time was House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, author of House Bill 4244, and Deputy Speaker and Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia, a staunch critic of the bill.

The singer, wearing tight shorts and a hanging T-shirt, gave away purple baller IDs with the words “I love sex education” and condoms. She was met at the south gate by Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas, a supporter of the measure.

Cagas posed as one of the reporters and interviewed Mocha on the spot on the RH bill. He later expressed support for the measure.

Mocha told reporters she has been receiving numerous inquiries via e-mail from the youth on sex, which showed the youth are not getting proper sex education from their parents.

She also expressed support for measures that uphold women’s health and urged boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao to reconsider his opposition to the RH bill.

Cagas welcomed Mocha’s campaign and urged critics to read the measure carefully before opposing it.

Last May 11, RH bill supporters launched the Purple Ribbon campaign to urge President Aquino to certify the measure as urgent. Some of the personalities present at the launch were former President Fidel Ramos and former health secretary Esperanza Cabral. – Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan