Solons, church group decry RH vote discrepancies

MANILA, Philippines - A pro-life group expressed alarm after discrepancies were spotted between the number of lawmakers present at the session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday night and the results of the nominal voting on amendments to the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill.

In a statement on Wednesday, CBCP for Life said that only 139 total votes of lawmakers were counted versus the minimum number of 144 House members required to be present to deliberate on any aspect of the bill.

From such voting, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez's proposal to include a clause on the respect for religious freedom was officially rejected by the body even when it lacked the authority of a quorum, the Church-backed group said.

Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay moved for a parliamentary inquiry to raise the discrepancy and object against the ruling to deny the amendment.

Magsaysay, who is openly against the proposed measure for government-supported contraceptive and family planning program, questioned presiding officer Lorenzo Tañada's decision to make the votes count, prompting a commotion on the floor, the group said.

"If you have the numbers, then you should stay on the floor, (but) clearly there was no quorum after the last nominal voting," Magsaysay posted on her Twitter account that night.

Tañada, who consistently expressed his support for the measure, denied Palawan Rep. Dennis Socrates's subsequent motion for adjournment for the lack of deliberating members and instead suspended the session prompted by RH bill co-author Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin.

After being further corrected by Socrates on the precedence of adjournment over suspension, Tañada walked out of the hall without a final ruling.

"Iniwan kami sa plenary sa ere, 'di na bumalik para i-clarify yung ruling niya," Magsaysay said.

CBCP for Life added that anti-RH solons vowed to boycott other House deliberations until the last voting on the proposed measure was considered void by House leadership.