Lawmaker to RH oppositors: Read bill’s contents first

THIRD District Representative Albee Benitez asked those who are opposing the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) law to read first the contents of the bill before making conclusions.

Benitez said several amendments were made on the RH before it was passed by Congress.

"This amended RH bill is totally different from the first one authored by Congressman Edcel Lagman. There were lots of amendments made because of the participation of the private sector. Some of the amendments have addressed the main concerns of those opposing it, so they better read first the content of the bill because it has addressed some provisions that were opposed before," Benitez said.

Benitez made the statement, as the Roman Catholic Church especially the Diocese of Bacolod has made a statement that they will campaign against those congressmen who voted for the passage of the RH bill.

"I took a stand based on what I believe is proper," Benitez said.

Meanwhile, Benitez said he is hoping that the Senate would start deliberating on the Sugarcane Bill he authored.

The proposed bill has already passed several committees at the House of Representatives and is already scheduled for plenary discussion.

"Hopefully next week, the Senate will be able to start discussing the bill after the intramurals that is happening at the Senate now,” Benitez said.

He is referring to the word war between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Allan Peter Cayetano and Miriam Defensor Santiago on the controversial giving of Christmas bonus by Enrile to some senators in the amount of P1.6 million each.