Rodriguez: RH interim halt constitutional

A LAWMAKER in Cagayan de Oro welcomed the recent Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to stop the implementation of the Reproductive Health (RH) law citing the constitutional provisions it violated.

Representative Rufus Rodriguez (second district) said the SC’s decision only proves that the constitutional ground against RH Law is wrong.

Rodriguez said under Article 2 of the Bill of Rights and Article 15 of the Family Code, it clearly violated freedom of religion and the State’s duty to protect the unborn child from the time of conception.

He added it is the duty of the state to defend the right of spouses to fend a family in accordance with their religious conviction.

“And RH law violates it,” Rodriguez said.

“The SC’s decision, having at least 2/3 of the magistrates voting for its stoppage only shows that there is a clear probability of constitutional violation,” Rodriguez said.

Department of Health spokesperson for Northern Mindanao Emiliano Galban Jr., said they also welcome the decision.

“Let’s (allow) justice to run its due course and hear all the arguments against it, after all that’s how democracy works,” Galban said.

He added they were not affected as to the preparations for its supposed full implementation during Easter Sunday.

“Maybe the central office is affected but we in the regions have to be oriented with the law, anyway,” Galban said.

Women’s group Gabriela earlier criticized the SC’s order as this will only derail the delivery of the basic services to the women.

But former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. said there is nothing to be anxious as “it is only a Temporary Restraining Order merely giving time to parties to argue deeply into the issues involved.”

Rodriguez said instead of the government spending P10 billion per year for condoms and contraceptives “it must be spent for the improvement and construction of more health centers nationwide and building of more classrooms.”