Apu Ceto hails SC ruling on RH bill

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Archbishop Paciano Aniceto hailed Wednesday the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision bucking the controversial Reproductive Health Bill.

The SC issued on Monday a status quo ante order suspending the implementation of the RH Law for four months, with justices voting 10-5 in favor of the stop order.

No less than Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno led the dissenting group.

Aniceto, who heads the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said the Church will pursue its opposition on the RH Bill and elevate their concerns to the SC.

Getting wind of the good news, Aniceto said that “heaven has heard our prayers.”

“This is very good news to all pro-life advocates. It brings hope to us who value life as embodied in the teachings of our Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.

He added that the SC’s move will also be of good news to Pope Francis, who is against the distribution of contraceptives in Argentina when he was still a cardinal there.

“We will remain vigilant as this is just temporary,” Aniceto said. The feisty prelate has urged voters in the Archdiocese of San Fernando to go for pro-life candidates, even as he did not name names.

Oral arguments on the RH bill are set to start June 18.