A PRO-LIFE group threw its full-support on the Catholic bishops’ call to ban advertisements on condoms and other contraceptives.
Aids-free Philippines and Human Life International Pilipinas Executive Director Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer told a media briefing Thursday that the banning is “timely”.
“We would also like to ask for the banning of indiscriminate distribution of condoms, indiscriminate display and sale of condoms including in the market place and we would like to ask the FDA to put a warning, similar to cigarettes…It is right and timely for the Catholic Church and for us to do so such move,” he said.
For her part, Dr. Ligaya Acosta, Executive Director Human Life Asia/Oceania said the continued airing of condom advertisements could “destroy” the society’s moral fiber.
“Of course we support it. These condom advertisements destroy the moral fiber of our youth and society in general. These should be prohibited from further airing,” she said.
The influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) earlier said condom distribution and condom advertisements “desensitize the youth's delicate conscience and weaken their moral fiber as future parents."
Pity
Acosta, who worked for the Department of Health (DOH) for 28 years as the information and education manager for Aids and STD, meanwhile said she “pity” Secretary Esperanza Cabral for “ignoring the facts.”
Acosta said condoms are not full-proof because these are made of latex have pores or holes which are big enough for the entry of sperm cells and HIV and other diseases.
“They (DOH) are always using Thailand as an example, Thailand went on 100 percent condom use program… from 112 cases of HIV/Aids in 1987, today there have more than 1.3 million cases of HIV/Aids.
You have to know that in Thailand, condoms arrive by the shipload. The same thing happened in Cambodia.
“In Cambodia, they also went into a 100-percent condom-use program. What happened, from only 14 cases in 1994, it rose to more than 16,000 in 2001,” she said.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids said there are around 8,300 Filipinos now living with the virus. The department has recorded only 4,400.
Meanwhile, Acosta said abstinence is the best key to prevent someone from contracting the disease.
“Abstinence is the only foolproof way of preventing the spread of HIV-Aids and maintaining a monogamous relationship, being faithful to your partner,” she said.
Endorsement of pro-life candidates
In a related development, Bullecer said the group will announce the candidates they are supporting in the elections next week in Cebu City.
Bullecer hinted that these national and local candidates are those who are in favor of natural family planning.
The announcement will be made during the National Pro-Life Leaders Summit slated from March 8 to 9. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)