MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives approved the Reproductive Health (RH) bill on second reading before dawn yesterday in an overnight session witnessed by several leaders of the Catholic Church, which is against the measure.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. led administration allies in voting for the proposed RH and responsible parenthood law, 113-104 with three abstentions.
The passage of bills on second reading is usually seen as sure approval, with the third reading seen as a mere formality.
But in this case, because of the slim margin and the absence of over 60 members at yesterday’s voting, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said the final vote on third reading could still change.
President Aquino quickly squelched insinuations that he had dangled pork barrel allocations to entice lawmakers into voting for the controversial measure.
“As I predicted, we won the vote only by a narrow margin. I think members should expect more intense lobbying from both sides beginning this morning,” Gonzales told reporters after the marathon session was adjourned.
He said those absent could be the focus of lobbying.“I don’t think those who have exposed their faces in voting for or against the bill would change their votes, though they could be pressured to stay away from the third and final-reading voting,” Gonzales said.
He added that he would try to call the bill for a final-reading vote on Monday.
The session started at 4 p.m. Wednesday and lasted up to about 2:05 yesterday morning, with 217 of the 284 House members present.
The verdict on the measure, contained in House Bill 4244, is the second major feat of sorts in six months for Belmonte’s chamber, where the measure had been stuck for 14 years.
In July, the House approved the sin tax bill, which members of previous Congresses sat on for 16 years.
In December last year, congressmen made history by voting to impeach then chief justice Renato Corona. (From Philstar.com)