Miriam and MVP: Allies on RH bill

MANILA, Philippines – Businessman Manuel V Pangilinan may have severed ties with the Ateneo but he found a new ally in Sen Miriam Defensor Santiago.

In a statement, Santiago praised Pangilinan for publicly stating his support for the Reproductive Health (RH) bill. 

Santiago, author and co-sponsor of the RH bill, was referring to Pangilinan’s letter to the Ateneo where he said he disagreed with the stand of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines against the RH bill.

“My only prayer is that more people would be as independent-minded as Manny,” said Santiago. “The RH bill would be beneficial to our people, especially the poor. No one can help us but ourselves.” 

Pangilinan cited the Catholic Church and the Ateneo’s position on the RH bill and mining as reasons for what he called his “complete and total disengagement from the Ateneo.” A graduate of the university, Pangilinan was a chairman of its Board of Trustees, and helped fund various programs of the school. Pangilinan is chairman of Philex Mining Corp and the PLDT Group.

In his letter to Ateneo President Father Jett Villarin, SJ, Pangilinan said the Church’s position on the RH bill is “contrary to the interest of our country.” 

“[The Church] should earn its rightful place in the national debating table by showing tangibly and significantly its concern for the poor and the corrupt, and sharing the burden with business and government the enormous task of nation-building – including the appropriate moral formation of our people and our leaders,” Pangilinan said.

In her statement, Santiago disclosed that Pangilinan was a secondary sponsor in her 40th wedding anniversary with husband Narciso Santiago Jr last year. 

Why is Senate dragging feet? 

Santiago also expressed dismay that the Senate leadership has yet to schedule plenary amendments for the RH bill. Her co-sponsor, Senator Pia Cayetano, has finished introducing committee amendments. 

The two senators want the bill passed within the year but Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III are staunch critics of the measure. 

“The Senate has not taken up the RH bill for weeks. Why are they dragging their feet? Let’s just put it to a vote. The RH bill is over 10 years old. It is cowardly to keep postponing the decision,” Santiago said.

Santiago, who holds a masters degree in theology, has said in past speeches that Catholics can support the RH bill in good conscience. 

The following are her arguments:

1. The Church does not consider anti-RH teaching as infallible.
2. The Catholic enjoys freedom of conscience.
3. RH observers the “preferential option for the poor” under liberation theology.
4. RH is part of today’s sense of the faithful, also known as sensus fidelium.
5. Surveys show Catholic support for RH is “a sign of the times.”
6. Since God is love, RH is proof of love for the poor and therefore is proof of love for God.
7. Anti-RH is cruelty to the poor.
8. The bill is over 10 years old; it is cowardly to keep postponing the decision. – Rappler.com