MANILA, Dec. 3, 2012— An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is pushing for a nominal voting on the reproductive health (RH) bill.
As lawmakers in the House of Representatives are expected to force a vote on the measure, Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes said that a nominal voting is necessary to uphold transparency.
“Let us demand from our congressmen, especially the leaders of Congress, that the voting be nominal, whenever a vote on a part or on the whole of the substitute RH bill is taken,” Reyes said.
Under the said voting procedure, each lawmaker will be allowed to cast and explain their votes on the controversial population control measure.
“It is the right of the people to know how their respective congressmen voted on this important bill,” said Reyes, chairman of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL).
Last August, many bishops lamented the scheme of voting when lawmakers ended the debate on the RH bill through a “viva voce” following a meeting with President Benigno Aquino III.
The measure, which seeks to promote the use of artificial contraceptives, is currently going through a period of amendments before it is put to a vote on second reading on the floor.
The CBCP official also called for days of fasting and prayer against the RH bill as Malacañang takes an extra mile to push for the passage of the measure.
Aquino will be meeting with his allies in Congress on Monday to discuss RH bill and other legislative matters.
“Let us pray and fast on Monday and the following days so that our lawmakers will not pass the bill,” he said. “Let us beseech God to protect life, family, marriage and the youth in our country.” (CBCPNews)
