Quorum lack delays OK of RH bill in lower house
by CARMELA FONBUENA, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 09/16/2008 7:58 PM
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For lack of quorum, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman failed on Tuesday to deliver his sponsorship speech on the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill, House Bill (HB) 5043.
A total of 150 congressmen—a clear quorum—answered to the roll call at the beginning of the session of the House of Representatives. But when Lagman was about to deliver his speech, Quezon City Rep. Mary Ann Susano began her tirades against the bill.
While she opposed the speech, several congressmen apparently left. Susano later asked for a second roll call. Only 101 congressmen, which is short of a quorum, answered, and the session was adjourned until Wednesday.
“This is a case of a maneuver to delay the process,” a disappointed Lagman told reporters after the session.
He lamented how critics of the bill spent several minutes to oppose his speech. “Ultimately, there will be no people around anymore.”
"Many authors did not know that it will be called today,” Lagman said, assuring that they have the numbers to pass the bill.
A total of 96 congressmen supported HB 5043, although several of them have reportedly withdrawn their signatures.
This is the first time that a bill promoting the use of contraceptives reached the plenary.
Since the 9th Congress, similar bills have been filed in Congress, but were always shelved after facing strong opposition from the Catholic Church.
Nevertheless, Lagman remained optimistic. “They cannot forever delay the enactment of this important law.”
Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros is confident, too, of the bill's approval. “We’ve waited for 14 years. We can wait one more day,” she said.
