BY FELIPE CELINO
ROXAS City — The Catholic Church is not giving up against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, a high prelate in this city said.
The controversial bill, which had been pending in Congress for more than a decade, was passed on third and final reading by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday.
In spite of this, the stand of the Church remains, said Rev. Msgr. Victor Bendico of the Mary Immaculate Conception parish here.
He also appealed to Capiceños not to give up the fight against the controversial measure.
“I appealed to [the Capiceños] not to easily give up. Justice will flourish and history will judge us,” Bendico told the news media here.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has announced on Monday night the 13-8 vote approving the RH bill.
The House voted 133-79-7 to pass House Bill 4244 on final reading, increasing the winning margin to 54.
During the second reading on Thursday, the Chamber voted 113-104-3.
The two chambers will have to reconcile their versions of the bill in a bicameral conference committee so that President Benigno Aquino III can sign it into law.
Lower House representatives of Capiz had dissenting opinion on the RH bill — 1st District Rep. Antonio del Rosario of the Liberal Party voted yes to the bill while 2nd District Rep. Jane Tan-Castro of the National Unity Party voted no.
