CBCP counsel's son asks SC to strike down RH law

source: gmanetwork.com

The son of a legal counsel for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has questioned the legality of Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012.

In a petition for certiorari and prohibition with a prayer for a writ of injunction filed with the Supreme Court Wednesday, James Imbong and his wife Lovely-Ann said the government should cease from implementing the law for being "unconstitutional."

The couple said they filed the petition "in behalf of our minor children."

Mr. Imbong is the son of lawyer Jo Aurea Imbong, executive secretary of the CBCP legal office. The CBCP has staunchly opposed the RH bill when it was being deliberated in Congress.

The Catholic Church, which only espouses natural family planning methods, is against the passage of the RH law as it promotes both natural and artificial family planning methods.

Unconstitutional

In their petition, the Imbong couple said the RH law "introduces policies that negate and frustrate the foundational ideals and aspirations of the sovereign Filipino people as enshrined in the Constitution."

"The act cannot be implemented without exceeding the boundaries of government action as established in the Constitution," they added.

The petitioners also claimed the law "mocks the nation's Filipino culture — noble and lofty in its values and holdings on life, motherhood and family life — now the fragile lifeblood of a treasures culture that today stands solitary but proud in contrast to other nations."

Named respondents in the petition were Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr., Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

President Benigno Aquino III signed the Reproductive Health Act of 2012 last December 21. It will take effect 15 days after its publication in two newspapers of general circulation.

Malacañang, through deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, said the RH bill's passage into law “closes a highly divisive chapter of our history,” although the bill's critics vowed to bring the battle to the courts.

source: gmanetwork.com