WHO really won?
For the Philippine Legislators? Committee on Population and Development, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao took a beating from House minority leader Edcel Lagman whom the eight-division world boxing champ interpellated on the reproductive health bill Wednesday night at the House.
The PLCDP is supporting the controversial measure whose main author is Lagman.
Para?aque Rep. Roilo Golez, who is opposing the RH bill, gave the nod to Pacquiao.
Ramon San Pascual, PLCPD executive director, said the “beating” Pacquiao took from Lagman showed Pacquiao was not really aware of the provisions and details of the RH bill.
He said it also showed how Pacquiao is being used by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines which is opposing the measure.
“It was obvious that Pacquiao allowed himself to be used as a popular image of the anti-RH cause even if he is not aware of the RH bill and the issues around it?He is the latest robo-boxer deployed by the CBCP in the heated RH bill debate,” said San Pascual.
Proof of his “overzealousness yet ignorance” over the proposed measure was the prepared questionnaire Pacquiao used throughout the interpellation, said San Pascual.
But San Pascual stopped short of urging Pacquiao to review his position on the RH bill.
“But take time to study and understand the issues at hand?You are a public servant of your constituents in Sarangani, and not a spokesperson of some religious office in Intramuros,” he said.
Golez, who was a champion boxer at the United States Naval Academy, said Pacquiao can be likened to a “novato” boxer in his first professional fight against the “veteran Congress pug” Lagman.
He said while Lagman had been expected to come out unscathed, Pacquiao scored a “solid kisser” when he corrected Lagman about certain provisions that Lagman said have been removed, particularly on making sex education mandatory in elementary and high schools, and on companies providing RH services to employees.
Golez said Lagman not only made a false claim that the bill has already been amended but also made a “grossly wrong and condescending statement.”
He quoted Lagman as telling Pacquiao, “Hindi yata nabalitaan ni Congressman Pacquiao na amended na ang provision na ito, dahil sa preparasyon niya sa laban kay Mosley. Amended na po ito, at optional na ang sex education.”
Pacquiao told Lagman they have not yet reached the period of amendments so the provisions could not have been already removed.
“It was not yet period of amendment. It was out of order and Lagman cannot unilaterally make an amendment because every amendment is subject to plenary vote,” Golez said.
“Pacquiao, the overwhelming underdog, won the fight with that solid kisser, and Lagman blundered and walked into that solid parliamentary right cross and had to embarrassingly admit his parliamentary error,” Golez also said.
Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay said those who are criticizing Pacquiao are “out of line.”
“Every legislator, whether he is Pacquiao or not, has the right to air his opinion on a measure. That?s part of his job as a lawmaker. He can ask any question he wants the author to respond to. That?s the beauty of debate, that?s the beauty of interpellation,” she said.
Sen. Edgardo Angara called for “calm, reasoned and enlightened” discussion on the RH bill.
“What we need is to inform the people about what this bill is all about, what measures the RH bill is seeking, so that each person has enough knowledge to make their own decisions on the matter,” he said.
Angara also said he is inclined to support the bill “because of its provisions for maternal and child health.”
“I?m not in favor of abortion, which I don?t think is part of the bill anyway,” he added.
