Women’s group to Sen.
Sotto: do your job or resign
Press Release
January
14, 2011
QUEZON CITY – Sen.
Vicente Sotto III’s recent pronouncement against the controversial
reproductive health (RH) bill caught the ire of a group of women
advocates.
Democratic Socialist
Women of the Philippines (DSWP) represented by its National
Chairperson Elizabeth Angsioco calls on Sen. Sotto to stop
irresponsible talks and instead do his job.
According to Angsioco
Sen. Sotto’s responsibility is to facilitate the legislative process,
not derail it. This includes calendaring bills already reported out by
the Committees for plenary debates. “Saying that he would rather be
replaced from his position than see the RH bill enacted into law reeks
of arrogance. It’s proof that the good Senator only cares about what
he personally believes in, even if this runs counter to public
welfare,” stressed Angsioco.
“If he truly is a
statesman, he would not impose his personal opinion on the whole
nation. Using his important position as the Senate Majority Leader to
derail the legislative process is being untrue to his mandate as a
lawmaker. If he doesn’t want to do his job, then he should resign,”
said Angsioco.
Angsioco also stressed
that, ‘Sotto’s rejection of a national RH policy based on fears that
such would coerce people into using contraceptives even if they do
not want to is unfounded and misguided. The services offered by the
bill are for those who want and need these. Sotto, and people who
believe as he does, will not be imposed on. It seems that the Senator
has not studied the bill and has been relying on false things being
said about it. Studying legislative proposals is part of his job
description.’
‘Contrary to his
perception, an RH law will provide all family planning methods,
meaning, both the natural and modern methods will be equally
available,’ Angsioco explains.
“Most importantly,
Sen. Sotto must realize that the RH bill goes beyond providing
contraceptives, it is about responsible parenthood, arresting maternal
morbidity and mortality, training of skilled birth attendants,
upgrading of hospital facilities and services, RH education for the
youth, HIV and AIDS prevention, and many others, ” said Angsioco.
“Sen. Sotto must
sit down with the bill’s proponents so he will understand its merits
and perhaps realize that his opposition is misplaced. After doing that
and he still refuses to perform his responsibilities as Majority
Leader, then he should resign or be replaced,” she ended.