Anti-adolescent pregnancy bill 'garbage legislation', says preacher-solon
At A Glance
- Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. described the controversial anti-adolescent pregnancy bill as "garbage legislation".
Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Garbage legislation.
That's how Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. described the controversial anti-adolescent pregnancy bill, which had been running through the gauntlet as of late.
Abante, a pastor-preacher, stood up in plenary Monday afternoon, Jan. 20 to speak his mind about the measure.
"I would just like to commend [Cagayan de Oro 2nd district] Congressman Rufus Rodriguez for his House Resolution No.2174, [titled] 'Urging the House of Representatives to recommit House Bill (HB) No.8910, titled An Act providing for a national policy in preventing adolescent pregnancies, institutionalizing social protection for adolescent parents'," he said.
He noted that their was a counterpart bill in the Senate that carried nearly the same title. But unlike HB No.8910, the Senate measure is still under the period of interpellation and debate.
"So I believe that these two, the Senate bill and the HB No.8910 which was passed on third reading, I believe this to be garbage legislation that should not even be passed in this august chamber," Abante said.
"I will also be filing a similar resolution because I believe that this bill that has been passed in 2023--I believe for third reading--should be returned and recommited to the appropriate committees, if not a single committee, but appropriate committees," said the Committee on Human Rights chairman.
"I was told that this bill was given to the Committee on Youth, when it should also be given to the Committee on Education," he said.
The measure is currently under fire for its provisions supposedly promoting Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE).
Critics like Rodriguez have called HB No.8910 deceptive and unconstitutional, ergo the proposal to recall it.