(July 22, 2010) Manila – Filipino Freethinkers marched to Mendiola and Malacañang with other RH advocates from the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) and other pro-RH organizations.
One of their members dressed as ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA), pulling behind her seven huge PCSO checks. Each check was carried by a member dressed in a bishop costume. The recipients and amounts listed in the checks are based on the details of the recent PCSO scandal, wherein 7 Catholic bishops were given PCSO donations approved by GMA.
“We want to warn PNoy not to commit the same mistakes of the past president,” said Kenneth Keng, RH advocacy director of Filipino Freethinkers. “GMA bought the bishops’ silence during the Hello Garci scandal by blocking the passage of the RH Bill during her term. The recently exposed PCSO donations to several bishops are only the tip of the iceberg. There may be more bribes that have yet to
be uncovered.”
Filipino Freethinkers also echoed the call for PNoy to clearly support RH during his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA). Keng said: “It is our hope that showing the President the broad based majority support that the most recent SWS surveys confirmed (70% of filipinos nationwide in favor of the RH Bill) and the dire consequences of delay in terms of innocent lives lost (100,000 maternal and infant deaths and 4,000,000 abortions since a vocal minority of religious opposition began opposing the bill 10 years ago) can enjoin him ahead of his upcoming State of the Nation address to take action in making the priority passage of the RH Bill this year a reality.
“We want to remind PNoy to fulfil his promise to provide RH for all,” said Keng. “He has unequivocally given his support to the RH Bill in public fora such as the recent UP commencement address. We’re here to celebrate this new promise while gently reminding him of the need to help push the Bill past all of the shameless, underhanded and undemocratic stalling tactics of groups led by the CBCP in both houses of Congress”
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Before the SONA started they had a Prayer. Did it violate the Philippine Constitution(Article 2 Section 6)???
As it was a Catholic prayer from a Catholic priest of course it did violate the separation clause – as it was a preferential treatment of a single religious sect.
In non theocratic countries this preferential treatment of a specific religious denomination or single sects is often challenged – but of course not in the Catholic Republic of the Philippines.
The R of P constitution is anyway often ignored : the prevention of political dynasties or the equal distribution of wealth etc…. mandated in the constitution and the political and practical reality are light-years apart.
Thank you for the explanation 😀
And the bishops were mentioned and hailed
>>"I thank the priests and bishops who have continued to dialogue with us, like Cardinals Rosales and Vidal. Cardinal Rosales and I may not be the closest of friends, but I believe that he did all that he could to reduce the tensions between the church and the government. The election of Archbishop Palma, defender of human rights and of the environment, as head of the CBCP only bolsters my confidence that the state and the clergy will be able to engage each other in a positive manner. "<<
… ok word doesn't cost money like Pajeros (Monteros)
The FFF demand or even the RH-Bill was not even mentioned in the SONA, therefore much more important things for the R of P were mentioned like
>>" we talk about that new road that was built in Barangay Bagumbayan in Sta. Maria, Laguna ….. we are talking about the clean water that residents in Barangay Poblacion in Ferrol, Romblon ……. we also refer to the electricity that now powers light bulbs in Barangay San Marcos in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur "<<
Those are the truly important topics 😮