MANILA, September 20, 2008—Outnumbered opponents of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill faced off last week against well-represented supporters of the proposed health measure.

And an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said it was an experience they don’t want to happen again in the next plenary debate on RH bill.

CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life executive secretary Fr. Melvin Castro said they would now be sending a bigger contingent to the House of Representatives next week.

“During the first plenary, last Tuesday, our number was about 100 but our numbers went down the following days. While supporters of the RH bill were more organized and numbered about 500,” he said.

The priest said they first thought that bringing Church supporters to Congress during sessions was no longer necessary.

He added they were also wrong in thinking that the effort of bishops to talk to their respective congressmen to convince them not to support the RH bill was already enough.

Castro said the Church and other pro-life organizations need to take new strategies. “We need more warm bodies there (during plenary debates in Congress),” Castro said.

The CBCP official said that before they only relied on the Diocese of Novaliches and other groups to fill seats in the gallery, but this time they would be asking the help of other dioceses.

“We would come out as a stronger group,” he said.

Castro also vowed that they would continue to be vigilant until Congress goes on recess on October 10. (Roy Lagarde)