MANILA, November 3, 2008—The recess in Congress has fuelled aggressiveness among Church leaders to influence their respective lawmakers to go against the Reproductive Health bill.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines spokesperson Msgr. Pedro Quitorio said the prelates have taken advantage of the recess in wooing legislators to oppose the controversial measure.

He said Church leaders are taking advantage of the session break to talk to members of the House of Representatives.

“This (recess) is definitely helping us. In fact, the bishops are doing a lot of things during this time,” said Quitorio.

But the priest could not say how many legislators are already in their side against the RH bill which seeks to promote the artificial means of family planning.

“We don’t have the exact data yet due to their session break, but our advocacy still continues,” he said.

“We will know the recent data probably on November 15 or 16,” the CBCP official added.

Msgr. Quitorio said they are working double time in urging lawmakers supportive of the RH bill to explain the Church position against it before the sessions in Congress resume next week.

“Actually we are working not only double time, but triple time. Our signature campaign is still moving, same with our pro-life DVDs. Even the focus of the homilies in parishes every Sunday is about life which was not being done before,” he said.

It was reporter earlier that the number of lawmakers supportive of the pending bill has climbed to 112 from 108. The number is only eight votes short of passing in the second reading. (CBCPNews)