MANILA, May 13, 2009—A Roman Catholic bishop vowed Wednesday to lead a campaign in the next elections against politicians who will support a bill promoting birth control.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said over Radio Veritas that pro-birth control public officials doesn’t deserve to be re-elected because they are not serving the people right.

“I am willing (to campaign against them). If you know of a congressman or senator who voted in favor of the Reproductive Health Bill, my request is not to vote for them in the next elections,” he said.

Bastes said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is strongly against the family planning bill because it “endangers the life” of the Filipino family.

The bishop, who heads a commission in the CBCP, claimed that legislators pushing for the passage of the legislation would only turn the country into a “dying nation.”

Bastes said lawmakers who support the bill would pay a political price in the coming 2010 polls when voters choose new government leaders.

"We hope that they will learn a lesson because by voting for it (the bill), they are endangering the Filipino family," he said.

“The bishops’ position is very strong. The CBCP will not budge down because the provisions of that bill are anti-life. How I wish that many people are going to protest that bill in congress,” he added.

The prelate said that the people should stand united to fight the proposed legislation, which is already in its second reading.

It was reported that the passage of the RH bill is one of the priority bills seeking the approval of the House of Representatives before adjournment on June 3.

The other priority bills are the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reform (CARPER) and the Right to Reply. (Roy Lagarde)