SC dismiss appeals on RH Law

Supreme Court of the Philippines. Photo by Mike Gonzales courtesy of Wiki Commons.

MANILA — Though some of the law’s key provisions were declared void, the Supreme Court yesterday upheld the constitutionality of the Reproductive Health Law, affirming its ruling last April.

“Addressing the motions for reconsideration, the court with the same unanimous vote as in its decision promulgated on April 8, 2014, denied all the motions for reconsideration, subject to the same positions indicated by the specific justices on the specific sections declared to be unconstitutional,” read the ruling.

The justices denied the motions for reconsideration filed by petitioners questioning the majority opinion of the court adding that the penal provisions of the law violates the constitutional freedom of religion.

Six appeals were filed by the Filipino Catholic Voices for Reproductive Health Inc., Pro-Life Philippines Inc., Philippine Alliance of Ex-Seminarians, Task Force for Family and Life Visayas, former senator Francisco Tatad and wife Maria Fenny and lawyer Joan de Venecia, Korina Ana Manibog and Jan Robert Beltejar.

Several provisions including portions of Section 23 which penalize health workers for failure or refusal to disseminate RH information on RH programs regardless of their religious beliefs.

The groups, however argued that the ruling will be violating the constitutional freedom of religion.

Despite the motions filed, the SC still upheld RH Law’s constitutionality.