An answered prayer.
The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) is undoubtedly happy with the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to uphold the constitutionality of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law.
On April 8, Tuesday, the SC declared the RH Law as constitutional, excluding some parts of Section 7 and 23.
In an interview, Bishop Efraim Tendero, PCEC national director said, “This is answered prayer for us. A law on responsible parenthood and healthy family life will help contribute to having quality of life for the Filipinos.”
According to him, the law is pro poor, pro development and pro life.
The PCEC is composed of over 30,000 evangelical congregations in the Philippines.
On the contrary, Human Life International President Father Shenan Boquet is not so happy with the SC ruling, “It breaks my heart that this is happening in such a strongly pro-life and Catholic country that has thus far been able to resist legalized abortion,” Boquet said in a statement.
“The real ‘losers’ in this decision are not the pro-life groups or the Catholic Church – which have been demonized throughout the entire debate over this law – but the Filipino people and their life-loving culture. It is women and children and the basic institution of the family that will suffer because of the implementation of this law,” he added.
On Monday, April 7, supporters and opponents of RH law held separate vigils in Baguio City, anticipating the most awaited deliberation on the controversial law.