Pros, antis showdown on eve of ruling

The Catholic Church and pro-life groups in the country may be facing an uphill battle against the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Law.

But Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, country director of Human Life International, said they continue to storm the heavens with their prayers as the Supreme Court (SC) rules on the constitutionality of the RH Law today.

“We hope for the best. We’re invoking God that all the (SC) justices will have the courage and the wisdom to uphold our constitution and reject the RH Law,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Pro-life advocates gathered at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in downtown Cebu City for the “Vigil for Life,” yesterday evening in anticipation of today’s announcement from the SC.

A few hours earlier, youth groups gathered at the University of the Philippines Cebu Oblation Square to show their support for the RH law.

Vote

Bullecer admitted that only six out of the High Court’s 15 justices are likely to vote against the RH Bill.

“Based on our counting, we could hardly reach nine votes. But we believe that nothing is impossible with God,” he said.

Student groups held their own rally in support of the RH law dubbed “Purple Justice.

“Hopefully, we will hear a reverberating ‘Yes,’” Akbayan Youth Cebu Purple Justice convener Chao Cabatingan said.

Among those who joined the program were the Union of Progressive Students of UP Cebu, Tingog Carolinian of the University of San Carlos, Cebu Youth Ambassadors, Cebu Plus Association Inc., and Colors, a Cebu city-based transgender organization.

Rule

“The call for RH is not [Luzon]-centric,” Cabatingan said.

Student rallyists dyed their hair purple and wore purple clothing as they tied pieces of purple cloth together to form a big ribbon signifying their support for the RH law.

The program ended with a candle lighting ceremony and a collective prayer asking that the Supreme Court rule in favor of the law.