



Supreme Court hearings on the Reproductive Health (RH) Law have yet to begin but debates on the controversial measure have again been set ablaze.



Senatorial candidates and University of the Philippines Diliman students weighed in on the law during Yahoo! Philippines Purple Thumb Election Forum Thursday.



The air grew thick in the state university's Claro M. Recto Hall as the discussion found its way into the measure whose implementation has been halted by the Supreme Court Tuesday.



ALSO READ: SC stops controversial RH bill for now





Ang Kapatiran Senate bet Rizalito David engaged Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn into an argument over the latter's support for the law.



Hagedorn's claim that the measure does not condone abortion, David said, was "unfortunate," adding that the law had been "passed through intimadation."



Legislators have been warned that their Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) will not be released to those who oppose the RH law, David claimed.



Hagedorn responded by saying that these claims "remain to be proven," adding that discussions in the high court are expected to shed light on the issue.



ALSO READ: RH bill will corrupt PH, bishops warn



Students soon joined the heated exchange, however, after David alluded that UP students were supporting the law.



"Nasaktan po ako sa sinasabi ninyo na hindi kami naging kritikal sa pagsuporta sa RH Law (I am hurt by your claim that we were not critical about our support for the RH Law)," a student said.



Another meanwhile challenged the candidate to show proof that legislators had been bribed. "If we were to be critical, we cannot simply take your word for it," she added.



David clarified, however, that he did not say UP students had not been critical about the RH Law, only that he hoped they would see that process by which it was passed was flawed.



David, who admitted that he will "carry his Catholic faith in the Senate," has also been asked whether his religion will affect his legislative duties.



"How will you ensure that the rights of non-Catholics will not be trampled upon by your beliefs?" a student asked.



David said: "I never used religion as my reason for not supporting the RH Bill."



ALSO READ: RH bill now a law, Palace confirms





He added that Catholic teachings consider "the common good," telling the student: "[T]hat will assure you that I will be fair to everyone."



The RH Law was signed by President Benigno Aquino III late last year after protracted debates in the Senate and House of Representatives.



Church leaders have staunchly opposed the measure, which they claimed to be moves toward abortion and the country's moral corruption.



The Supreme Court issued a 120-day status quo ante order on the rollout of the RH Law Tuesday amid petitions filed by Church-backed organizations.



Oral arguments on the controversial measure have been set for June 18.















































































