Court Junks Petition to Stop Sexual Health Forum

BY JEE Y. GERONIMO
POSTED ON 01/23/2014 5:36 PM | UPDATED 01/23/2014 6:04 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR) will complete its 4-day run after all.

In a decision on Thursday, January 23, Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 110 denied the petition of the Pro-Life Philippines Foundation to issue a temporary restraining order on the ongoing conference.

Justices Say Supreme Court Cannot Settle Medical Issues in RH Law

By MARK MERUEÑAS, GMA News July 9, 2013 8:39pm

CJ Sereno, 13 justices start oral arguments on RH law. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (far center) and other Supreme Court justices hear the oral arguments on the Reproductive Health law on Tuesday, July 9. The SC in March suspended the implementation of the RH law, pending a resolution of the 15 petitions against it. Six ‘intervenors’ supporting the law have been allowed by the SC to take part in the debates. Of the 15 magistrates, only Associate Justice Arturo Brion was not present during the oral arguments. Danny Pata

Several Supreme Court justices, including Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, agreed that the high court does not seem to be the right forum – at least for now – to contest the controversial Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law.

In interpellating lawyer Maria Concepcion Noche, one of the legal counsel for the petitioners, Sereno went as far as saying that if she were to be asked, the high court might have no choice but to exercise “judicial restraint” on the 15 petitions assailing the law.

“Are we in a position to supplant moves of Congress on a policy decision?” Sereno asked on the first day of oral arguments on the RH Law’s constitutionality. “Can we say this is a better way? We are limited. First because we are unelected and because we have already defined nets and bounds.”

SC Stops RH Law Implementation for 120 Days, Sets Hearing June 18

By: Lorenz Niel Santos, InterAksyon.com
March 19, 2013 2:10 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a 120-day status quo ante order stopping implementation of the RH Law, and set oral arguments on June 18.

The restraining order was issued in response to consolidated petitions of various groups that sued to halt the law soon after its passage before Christmas.

Those who voted for the restraining order were Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita de Castro, Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama Jr., Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza, and Bienvenido Reyes.

Those who voted against it were Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Justices Antonio Carpio, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Mariano Del Castillo, and Marvic Leonen.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/57459/sc-stops-rh-law-implementation-for-120-days-sets-hearing-june-18

Justice With Priests as Brothers Gets RH Law Case

BY PURPLE ROMERO
POSTED ON 01/07/2013 5:12 PM | UPDATED 01/07/2013 5:59 PM

RELIGIOUS BROTHERS. Justice Jose Mendoza – whose two priests are brothers – will pen the decision on the RH law case. Photo from sc.judiciary.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines – The petition against the Reproductive Health law has been raffled off to Supreme Court Justice Jose Mendoza, who has two priests as brothers, Rappler learned from Court insiders.

Supreme Court insiders said the raffle was held at the SC last week.

Mendoza comes from Lipa City, whose Catholic parish is staunchly opposed to the RH law. Based on his biodata published on the Supreme Court website, Mendoza is the eldest of 8 children, two of whom are priests and one a parish assistant.