THE Senate will likely pass the reproductive health (RH) bill because the number of senators who support the measure outnumber those who are against it, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said on Sunday.

Enrile disclosed that the bill had gained the backing of majority of the senators even before President Benigno Aquino 3rd certified it as urgent.

In a radio interview aired over dzBB, the Senate chief said that he has been asking some senators about their position on the bill and that the pro-RH senators have the numbers.

He however declined to give a headcount but said that he expects that the result would be very close.

Enrile, who is against the bill, said that he will not change his stand because he believes that the measure will not bring any good to the people just like the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform laws that both failed to serve their purposes.

The House of Representatives already approved its version of the bill on second reading and the Senate is expected to vote on it on second reading today once senators finish the period of amendments.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd is scheduled to introduce 31 amendments before the voting.

Sotto said that he will also reveal hidden provisions of the bill, which he finds unacceptable.

He and Enrile also denied that there are efforts to delay the passage of the bill.

Confident
Malacañang is also confident that the bill will be passed by the House on third and final reading before Congress goes on Christmas break.

In an interview aired over state-run Radyo ng Bayan (dzRB), Palace deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said on Sunday that they are hopeful that the measure will be approved, adding that most of the lawmakers who did not vote last week are being considered as pro-RH.

“Yung [Those] absentees po kasi from the last session, according to the advocates, they’re also counting them. Most of the absentees are being counted as pro-[RH], they are voting for the measure. So hopefully the vote will be sustained,” Valte said.

She said that the President’s certification of the RH bill as an urgent measure can pave the way for the Senate to proceed with third and final reading as early today. The same can be said of the Congress.

By Tuesday, the bicameral conference committee of the two chambers can already meet. Therefore, it is possible for the two chambers to ratify the bicameral report by Wednesday, before going on Christmas break.

Enrile out soon?
Meanwhile, Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th expressed belief that the days of Enrile as head of the Senate are numbered.

“I’m sure that that RH bill will not be the reason for his [Enrile’s] ouster,” Trillanes said.

Enrile however reiterated that he is ready to be replaced anytime.

“I have no Torrens title over that position,” Enrile noted, adding that apart from Trillanes, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago also wanted him replaced.