MANILA: While torrential rains and howling winds pounded Mindanao, another “storm” started brewing in the plenary hall of Congress on Tuesday as proposed amendments to the reproductive health (RH) bill were rejected in votes taken even when there was no quorum.

The discrepancies between the number of congressmen present and the results of nominal voting were discovered by vigilant anti-RH bill members of the House.

After the body concluded consideration of Cebu Representative Pablo Garcia’s proposed amendments, Cagayan de Oro’s Rep. Rufus Rodriguez proceeded to present his own amendments, one of which pertained also to government respect for religious freedom.

The amendment was rejected by the body, with a total of 139 votes from House members present on the floor.

Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay – noticing a discrepancy in numbers – made a parliamentary inquiry, questioning presiding officer Lorenzo Tanada III’s decision to let the body vote against Rodriguez’s amendment despite the absence of a quorum.

Only 139 congressmen were present but the presence of 144 members is required for a quorum to be declared.

Decisions arrived at in the absence of a quorum – whenever a member questions the quorum – are rendered void.

A commotion over the apparent inaccuracy of the vote-counting ensued, prompting Representative Janette Garin to make a motion to suspend the session. Simultaneously, Palawan Representative Dennis Socrates made a motion for adjournment.

When Tañada made the announcement to suspend the session, Socrates pointed out that his motion must be dealt with first because according to the rules, a motion for adjournment takes precedence over a motion for suspension.

Rodriguez seconded Socrates’ motion, asserting the need to adjourn session and not merely suspend. He explained that since journals – which contain summaries of House proceedings – can be prepared only after adjournment of each session, then adjournment must be prioritized so that the results nominal voting that took place Monday and Tuesday could be recorded and examined.

“The people have a right to know the results of the nominal voting and how each representative voted,” the Palawan lawmaker pointed out.

Tanada walked out of the session hall without declaring either the adjournment of the session or the duration of the suspension if they session was suspended.

“He just left the session hall without addressing three motions – Socrates’s motion for adjournment, Magsaysay’s parliamentary inquiry, and Garin’s motion for suspension,” a young life advocate in the gallery said. This pro-lifer monitors House proceedings regularly. He stayed in the hall till nearly midnight and left with a hundred or so other anti-RH citizens out of the hall.

Pro-RH legislators quietly slipped out of the plenary hall soon after despite the non-resolution of pending motions.

By close to 11:30 the floor was nearly empty, leaving only a handful of anti-RH solons including Socrates, Magsaysay, Rodriguez, Karlo Nograles of Davao, Jose Aquino of Agusan del Norte, Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas, Rachel del Mar of Cebu, and Michael Velarde of Buhay Party List.

Also present besides some 100 life advocates from different dioceses, schools and civic groups were Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) chair Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes. Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias attended the proceedings earlier but left before the controversial discrepancies in vote-counting surfaced.

The atmosphere was a mixture of jubilation and solemnity.

The jubilation was over the apparent victory in discovering the pro-RH bill side’s attempts at deception.

The solemnity followed when Fr. Melvin Castro, ECFL executive secretary, enjoined everyone to pray.

Bishop Arguelles led the prayer, which was followed by the singing of the Lord’s Prayer.

Life advocates in the hall left the venue chanting “Ibagsak RH bill!”

Pro-life legislators vowed to question the questionable decision of the presiding officer and threatened to boycott further deliberations on other matters such as the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the budget, if Tuesday’s unresolved motions are not resolved.

Pro-life legislators asked concerned individuals and citizens opposed to the RH bill to be go to the House and attend the deliberations and offer prayers for honest proceedings.