By Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News | 12/05/2012 11:53 AM
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[11]MANILA, Philippines - Despite a ratio of one page per day of debate, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman is confident of the passage of the reproductive health (RH) bill on Wednesday.
The House of Representatives suspended, and not adjourned, their session Tuesday night.
Still, Lagman walked out of the session hall with a smile. He said in an ambush interview: "Bukas, pagbobotohan na yan." This, despite the fact that after two days in the thick of the period of amendments, the lower House is still on page 2 of the 27-page bill.
Long after pro-RH lawmakers left the hall, anti-RH congressmen remained, talking to priests and supporters, most of whom were wearing red.
The crowd with the anti-RH congressmen then broke into prayer, their voices echoing through the hall that was nearly empty.
The anti-RH groups then marched out of the session hall chanting "RH Bill, ibasura!" and "Bukas ulit!"
Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles was among those who stayed on. Arguelles said the insistence of pro-RH congressmen to expedite proceedings was an insult to the people.