Youth leaders say Pro-RH Senators don’t mind debate outside Senate
Akbayan Youth today renewed its RH debate challenge to Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III saying Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Pia Cayetano, leading proponents of the reproductive health bill in the Senate do not mind if Senator Sotto would debate the group.
"Senator Sotto said an academic debate on the RH bill outside the Senate would be an insult to Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Pia Cayetano. He even said such a demand only showed our ‘dissatisfaction’ with the pro-RH Senators. Nothing is farther from the truth. Our group has only the utmost respect for Senators Santiago and Cayetano for championing this cause. In fact, we talked to Senators Santiago and Cayetano and they said they don’t mind Senator Sotto debating with us,” Akbayan Youth Chairperson Leloy Claudio said.
“So what’s stopping Senator Sotto from engaging us in a debate on the RH bill?” Claudio asked.
Claudio challenged Sotto to keep an open mind and just accept that debates are part of the democratic process.
“Debates are normal and necessary in a democracy. Even in ancient Greece, politicians would have to defend their positions and even debate with citizens if need be. Since the RH Bill is a very important legislative measure, I think it would be worrisome for a public official to simply dismiss citizens’ demand for engagement and debate,” according to Claudio.
Claudio also chided Sotto’ statement that “mockery” will not contribute to an informed choice and enlightened debate on the RH bill.
“With all due respect to Senator Sotto, but I think he has no right to take the moral high ground especially if he was the one guilty of resorting to mockery when he ridiculed women who regularly die because of pregnancy-related causes,” Claudio said.
Claudio added that there is a big difference between valid criticisms and plain mockery. According to the Akbayan youth leader, it is everyone’s right to criticize their politicians especially when they shirk away from engaging the public.
He also criticized what he called “intellectual cowardice” of the senator as the real roadblock to people making informed decisions.
“I think to simply make a statement of fact without having it put under scrutiny is a form of intellectual cowardice. You want your constituents to make informed choices but how will that happen if you don’t help them by making those decisions by putting your arguments to the test?” Claudio said.
Claudio said that by refusing to debate on the RH Bill, Sotto is being a disservice with those opposed to the RH Bill and wish to raise the issue above simple ad hominem.
“I think there are those in the anti-RH camp who want to engage those in favor of the RH Bill and put out their arguments in the public. I think that would help a lot in making the public aware and decide based on facts. I also think that if Sotto refuses our challenge for a debate, then he becomes a disservice to them and it proves that he wants the issue as far from the public as possible.
Akbayan youth challenged Sotto to a debate for refusing to apologize over comments the senator made regarding maternal mortality during a senate debate with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on the RH Bill. The Ateneo Debate Society (ADS) also issued a statement saying it is willing to host the debate.
Sotto has since declined the offer for a debate. ###
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